New songs for April 13th, 2022

 here they are:


"Change" by The War on Drugs: As per usual with The War on Drugs, their latest track, "Change," falls somewhere between prog-rock and '80s-era Springsteen, with a fair amount of jangly, harmonious Fleetwood Mac influence thrown in for good measure. Of course, what separates The War on Drugs from its nostalgic influences is how the lyrics of their songs have a jaded nature that distinctly takes place after punk and grunge took over music. "Change" exhibits this jaded nature even more than the usual WOD song. Even the title of the song, which comes from how it's "hard to make the change" that takes place after a relationship has ended, is not exactly on the optimistic side. 

"Clarity" by Vance Joy: "Clarity" marks a change in Vance Joy's music. It still contains acoustic guitar and horns like Vance's material usually does, but "Clarity" uses a marked rhythmic influence with percussion and bass that his stuff doesn't usually have. Not sure why the sudden change in style for Vance since the lyrics seem pretty typical of his material (someone who doesn't realize they love their now ex-partner until it's too late). Dan Wilson of Semisonic (best known for late '90s rock hit, "Closing Time") was the one who produced "Clarity" for Vance. Even Vance didn't like "Clarity" initially, under the impression that it sounded like more of a mainstream pop song than his usual material, but with Dan's encouragement, Vance released "Clarity," and now we have another side of Joy to enjoy. 

"Electrify My Love" by Mondo Cozmo: Mondo Cozmo will probably forever be defined by their mid-2010's folk-rock hit, "Shine," which was kind of a fluke hit for them considering the songs that have been released since by them, which have typically been more electro-pop. Their latest song, "Electrify My Love," also uses electro-pop influence, albeit with neo-psychedelic electric guitars during the chorus section. Another feature of this song that distinguishes it from other Mondo Cozmo songs is its 1-minute-and-17-second long intro. According to lead singer Joshua Ostrander, this stretchy intro is used in the song to lure the listener into a sense of calm before breaking into a more celebratory, party-like vibe afterwards. 

"Hard Drive Gold" by alt-J: The band name "alt-J" in and of itself is kind of quirky, and catchy alt-pop songs with quirky lyrics are pretty much how alt-J have defined their career so far. Their latest song, "Hard Drive Gold," is about a 15-year-old boy, presumably the lead singer, using cryptocurrency to become a millionaire in a short amount of time. The song isn't meant to be taken seriously, though. It's a little hard to take oddly specific tongue-in-cheek lyrics like "I then googled 'neoliberal'" with a straight face, after all.

"Same Team" by Alice Merton: Alice Merton seems like one of those musicians who will forever be remembered for her first hit the most, which was a catchy minor-key alt-pop number called "No Roots," in her case. She has released other material since then, though, one of the most compelling of which was the surprisingly intense "Vertigo," released during the height of the pandemic. "Same Team" continues with the themes of a challenging, fast-changing world that "Vertigo," but instead of being caught up in the heat of the moment, "Same Team" is a song that relies more on facing things that are now past events. Specifically, it deals with how Alice feels like she has been forced into situations with others who are supposedly on her "team," but who really bring her down and make her doubt her worth and herself. If you can't depend on your peers, who can you turn to?! This is a song that faces such issues head-on!

New songs for May 13th 2020

here they are:


"Good Times" by The Lone Bellow: A song called "Good Times" oughta be upbeat, and that's exactly what "Good Times" by The Lone Bellow is. An uplifting indie-folk-pop song, "Good Times" is a simple but meaningful song that recalls conversations the group members have had with both one another and with people outside the band. One thing that sets this song apart from other Lone Bellow songs is its prominent use of horns, as well as its electric guitar solo in the middle.


"Time (You And I)" by Khruangbin: Late last year might have been the first time many people heard about Khruangbin through their collaboration with neo-soul musician, Leon Bridges. Perhaps Leon's soulful vibes rubbed off on Khruangbin on their latest song, "Time (You And I)", which itself sounds like it could be a song off one of Leon Bridges' later albums. The song's mid-'70s funk influenced sound gives it a very upbeat, danceable sound. For a little over five and a half minutes, the song's lyrics repeat, and not just in English either. As the song progresses, they also get to French, Portuguese, and at least one East Asian language, perhaps to emphasize how its simple message of love is a universal one. The song's avant-funk sound brings to mind musicians like Prince and Funkadelic.


"Time Stands" by Nathaniel Rateliff: The third song this week with the word "time" in its title is a mellower track than the others. Without The Night Sweats backing him up, Nathaniel Rateliff seems to create more melancholy folk-rock songs, as opposed to the spirited brand of retro R & B that most fans of his were initially acquainted with. "Time Stands" continues in the folk-rock pattern for Nathaniel, and is the most bittersweet song I've heard from him yet. It is a yearning song that seems to wonder if things will be alright without ever answering that question. No one seems to know where time stands anymore, so "Time Stands" has arrived for us just in time (no pun intended).


"Upside Down" by Mondo Cozmo: Most of the songs from this week were actually songs released earlier in the year from albums that already had singles. "Upside Down" by Mondo Cozmo is not such a song. It was thought up last month and is one of a growing number of songs that has been written in response to our current pandemic. "Everything is upside down", Joshua Ostrander sings during the chorus. What he means, as you might have guessed, is that nothing seems to make sense anymore. Instead of lamenting this, though, Joshua decides to make the most of it, turning his thoughts of uncertainty into a party anthem that starts out with half-sung/half-spoken lyrics recalling songs like Beck's "Loser" and Cage the Elephant's "Ain't No Rest For the Wicked". I'm all for creativity, but I still wish things turn right side up sooner than later.

New songs for November 6th 2019

here they are:


"Come On" by Mondo Cozmo: As cool and edgy as "Black Cadillac" was, there's probably a reason its success crashed. Mondo Cozmo's latest song, "Come On", has two important words that "Black Cadillac" didn't: Anna Faris! No, she doesn't sing on the track, but she is in its video, which seems to have gotten a lot of attention specifically for that reason (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2FImefxs9s). The song is otherwise kinda cool, but doesn't have much to offer other than a Pennsylvania native pretending to sound like a Brit.


"Go Crazy" by G. Love (featuring Keb' Mo'): G. Love has a rather eccentric approach to the blues, while Keb' Mo's is more on the "traditional" side, but anyone who knows either musician knows how much they love the blues! The song has more of the laid back vibes that Mo' has been known for, but the "Looney Tunes"-ish music video for the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2Licd-XbHc) seems like it's more suited to G. Love's kookier style. Both musicians look like "Merrie Melodies" cartoons from the 1930's in the song's video. Why? Darned if I know! But it's still pretty entertaining both to watch and to hear!


"Trouble In Paradise" by Rufus Wainwright: Rufus was pretty active in the music biz in the '00s, but until this point, he had only released one record during the 2010's, so I thought he had called it quits for awhile. After 7 years of absence, Rufus is back! Mixing the twang of George Harrison with the elegant piano-pop of Elton John, "Trouble In Paradise" seems like the sort of song Elton could write AND perform! The song reflects on the fashion industry, and how critical Rufus feels towards it. While most of the big reunions being poised for the 2020's tend to focus on hard rock, Rufus offers us some musical calm amidst the brewing storm (though perhaps "reunion" is the wrong word to use for Rufus, since he's only one person). Hopefully, more folks on the fluffier, prettier side of the rock spectrum will take his lead pretty soon. In the meantime, at least Rufus is there to offer us paradise amongst a sea of troubled bands with "Trouble In Paradise".

New songs for October 9th 2019

here they are:


"Black Cadillac" by Mondo Cozmo: On this song, Joshua Keith Ostrander manages to give The Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting For the Man" a U2 styled makeover. Oh, take that strange look out of your eyes! Haha. Bono and the boys were also influenced by Lou Reed and his quintet of alt-rock forefathers even though it might not seem that apparent at first, so the combination of these sounds might not be as outlandish as it sounds. Josh is not taking on the subject of drugs like Lou did, but he is taking on the equally hairy topic of politics in "Black Cadillac". The lyrics of the song are somewhat cryptic, except when Joshua spells out Brett Kavanaugh's last name midway through the song, attacking him for his insincerity during the Supreme Court hearings.


"Good Luck" by Broken Bells: Our next entry for the week also attacks politics, opening with the lyrics, "The face of evil's on the news tonight". As James Mercer continues to deliver his lyrics in his latest song, the trip-hop influenced "Good Luck", he questions whether the "good times" ever existed in the first place or if we're just looking at our past through rose colored glasses, so to speak. Mercer tends to lean towards the latter answer here. The darkness is all around us, sure, but Mercer acknowledges this is nothing new, ending the song by wishing his listeners "good luck" in coping with a world that doesn't seem to favor our species.


"Wars" by Of Monsters and Men: Given the chilling political atmosphere the lyrics of the previous two entries brought us, you might think that "Wars", from its title alone, would continue this theme. However, anyone tired of hearing about politics can take a breather for our last song of the week! The title of the song actually refers to a relationship gone wrong. In this song, OMAM's male vocalist takes the lead, as opposed to their female vocalist who took on "Alligator" from earlier this year. OMAM have also drifted even further away from their folk-rock sound than they did with "Alligator". That song at least contained a vague hint of electric guitar, whereas "Wars" seems to lack guitar altogether. I'm a little worried for the future of Of Monsters and Men in this aspect, as they had a rich, harmony-laden folk-rock sound for their first two albums that I fell in love with the moment I first heard it! Perhaps this is not entirely a bad thing, though.

New songs for July 18th 2018

here they are:


"Keep A Little Soul" by Tom Petty: The last song Tom Petty had a hit with on adult alt radio stations before he departed to Rock and Roll Heaven was "Forgotten Man". Petty might be gone, but he certainly isn't forgotten, and his latest song to be released (actually an outtake from 1982), "Keep A Little Soul", shows just how much his fans have remembered him! The song certainly sounds like a vintage Petty tune, and would probably fit right into an album of his from the olden days, like "Damn the Torpedoes". "Keep A Little Soul" is an optimistic song, as its title implies. The message is simple. Just keep a little soul, as Petty says, and nothing else will matter. A short message, but a powerful one nonetheless!


"Nobody" by Mitski: There's something both nostalgic and futuristic about "Nobody", the debut song from Japanese-American musician, Mitski. It plays out like a Bjork song with Tori Amos-esque pianos. The lyrics to "Nobody" are just as intriguing as its music. "My God, I'm so lonely", Mitski pines during the song's opening verse, "So I open the window to hear sounds of people". In the lines that follow that one, she sings, "Venus, planet of love, was destroyed by global warming", echoing a popular speculation about the planet to the left of us, and then she wonders, "Did its people want too much?" From those lyrics alone, you can tell Mitski's music is far more than mere "ear candy", and is instead music that makes you both think and listen. The way the song meanders to somewhat unpredictable melodies throughout gives me hope for music of the future. I guess there's still a way to make "new" genres and sub-genres after all!


"Tidal Wave" by Portugal. The Man: After around 7 years under the radar, it seems as though Portugal. The Man just can't escape "Feel It Still" fever (the song even became my # 1 song of last year!!) The two other songs from the same album (this song and "Live In the Moment") are almost as catchy, though, so clearly PTM WANTED to appeal to the masses (as far as I can tell, anyway). "Tidal Wave" takes on a pop flavor with reggae rhythms and jazzy horns. It's no "Feel It Still", but it's a bit better than "Live In the Moment" due to its R & B influences (a popular factor in PTM's music). When PTM's lead singer sings about being "hit like a tidal wave" during the chorus, it seems quite apt for a song that will probably hit all its listeners like a tidal wave!


"Tonight Tonight" by Mondo Cozmo: Not to be confused for the Smashing Pumpkins song of the same name, "Tonight Tonight" combines the best of both worlds for Mondo Cozmo. That is to say, it takes the acoustic guitar sound that made "Shine" so memorable and mixes it with the more indie-pop flavored sound of their other songs. Come to think of it, "Automatic" and "Plastic Soul" didn't really have guitar at all in them from what I could tell, so the use of the instrument in "Tonight Tonight" is quite a welcome return to form. This might just be the catchiest song Mondo Cozmo have done so far, actually, as their other songs aren't quite this upbeat. It has echoes of other uber-catchy indie-pop tunes, like "Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)" by Foster the People. Also, since Mondo Cozmo's lead singer says "tonight" four times during the chorus, it should be called "Tonight Tonight Tonight Tonight" to avoid confusion with both The Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight Tonight" and Genesis' "Tonight Tonight Tonight".

new songs for November 15th 2017

here they are:


"I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" by Jim James: The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" is widely considered to be one of the greatest rock albums of all time (despite getting virtually no airplay on today's "rock" stations). There's a good reason it is, though. The album, along with The Beatles' "Rubber Soul", which it was inspired by, were some of the first albums to showcase rock as an emotionally diverse art form. With the news spreading that My Morning Jacket's Jim James was going to be covering one of my favorite songs from that album, "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times", my first thoughts were, "You can't top a classic!" As much as I love Jim and MMJ, it's a hard feat to pull off trying to cover the sweet but troubled genius work of Brian Wilson. However, I'll still give Jim credit where credit is due. He doesn't drastically change the song in any way, and he tries his best to stay faithful to the bittersweet, sympathetic tone of the original. He alters the melody of the chorus a bit, and he also adds in some brass instruments where they aren't needed, but other than that it's a pretty decent cover!


"Losing All Sense" by Grizzly Bear: As if by coincidence, our next song is inspired by "Pet Sounds" as well! However, it is not a cover of a song from the album. The ultra eclectic, artsy indie quartet, Grizzly Bear, have always tried experimenting with different sounds on each of their albums. Their latest song, "Losing All Sense", sounds similar to "Two Weeks", the song that first made Grizzly Bear popular among indie fans, and it also contains a brief "slow" section like their song "Sleeping Ute" did. Its happy, piano and orchestra based sound seems like it might be derived from Beach Boys songs like "I Know There's An Answer". "Losing All Sense"'s spacey, psychedelic lyrics (for instance, "Like a rogue wave, you wash right over me") seem like they'd fit right in with some of the best '60s rock songs.


"Motion Sickness" by Phoebe Bridgers: You might not have heard of Phoebe Bridgers yet, but other musicians you might like have heard of her. Her debut record was released under Ryan Adams record label, and she has toured with Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes. Fans of Adams and Oberst would probably be fans of Phoebe Bridgers as well, as she evokes a similar sense of pathos and sensitivity to such musicians. The "motion sickness" she mentions, as she states in the song, is an emotional one. The song is basically Phoebe's sad but sweet sounding attempt to try to right all the wrongs in her life. Between the hushed but weary vocals and the sighing of the instruments in the song, it's pretty easy to tell what's going on here!


"Plastic Soul" by Mondo Cozmo: Mondo Cozmo are a rarity in this decade. On their first album alone they've gone through folk-rock with "Shine" and Beck-ish attempts at blending hip-hop with alternative pop with "Automatic". Their third hit, "Plastic Soul", does not sound like either one of those songs. Instead, it has a piano based '60s R & B sound that samples from an actual '60s R & B song, "Piece of My Heart" by Aretha Franklin's older sister, Erma (yes, this was the same "Piece of My Heart" that Janis Joplin later made famous - Erma did it first). "Plastic Soul" is very soulful, but it sure ain't plastic! This is the real deal, folks!


"Run For Cover" by The Killers: With all the people who have been accused of sexual abuse lately, I'm sure glad The Killers aren't one of 'em! Why am I bringing this up in my review for this song? Because "Run For Cover" is actually a song that speaks out against those who have been sexually abused. In this song, the beat of which is reminiscent of INXS's "Don't Change", Brandon Flowers points a finger at all the carnally depraved men out there, perhaps one in particular, given such lines as, "Are your excuses any better than your senator's?", "It's even harder when the dirtbag's famous", and even a brief mention of "fake news". I don't think it's too hard to figure out who this might be about, but it's ultimately up to your imagination to figure that one out!


"Whatever It Takes" by Imagine Dragons: Imagine Dragons aren't what you'd call a "hard rock" band by any means, but some songs of theirs are still softer and more melodic than others. "Whatever It Takes" just happens to be one of the softer songs in Imagine Dragons' catalog. Starting with a pristine piano that gets taken over by artificial percussion, "Whatever It Takes" has a similar sound to Imagine Dragons' other songs, except for in terms of how it is sung (or rather, delivered). Lead singer, Dan Reynolds, does the closest thing he's ever done to a rap during the verses of the song, speaking a bit too fast for anyone to understand him upon the first few listens of this song. The way Dan rhymes in this song could even be compared to people like Eminem (although Dan is far more wholesome in terms of his lyrical content).

New songs for May 31st, 2017

here they are:


"Automatic" by Mondo Cozmo: Mondo Cozmo won the hearts of millions with their simple yet sentimental folk-rock tune, "Shine", back in fall of last year. You might be surprised to know that Mondo Cozmo's second big song, "Automatic", doesn't contain even a trace of "Shine"'s sincere, earnest folk-rock sound. Instead, it sounds a bit more like something Moby might have done, with its combination of melodic vocals and dance-pop-y music. Joshua Ostrander (who, by himself, is "Mondo Cozmo") was apparently influenced by Beck with both this song and Mondo Cozmo's other material, and how no Beck song sounds like the other. Joshua wants Mondo Cozmo to be perceived in the same manner. I'd say he's succeeded so far!


"City of Angels" by The Head and The Heart: What better subject matter for a song than falling in love with someone in my own hometown?! Well, while the topic of the song might be a good one, "City of Angels" seems to crank out more of the "new" Head and The Heart sound that they've had ever since spring of last year. The piano is still there, but the acoustic guitars are not present, just as they were absent on "All We Ever Knew" and "Rhythm And Blues". The sound of "City of Angels" suggests a slightly more rocking and roots-y version of Coldplay. One thing the song has going for it is how it becomes a bit slower midway through.


"He's Fine" by The Secret Sisters: The Secret Sisters might have been able to remain a secret from traditional FM radio stations, but adult alt and indie-folk audiences have known about them for quite awhile now. "He's Fine" looks like it will be their first significant adult alt radio hit, and not without reason. The sound of this song seems to emulate recent all-girl indie-folk acts, such as First Aid Kit and Joseph, as opposed to the bluegrass-rock sound they've become known for among fans. "He's Fine" might sound cute and fluffy on the surface, but upon closer listening, it becomes clear that the song is actually about a guy, Davey White, who has been seeing another girl and is still "fine" with the fact that he has betrayed his former lover's heart. Love might not be easy, but music always is!


"Mourning Sound" by Grizzly Bear: Grizzly Bear have often been known for their sleepy yet neo-psychedelic sound. Songs of theirs like "Sleeping Ute" and "Yet Again" are drenched with fuzzy guitar feedback, yet they still manage to sound dreamy. "Mourning Sound" is kind of like that, although it might be the first Grizzly Bear song to use artificial percussion instead of opting for the real thing. There is also noticeably more droning synthesizer used in "Mourning Sound" than there is on Grizzly Bear's other material. With a title like "Mourning Sound", I was expecting this song to sound bittersweet and melancholy. Instead, it sounds like a techno song mated with a psychedelic song that somehow got lost in the woods.


"Whiteout Conditions" by The New Pornographers: The NP's are really expanding their sound on their latest album! Their sound could typically be described as power pop, but their surprisingly big adult alt radio hit, "High Ticket Attractions", could be viewed as their hardest rocking track yet, recalling the sound of bands like The Cars, whose chunky, meaty guitar riffs were just as notable as their breezy, summery vibe overall. The title track of The New Pornographers' latest album, "Whiteout Conditions", also allows the band to explore previously uncharted musical territory. It might just be the most synth heavy NP's song yet. Its icy yet danceable sound recalls that of groups like Joy Division, The Cure, and Depeche Mode.

New songs for October 26th, 2016

here they are:


"Astral Plane" by Valerie June: Do you notice something different about Valerie June's latest song?! It doesn't have the roots-y flavor she usually goes for in her songs, but there is a very good reason for this. That is because "Astral Plane" was a song that was originally written for the smooth-jazz influenced trip-hop group, Massive Attack. "Trip-hop", for those who aren't familiar with it, is basically like a smooth, ethereal, and jazzy form of alternative pop music with electronics as backing instruments. There are no electronic instruments backing Valerie's version of "Astral Plane", but it still manages to maintain the billowy, blissful beauty of what Massive Attack's music typically sounds like. Much like Van Morrison's similarly titled "Astral Weeks", "Astral Plane" is a magical musical trip to heaven written in A major that's guaranteed to soothe all your troubled nerves!


"Glitter And Gold" by Barns Courtney: Throughout both the spring AND summer of this year, Barns Courtney had an unexpected but oh-so-catchy hit song with the blazing, hot song, "Fire", on both the alt and adult alt charts. It was only a few weeks ago that the possibility of a second Barns Courtney hit was hinted at, but perhaps I should have figured this was coming with "Fire" being one of the most successful songs of 2016. His newest song is called "Glitter And Gold" and contains a similar mix of blues-y spirituals and rock and roll attitude. "Glitter And Gold" is already pretty catchy and the vocalized "ting ting" in the chorus of the song brings a bit of humor along for the ride as well. "Glitter And Gold" seems to be about the desire for fame, but I doubt Barns really has such a desire anymore now that he's GOTTEN it! With "Glitter And Gold", his 15 minutes of fame might have just expanded to 30!


"Here In Spirit" by Jim James: Jim James is like the bearded roots-y folk-rock version of David Bowie in some ways. He's not afraid to experiment with other sounds and he's able to sound sweet and heavenly just as much as he is brooding and scary. Jim's "Here In Spirit" attempts to have a more heavenly sound, albeit with an R & B sounding backbeat. Fitting to its title, "Here In Spirit" has a rather spiritual message of peace and love, apt to the neo-hippie image Jim James has attempted to cultivate. As a warning to those who get lulled into James' hypnotic musical trance, there is a "hiccup" in either the keyboards or the percussion at about 3 and a half minutes into the song. It should be a smooth ride otherwise, though.


"In A Drawer" by Band of Horses: It's been awhile since we last heard Band of Horses come up with a solid ballad, and "In A Drawer" is proof that BOH still have potential to be a calmer band at times. The song's odd title seems to be a reference to all the memories that Ben Bridwell keeps finding throughout the song (he finds them in a drawer). As such, the song has a rather bittersweet, nostalgic quality. "Casual Party" might have been a more likely song to hook BOH fans into listening to a new record by them due to its catchiness, but I would have preferred to have "In A Drawer" as the first single off their new album. And who, you might be wondering, is that scraggly, quavering voice singing beside Ben during the chorus? Well that just so happens to be none other than J. Mascis, the lead singer of the legendary proto-indie and pre-grunge group, Dinosaur Jr. Pretty cool, huh?!


"Shine" by Mondo Cozmo: Our last entry of the week comes from the only group of musicians making their debut onto the blog. The other four have had entries on my blog before, but not Mondo Cozmo. Their name alone sounds pretty intriguing, doesn't it?! Well, wait 'till you hear their music! Although folk-rock is precious to me in general, I must admit that I haven't been THIS impressed by a folk-rock song since Mumford and Sons debuted back in 2010! (Or when The Tallest Man on Earth broke through 2 years later). There's something very striking and poignant about Mondo Cozmo's "Shine". Perhaps it's the chord progression or the way it's being played. Perhaps it's the "everything will be alright if you let it go" refrain in the chorus that can lend itself to multiple interpretations. Maybe it could even be the echoic choir sound that comes through as the song builds up. Whatever it is, though, "Shine" does exactly what its title suggests it would do, and how!