New songs for July 27th, 2022

 here they are:

"A.M. Radio" by The Lumineers: The Lumineers' latest song is a bittersweet folk-rock tune, like most of their material is. What separates "A.M. Radio" from their other tunes, however, is its lyrics. The lyrics of the song center around how you can't avoid your life's purpose no matter how far you try to wander away from it. The song evokes a feeling of nostalgia as well, as can be inferred from the title. (I mean who really listens to A.M. radio anymore, or any commercial radio, for that matter?) This is one of those songs that's just meant to give a feeling of comfort to its listeners.

"I'm Just a Clown" by Charley Crockett: I'm just a clown, yes I'm only a clown, and I'm sittin' here on...oh wait, wrong song! "Schoolhouse Rock" references aside, "I'm Just a Clown" is a good song, and one that will sit well with people who have coulrophobia (fear of clowns). The word "clown" in the context of the song simply means "foolish person," not someone with white makeup and colorful, goofy hair who entertains children at birthday parties. As for the song itself, there's also a story to tell there, since it combines country music with soul music, a rare but intriguing trend from the past few years that musicians like Sturgill Simpson have brought to the limelight. If the name "Crockett" sounds familiar, Charley is actually a distant relative of Davy Crockett - yes, THAT Davy Crockett. You know, "King of the Wild Frontier"? 

"The Otter" by Caamp: Folk-rock is a common feature of Caamp's music, but their latest song, "The Otter," sounds a bit more like their take on Mumford/Lumineers-styled songs than it is like the more roots-y sound they typically go for. The song is a love ballad, and its instrumentation seems to have everything that was common to the "neo-folk" boom of the early 2010's: rhythm punctuated by handclaps and snaps, a good mix of acoustic guitar and banjo, sweet harmony vocals, and unconventional guitar tuning (The last of these features seemed specifically common to Mumford and Sons songs, though. Most Lumineers songs use more conventional tuning). It also seems more pop-y than what Caamp typically go for, but by no means is this a bad thing. It could help them gain a wider audience!

"These Are the Days" by Inhaler: Inhaler's "Cheer Up Baby" was one of the catchiest songs to dominate the alt and adult alt airwaves of 2022! It seemed to cement Inhaler as the Irish answer to Scotland's Franz Ferdinand, composed almost entirely of riffs instead of chords except in the middle. Inhaler's latest song, "These Are the Days," seems pretty riff-heavy as well, but instead of relying on the angular pop/rock take on post-punk that Franz Ferdinand were known for, "These Are the Days" sounds a bit more like actual Irish rock, with more than a few nods to U2 in terms of its anthemic yet still warm and melodic sound. In contrast to the more subversive vibe "Cheer Up Baby" had, "These Are the Days" seems more sincere and hopeful than its predecessor. 

New songs for January 26th, 2022

 here they are:


"How Dare You Want More" by Bleachers: Combining Springsteen-ian guitars with horns that sound more fit for a ska player than they do for Clarence Clemons, Bleachers' "How Dare You Want More" seems at least in part to be inspired by lead singer Jack Antonoff's dream-come-true of actually getting to duet with his hero and fellow New Jerseyan, Bruce Springsteen, about two years ago. Even some of the lyrics here seem a bit Springsteen-ian (such as "lonely wants to stay forever"). The title begs the question, "How Dare You Want More"? More what, exactly? Through the verses of the song, we find out that Jack could be referring to more than one thing in the title of the song. A lot of the verses seem to refer to hardships Jack has been through, and he is telling the subjects of his song that he does not want to be put through more grief than he has already been through. The beauty of anguish, however, is that it results in great songs. This one such example!

"Where We Are" by The Lumineers: Stylistically speaking, "Where We Are" is nothing new for The Lumineers, but the chord progression, which sneaks in a capoed, blues-y B7 once or twice, does make it a memorable song for them. Like our previous entry for this week, "Where We Are" centers around the many hardships the band has had to suffer through together. The song, fittingly, is in both major and minor key during the chorus, perhaps signifying that although the band faces an uncertain future, there is still a light at the end of the tunnel that brings them hope.


"Wild" by Spoon: The blues-rock fury of Spoon's previous single, "The Hardest Cut," was an unexpected yet welcome smash hit on adult alt radio stations late last year and early this one. "Wild" goes more for the experimental yet catchy funk-rock the band are known for. In other words, "Wild" is NOT actually wild. It is fun, though! The lyrics of the song seem to be world-weary, tired of being demanded to do everything for everyone all the time. In the chorus, Britt Daniels sings, "But the world, still so wild, called to me," from which the song gets its title, serving as a "comeback" point in the song to show how reason ("the world") pulls him away from the madness of the crowd. 

New songs for September 22nd, 2021

 Here they are:

"Brightside" by The Lumineers: This is probably the first Lumineers song to make significant use of the electric guitar, as opposed to the acoustic sound they usually go for. However, the sound is roots-y enough that it still fits their sound, using instrumentation that wouldn't sound out of place on a Bruce Springsteen or Tom Petty record. The lyrics seem rather Springsteen-esque as well, weaving a tale of two people, probably either teenagers or college-aged adults, trying to break out of a monotonous desert lifestyle and go into a more adventurous one involving sex, drugs, and rock & roll (Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon is even mentioned by name in the first verse). Wesley Schultz, perhaps in character, assures the subject of his song that he'll be their "brightside" during the chorus. He never says exactly what he means by this, but it probably means he'll serve as the steady anchor to the person's wild lifestyle in case it gets too out of hand. 

"Can't Hide It" by Curtis Harding: In 2017, Curtis Harding's retro-soul music burst onto the adult alt airwaves with a blast of energy that simultaneously recalled Motown and early '70s funk. His latest song, "Can't Hide It," aims for the same kind of sound. The song is a simple declaration of love, like his other two adult alt radio hits ("On and On" and "Need Your Love") have been so far. This one is slightly slower than those songs were, and it also contains a guitar solo towards the end.

"I Don't Live Here Anymore" by The War on Drugs: This song might just encapsulate all the musical nostalgia that The War on Drugs have! The lyrics reference Bob Dylan twice: Once in the lyric "a creature void of form" from the first verse (which borrows a phrase from Dylan's "Shleter from the Storm"), and another time in the second verse where they namedrop Dylan and his song, "Desolation Row." The song itself sounds like Bruce Springsteen, circa 1984, jamming with Tears for Fears. However, The War on Drugs are actually aiming to turn away from nostalgia in the lyrics, as the title seems to imply. Lead singer Adam Granduciel claims he "doesn't live (there) anymore" after the lyric that references "Desolation Row." In other words, he doesn't want to live in the past. Well, from the way the song sounds, it sure doesn't SEEM like he doesn't wanna live in the past!

"Love Love Love" by My Morning Jacket: The latest song from My Morning Jacket, a band that is equal parts jam band, neo-psychedelic, prog-rock, and folk-rock, with just a splash of neo-soul, is "Love Love Love," a song that aims to spread a simple yet universal message amidst an electric guitar that starts out pulsating like a musical heartbeat before blasting out into a psychedelic wail that sounds like it would fit somewhere between Jerry Garcia and Jimmy Page. The song has an optimistic message that can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone, but its sound seems to be one meant to appeal more specifically to blissed out, post-hippie stoners, especially towards the end of it. 

New songs for March 25th, 2020

here they are:


"Fire" by Black Pumas: The sleek, sophisticated neo-soul music of Black Pumas continues burning up the adult alt charts with their third Triple A radio hit, "Fire". This song should strike a chord with people who were fans of Black Pumas ever since they debuted with "Black Moon Rising", as it continues in the vintage funk/soul direction of that song, as opposed to the folk-soul fusion of their fall '19 hit, "Colors". "Fire" is a song that builds a fire within you...in a good way, of course. The song is a bold declaration of love, with lead singer Eric Burton reassuring his lover that he'll be with her no matter what happens. This is the kind of love we all need these days!


"Salt And the Sea" by The Lumineers: Contrary to their normally sunny sound, The Lumineers are no strangers to dark subject matter. "Salt And the Sea" is the first Lumineers song I've heard so far, though, that sounds as dark as it actually is. The starkness of the song and the fact that it opens with and centers around a minor chord set the tone. As far as Lumineers songs go, "Salt And the Sea" could be likened to a Greek tragedy, with the lead character of the song seeming to plot revenge on his enemy. The ambulances blaring in the background towards the end of the song only add to the disquieting quiet this song has to offer.


"The Buzz" by The Pretenders: A few Pretenders songs from the last 10 years or so, such as "Holy Commotion" and "Boots of Chinese Plastic", have burned with righteous fury. In spite of its edgy title, "The Buzz" is not such a song. However, it does provide a nice fusion of folk-rock and power pop in a way that early Pretenders songs like "Kid" and "Stop Your Sobbing", the latter of which was originally a Kinks song, did. "The Buzz" is basically "Kid - redux", but it is nice to see that Chrissie can still rock it, even softly, after over 40 years of her band's existence. When I saw her without The Pretenders in concert last summer, I was afraid that she had lost her rock and roll spark. With "The Buzz", she's slowly coming back to her senses. Perhaps part of the reason this is a slower song is because the lyrics tell the tale of both a romance gone wrong and how love can be addictive like a drug. Had Chrissie been a newbie at relationships, this song probably would have sounded more raw, but having been through all the experiences she has been through by now, "The Buzz" sounds like a song that came from a defeated lover with a bruised and battered heart.

End of the year/decade blog special part 1: The Top 20 Songs of 2019

Here they are!


20. "Overexcited" by Guster
19. "Almost (Sweet Music)" by Hozier
18. "Alligator" by Of Monsters and Men
17. "Moderation" by Florence and The Machine
16. "Superposition" by Young the Giant
15. "Saw Lightning" by Beck
14. "Peach Fuzz" by Caamp
13. "Movement" by Hozier
12. "This Life" by Vampire Weekend
11. "Social Cues" by Cage the Elephant
10. "Doin' Time" by Lana Del Rey
9. "Ready to Let Go" by Cage the Elephant
8. "Life In the City" by The Lumineers
7. "No Bullets Spent" by Spoon
6. "Lo/Hi" by The Black Keys
5. "Stay High" by Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes)
4. "Go" by The Black Keys
3. "Missed Connection" by The Head and The Heart
2. "Harmony Hall" by Vampire Weekend

annndd...the number one song of 2019 is..."GLORIA" BY THE LUMINEERS!!!

But that's not ALL, folks!! Sometime this weekend (or perhaps early next week - haven't decided yet) I will be posting the big one...the Top 100 of the entire DECADE of the 2010's!! Stay tuned to find out where your faves landed!!

New songs for August 21st 2019

here they are:


"Catfish Kate" by Pixies: The legendary alternative rock band returns just in time for the end of the decade! In comparison to the spiky sound of their last "comeback" song, "Classic Masher", "Catfish Kate" sounds almost like an R.E.M. song, similar to The Pixies' now classic, "Here Comes Your Man". Frank "Black Francis" Black takes the lead vocals on this song and weaves a tale about someone he once knew whose nickname was "Catfish Kate". What is this tale about?! I'm scratching my head trying to figure THAT one out, but most Pixies songs tend to be rather obscure in meaning upon first listen. It's only upon listening to a Pixies song enough times that one can decipher its true significance, but such is part of the appeal of a band that was famously one of Kurt Cobain's favorites.


"Knock Me Off My Feet" by Soak: As an Irish-American myself, I think there are many talented Irish musicians. U2, of course, but there are many more: The Cranberries, Sinead O'Connor, The Boomtown Rats, Van Morrison, Damien Rice, and so much more. One of the latest performers to join their ranks is Bridie Monds-Watson, better known as "Soak". Her song, "Knock Me Off My Feet", has a sound that's evocative of groups like The Cure, Echo and The Bunnymen, and Joy Division. Much like the bands she is emulating, Soak's "Knock Me Off My Feet" has rather dark subject matter. Here it concerns how harshly people can treat themselves, although it also suggests the opposite idea of how well people can treat themselves.


"Lebanon" by J.S. Ondara: Thanks to L.A.'s trailblazing radio station, KCSN, I have heard J.S. Ondara's latest offering, "Lebanon". The song has an interesting title for a musician who was born in an African country and raised in the United States, since Lebanon itself is a Middle Eastern country. The song is not about geographical location, though, but is instead about providing friendship and loyalty through thick and thin. Through a sweet folk-rock sound that brings to mind what Tracy Chapman might sound like with a catchier beat, Ondara tells a story of his desire for friendship through troubled times. "In the water, in the fire, I'll go wherever you go", Ondara sings during the song's chorus. Powerful stuff!


"Life In the City" by The Lumineers: It's not every day you get a song with a waltz rhythm and a folk-rock sound, but The Lumineers did it before with "Submarines", and they're doing it again with their latest song, "Life In the City". Though the song itself might sound somewhat uplifting, do not be fooled. "Life In the City" does not celebrate the urban lifestyle, but instead criticizes it. Wesley Schultz croons sorrowfully about how city life has left him feeling empty inside, even stating in the chorus that it will "never be pretty". Through troubled times, though, come great songs, and this is one of them!


"So Caught Up" by The Teskey Brothers: Australian quartet, The Teskey Brothers, offer us music that does not sound like it came from down under at all. For that matter, it doesn't sound current either. Instead, it sounds like a 1960's soul song that came from someone like Sam & Dave or Otis Redding. Lyrically, it's a love song without a very deep meaning to it, but the way the song is delivered is so energetic that the listener can't help but get hooked into it!


"The Chain" by The Highwomen: An all-woman, country-rock supergroup, composed of Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Natalie Hemby, and Amanda Shires, most of whom have had adult alt radio hits as solo musicians, take on a song from one of the most legendary women (and men) in rock and roll history! If you saw the title, "The Chain", and thought of a Fleetwood Mac song from the mid 1970's, you'd be correct! This is the song the quartet of women are taking on. How does it fare in comparison to the original? An A for effort on their part, but it almost sounds TOO similar to the Fleetwood Mac version. The song is in the key of E (major for the verses, minor for the chorus) like the original, and it also has the same rhythm and remarkably similar instrumentation, right down to the bass riff and guitar solo that marks the end of the song, nearly note for note! The only way to truly differentiate the two versions is by vocals (and by the "jam band" styled section towards the end of the song). Still, they picked a great song to cover!


"2all" by Catfish and The Bottlemen: Our last entry of the week is another song I first heard on L.A.'s KCSN, just like J.S. Ondara's "Lebanon", which I reviewed earlier in this week's blog. The harmonious vocals and heartfelt message of "2all" marks an interesting contrast to the usual gritty material of Catfish and The Bottlemen's material. I couldn't even believe it WAS Catfish and The Bottlemen when I first heard it. There's a reason this song sounds sweet and mellow in comparison to most of CATB's material, though. Van McCann apparently wanted to do a song dedicated to his audience and how supportive they were to his band and their music. What a great idea! Now that's what I call dedication!

New songs for April 10th, 2019

Here they are:


"Gloria" by The Lumineers: Continuing in the tradition of doing song titles of girls' names ending with an "A" from their last album, it's only fitting that The Lumineers' latest song would be called something like "Gloria". As with the leading singles from their last two albums, "Gloria" has been storming both the alternative and adult alternative radio charts in less than a week of its release! Beneath the toe tapping, happy sound of "Gloria" are darker lyrics that sound like they're about someone who spent their time drinking too much. Lead singer Wesley Schultz asks the titular Gloria if she's "had enough" and tells her that there are "easier ways to die". A bit grimmer than the typical fare from The Lumineers, but after three albums, it's great to know they've still retained the musical charm they started out with!


"Night Running" by Cage the Elephant (featuring Beck): Matt Shultz (yes, ANOTHER person whose last name is pronounced "Shults", like Wesley from the previous entry) might be the main vocalist featured on "Night Running", but the music clearly seems like it was Beck's idea. Its techno-jazz-funk-rock-from-outer-space sound can be from none other! The eclectic musician makes his vocal appearances on the song during its chorus. The seemingly stream-of-consciousness lyrics also seem Beck inspired. Fitting to its title, "Night Running" seems like the perfect song to be playing at midnight during a party. Outta sight!!


"Saying Goodbye" by J.S. Ondara: Our last entry of the week is from a newcomer who was born in Kenya and raised in Minnesota who does achingly beautiful folk-rock music. His debut song, "Saying Goodbye", is probably the most poignant song on this week's blog. The chorus states that he's "just getting good at saying goodbye". I get the sense both from the title and from the mood of the song, as well as some of its lyrics, that this song is about a breakup. I do wonder what he's referring to at the end of the song when he says, "There goes my innocence", but he says it with such power and conviction that I just can't help but feel moved by it!

New songs for October 17th, 2018

here they are:


"I'd Rather Go Blind" by Grace Potter: Grace Potter has zigzagged through the years between folk, blues, rock, and pop. Perhaps she's always been a blues-woman at heart, though, and there's proof of this in her Muscle Shoals produced cover of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind". Grace pours her heart and soul out on this cover, which would make both Etta James and Bonnie Raitt proud. Unlike Etta's version, Grace's take on this blues classic runs for a full 5 minutes, proving just how passionate she is about this song!


"Walls" by The Lumineers: Another cover for the only other song of the week, this time one of the late, great, Tom Petty. "Ho Hey" might be a far cry from, say, "Refugee", but "Walls" is one of the softer, more roots-y songs in Petty's catalog, so it's fitting for The Lumi's to pay tribute to Petty like this. Once again, even after 6 years in the music biz, The Lumi's STILL haven't compromised their folk-rock for techno-pop, making them tried and true survivors of the indie-folk scene. I need only for someone like Leon Bridges to cover Aretha Franklin now that she has passed on, and my life will be complete!