New songs for October 14th, 2020

 here they are:


"Lifetime" by Romy (from The xx): The female half of the guy/girl electro-indie-pop duo, The xx, Romy is striking out on her own this time around. Her debut solo single, "Lifetime", sounds like an odd cross between Madonna and Imogen Heap. How this came to be is anyone's guess. "Lifetime" is both energetic dance-pop and soothingly ambient. As it turns out, there is a reason this song sounds like something Madonna might have done in the '90s. The Material Girl's fave sound engineer, Mark "Spike" Stent, was the one who mixed this track. Who would have guessed?!

"Making Do" by Lake Street Dive: Lake Street Dive have been making blues-y R & B revival music since 2014. A lot of it has sounded fun and energetic, and the lyrical themes usually revolve around romance. "Making Do" is not such a song. It still has that chugging retro R & B flavor to it like most of their songs do, but this time it's a bit slower. What's most noticeable about "Making Do", though, is how serious the subject matter is! When a band as (typically) carefree as Lake Street Dive wants to shift gears into making protest songs, you KNOW something is wrong with the world! "To the next generation, Merry Christmas", lead singer Rachael Price half-sarcastically states in the opening of the song, following the line with the more truthful whammy of, "You're working harder than ever now, and the coffee sucks." Rachael continues addressing problems ranging from climate change to unfair pay throughout the song. Many more painful reminders of reality can be heard during the rest of the song, as Rachael questions where the heroes are in this day and age. Having just been married last year, the "baby girl" mentioned in the song is literally Rachael's own baby, not even a year old yet. Rachael brings her up to complain about how irresponsible contemporary society has been in creating a world where people are more physically vulnerable than ever before. My heart weeps for humanity!

"Shaken" by David Shaw (from The Revivalists): David Shaw from blues-rock group, The Revivalists, has struck out on his own now, after having been in a surprisingly successful band for 6 years. His debut solo song, "Shaken", doesn't sound too different from his material with The Revivalists. The song does have noticeably more acoustic guitar than most Revivalists songs do, but that just provides as a backdrop here for the more blues-y instruments up front. The song appears to be about a breakup of sorts. As much as I like songs with metaphorical messages, I'm glad that "Shaken" is NOT some sort of allegory for the present crisis we've been facing. Sometimes, songs with simpler topics are just easier to take!

New songs for June 26th 2019

here they are:

“No Bullets Spent” by Spoon: A best of collection from Spoon?! Seems kinda weird for a band who never had a single major chart hit, but they’ve become well loved by listeners of adult alternative radio stations, and 10 of the 12 songs on their "best of" collection that show up before their latest song, “No Bullets Spent”, does, have all become significant adult alt radio hits to a degree. So how does “No Bullets Spent” hold up in comparison to the other 12 songs on Spoon’s upcoming best of collection? Somewhere in the middle, I’d say. While it doesn’t have quite the appeal of enduring Spoon “classics” (if they can be called that yet) like “The Way We Get By” and “The Underdog”, “No Bullets Spent” still has a charm all its own. The song sounds more like the post-punk and new wave sound that Britt Daniel and co have cultivated during the 2010’s than it does like the more quirky and whimsical power pop and folk-rock they started out with in the 2000’s. Lyrically, Spoon continue their streak as a modern-day Steely Dan, as they have been for a long time, spouting wry, cynical political observations over catchy beats and sweet melodies.


“Oh No” by The Revivalists: It’s not unusual to hear a song by The Revivalists that’s R & B influenced. However, up until this point, they’ve been more about the R (rhythm) than the B (blues). “Oh No” has sort of a “Black Keys lite” sound, a bit unusual for the New Orleans octet. It also has a thicker, heavier, and longer guitar solo than the other Revivalists songs I’ve come to know so far. The song also seems to be a distant cousin of The Heavy’s “What Makes A Good Man?” earning it yet another comparison to an R & B influenced tune that’s more blues than rhythm.


“Social Cues” by Cage the Elephant: Ah yes, social cues. Also known as, “The things I have trouble understanding sometimes from other people.” Haha. As if by coincidence, the song’s sound seems to take influence from David Bowie, a musical icon who probably misunderstood numerous social cues as well. The phrase “social cues” is mentioned nowhere in the song, leaving the listener puzzled as to why the song is called what it is in the first place. Much of the song seems to revel in making fun of the concept of fame, with such clever and somewhat tongue-in-cheek lines as, “I think it’s strange when people say, ‘You’re the next best thing. You’ll never fade’”, and “People always say, ‘Man, at least you’re on the radio.”

New songs for November 14th 2018

here they are:


"Change" by The Revivalists: "Change" is an apt title for this song, since it is a change from the boastful pop flourish of The Revivalists' previous hit, "All My Friends". Here, the New Orleans octet goes back to the blues-rock they were originally known for before they hit the big time. Not only is the song catchy, but it is clever as well, making more than one use of the word "change" in its lyrics. The chorus uses the word twice: "You've got some CHANGE inside your pocket, but it doesn't CHANGE a thing". This is The Revivalists the way they were meant to sound!


"Dark Dark Dark" by Gregory Alan Isakov: Gregory Alan Isakov has been around for a while now, but this marks the first time I've really heard his music. Mixing the intimate folk-rock of Damien Rice with the down home-y country-rock of The Avett Brothers, Gregory weaves an enchanting, wistful tale in "Dark Dark Dark". The song is an ode to the narrator's girlfriend, presumably named Maria (is the same Maria who showed up in countless Counting Crows songs?!), with reflective, nature laden imagery that wouldn't sound out of place in an Iron & Wine tune. The peaceful calm of songs like this make life worth living to me!


"Elastic Days" by J. Mascis: And now, here comes some more charmingly esoteric folk-rock from the formerly noisy Dinosaur Jr. frontman, J. Mascis. Just a few weeks ago, I was reviewing Mascis' "See You At the Movies", and he's already come out with another new song for the year that adult alt radio stations are gravitating towards! How about that?! Anyway, although both this song and "See You At the Movies" are essentially folk-rock tunes, "Elastic Days" leans even more towards folk-rock than "See You At the Movies" did. "Elastic Days" has a softer backing electric guitar than "See You At the Movies" did. So what does J mean by "the sky is back to all elastic days?" Perhaps only J himself knows the answer to that one. However, the song is not meant for lyrical analyzation as much as it is meant for people to take a breather from an otherwise hectic day, so let's go with the flow here, as Mascis has probably intended for us to do!


"Last of Your Rock 'N' Roll Heroes" by Iron & Wine: There's not a whole lot of rock 'n' roll in this song. It's more just folk music with a catchy drumbeat. The song hearkens back to the simple but weighty lyricism of early R.E.M. tunes, with its title repeated many times throughout the song, and its short, simple verses coming off as oblique but still somewhat meaningful. Sam Beam's music may be rooted in folk, but he is still a rock and roll fan, and with rock heroes leaving the planet by the thousands these days (if not the millions), perhaps that's where he was coming from with the song's title and idea.


"When Bad Does Good" by Chris Cornell: And speaking of fallen rock and roll heroes, here's one who made his exit in the summer of last year. "When Bad Does Good" is a posthumous release in the Chris Cornell catalog. The sweet but powerful "Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart" seemed to be an apt swan song for Chris, but the beginning of "When Bad Does Good" almost sounds like an ascent into heaven, as though he KNEW how he was going to decide his own fate back when he came up with the idea for this song! Why he chose not to release this beautiful song during his lifetime is anyone's guess, but perhaps he wanted listeners to feel like he was calling to them from heaven when he did this song. Life and death are curious phenomena in the human lifespan, and Cornell captures them both here perfectly!

New songs for August 8th, 2018

here they are:


"All My Friends" by The Revivalists: The Revivalists were an adult alt "niche band" for about two years until "Wish I Knew You" made surprise appearances on the more mainstream alternative charts and even on pop charts! Thanks to the success of that song, which combined folk-rock melancholia with an R & B groove, more people know who The Revivalists are now. It should come as no surprise, then, that their latest song, "All My Friends", is the most heavily anticipated song on the adult alt charts this week, and is making waves on more popular alternative rock stations as well. "All My Friends" presents The Revivalists in the way that their original fanbase knew them, as an R & B influenced contemporary rock group. Not a whole lot of bittersweetness in this song, other than the fact that it is written in a minor key. "All my friends take good care of me", sings David Shaw during the chorus. To make a song as fresh as this one is, I'm sure that what he sings there is the truth!


"Good As Gold" by Moon Taxi: Moon Taxi have had a knack for making songs that sound good enough for commercials for a while now. Their song, "All Day All Night", was featured in a McDonald's commercial a few years ago. I'm not sure if their latest song, "Good As Gold", has been featured in a commercial yet, but if it hasn't, it should! It seems as though Moon Taxi meant this song to be a sports anthem of sorts. It's a song about "reaching that moment", as their keyboardist, Wes Bailey, claimed during an interview. The moment, that is, when your team (be it sports or otherwise) reaches their ultimate victory! Apparently, Moon Taxi wrote this song as one of their favorite teams was competing for the Stanley Cup. All I can say is...go team!!


"Jenny Jenkins" by Mt. Joy: As someone who has been a proud Los Angeleno for most of his life, it makes me happy to hear that Mt. Joy's "Jenny Jenkins" is about their lead singer, Matt Quinn's, experience moving to L.A.! Quinn, on the other hand, was a native Philadelphian who moved to the City of Angels later on in his life, so his experiences with the city aren't exactly seen through rose colored glasses. Instead, he ended up landing in a city with what he believed to be "false promises", made worse once he realized that even L.A.'s famed palm trees didn't actually start their life off there. In spite of the disillusionment expressed in this song, "Jenny Jenkins" still manages to be somewhat sunny with its uptempo beat and major key. Though Matt dedicated this song to his girlfriend, her name may or may not be "Jenny". That part was a tribute to a song of the same name by The Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia.


"New Birth In New England" by Phosphorescent: Where Phosphorescent's first (and until this point, only) major adult alt radio hit, "Song For Zula", was reminiscent of the bittersweetness and stark truth of Simon and Garfunkel's music, "New Birth In New England" sounds more like a solo Paul Simon song from his "Graceland" record. "New Birth In New England" has a sound that's as tropical sounding as it is jazzy, much like the "Graceland" songs. Since the success of "Song For Zula", lead singer Matthew Houck has become the father of two children, so it's no coincidence that "New Birth In New England" has lyrics that describe one's initial experiences with fatherhood. Another interesting parallel between Phosphorescent's last big hit and this one is how "Song For Zula" focused largely on death, yet "New Birth In New England", as its title implies, seems to be more about birth. It's the circle of life!


"Shotgun" by George Ezra: As if by coincidence, our next song also seems to be a Paul Simon soundalike, especially during its bass heavy chorus. "Shotgun"'s combo of folk, jazz, rock, and world music also gives off Paul Simon vibes. It's a very happy song, and no, the word "shotgun" here does not refer to a weapon, but instead to "riding shotgun". The bulk of George Ezra's music just seems to be about having fun, and this song is no exception! And, like "Jenny Jenkins", "Shotgun" is a song about a musician's experience in a land they weren't born in - Australia, in this case. In contrast to Matt Quinn's negative experiences in L.A., George's travels in Australia seem to have been positive ones, as reflected by the appropriately summery vibes of the song. You don't have to come from the land down under to appreciate what this song has to offer!


"Uh Huh" by Jade Bird: Hmmm...interesting song title, Jade! Did you want people to feel like they were giving a clever response when discussing the name of this song, as in the following exchange: Person 1: What's the name of this song?/Person 2: Uh Huh/Person 1: Were you even listening to what I said?/Person 2: Uh huh/Person 1: So what's the name of this song?/Person 2: Uh Huh/Person 1: You're still not listening, are you...?! And so on and so forth...There's nothing silly or "Who's On First?"-ish about "Uh Huh", though, a song that manages to be even shorter than Jade Bird's previous single, "Lottery", which was two and a half minutes. Both the frustrated, scathing lyrics and furiously strummed acoustic guitar are reminiscent of mid '60s Bob Dylan. With lyrics like, "She's got you on your knees just like a little boy/Everybody sees that you're just a little toy", and, "She's got you where it hurts, but you don't seem to see/That while she's out at work she's doing what you did to me." In a song that's only 19 seconds longer than The Beatles' short but sweet masterpiece, "Norwegian Wood", Jade packs enough venom in "Uh Huh" to compare with Dylan's "Positively 4th Street" and Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know". While it is not likely that "Uh Huh" will achieve the historic, iconic status both of those songs have, I still think it's one of the best angry breakup songs I've ever heard!

New songs for April 13th, 2016

here they are:


"Wish I Knew You" by The Revivalists: This is only the third song that The Revivalists have a had an adult alt radio hit with, yet they're already starting to make changes to their music! The Revivalists first two hits made me believe that they were a New Orleans R & B band. While they are from New Orleans, "Wish I Knew You" proves that R & B is not the only genre they like. It still has jazzy sax parts and a funky backbeat, but its guitar playing is decidedly folky in comparison to their other two hit songs. "Wish I knew you when I was young, we could have got so high", David Shaw soulfully croons during the chorus. Before any you of you go off assuming that this song is about drugs, it is probably more of a spiritually yearning sort of song about wanting to get to know someone before he/she passed away.


"Wristband" by Paul Simon: With alternative metal band Disturbed having had a surprise hit this year with a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence", perhaps it only figures that Simon himself was also inclined to make a record this year, perhaps in part because of his song becoming a hit again after many decades (Simon said that he liked Disturbed's version of his song in a recent interview). "Wristband", though, is neither folk nor metal. Instead, it is a song that retains the rhythmically driven African roots sound that Paul Simon cultivated on his "Graceland" record. The lyrics of "Wristband" also have a similarly spiritual theme to what a lot of the "Graceland" songs had, revolving around a place where "if you don't have a wristband, you can't get through the door" (Heaven, perhaps?) With Simon's mention of St. Peter and the Pearly Gates during one of the verses of "Wristband", it seems pretty likely that he's referring to the celestial abode of the Man Upstairs.


"You And I" by Margaret Glaspy: A raspy voiced white girl leading Alabama Shakes? A young woman leading T. Rex? These descriptions would probably sound farfetched for any other song except for this one, the debut song from sassy, rockin' California native, Margaret Glaspy. If this song has anything to teach us, it's that looks can be deceiving! With her petite, demure appearance, you'd probably expect her to be a folksinger of some sort, but she isn't. Her lyrics are pretty sour as well, especially when she bluntly states that she "doesn't give a f**k". Elsewhere in the song, Glaspy basically cuts her ex-lover down in just two and a half minutes!

New songs for August 12th, 2015

here they are:


"Empire" by Of Monsters and Men: "Crystals"? "Empire"?! Any Bronies noticing a pattern here?! Heheheh. Joking aside, though, "Empire" really is a good OMAM song, like most of their material. Much like their previous hit from this year, "Crystals", "Empire" doesn't stray too far from the standard OMAM pattern of gentle, pensive folk-rock combined with somewhat mystical, opaque lyrics. There are some things that set the two songs apart, though. First of all, "Empire" is in C minor (as opposed to the C major key "Crystals" was in), and it also features more male vocals than female vocals, the latter of which were used more on "Crystals". OMAM win once again with their nature oriented imagery ("river running wild", "feel the ocean as it breathes", "see the mountains where they meet", etc.)


"Fake Roses" by The Lone Bellow: As you might expect from a song that contains both "fake" and "roses" in its title, this is a rather melancholy song. It appears to be a song about being able to "see through" a relationship to know how bad it might have been. Quite a turnaround from a band whose last song was a rather confident number called "Take My Love"! Still, though, as the autumn season slowly approaches, "Fake Roses" is a very apt song for the somber season. What better way to shake off a negative relationship than to snuggle up inside surrounded by blankets, warmth, and a drink of hot chocolate? Songs like this certainly get me in the mood for that!


"Keep Going" by The Revivalists: "Keep Going" is exactly what the soulful, jazzy, and aptly named Revivalists are attempting to do here! With their solid, dynamic sound, they are out to convince the world that "Navigate Below" was not going to leave them branded as one hit wonders! The relentlessly happy "chugga-chugga" sound of "Keep Going" is enough to win over fans of the band (as well as fans of similar acts like Alabama Shakes, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and Gary Clark, Jr.) Revivalists, keep going! Keep on doin' what you're doin'! You're good at it!


"Maggie I've Been Searching For Our Son" by Craig Finn: Classic roots-rock revivalist Craig Finn from The Hold Steady turns down the electric guitars on his latest song, which is a rather plaintive protest song. Finn still has the Springsteen-esque sound he usually has here, though it sounds more like something from The Boss's largely folk-rock-y "Greetings From Asbury Park" than it does the sweeping, epic anthems of "Born to Run". For a man whose band has become an adult alt radio staple within the past couple years, Finn has never focused on acoustic rock songs (surprisingly) until now. The angst and sarcasm typically present in Finn and The Hold Steady's material is replaced here by something of a more pensive, yearning quality. Surprisingly, it actually works here!


"Monkey Tree" by Mother Mother: After three plaintive folk-rock songs (and one soulful, blues-y number), it's refreshing to end this week's blog with a bouncier, quirkier pop song like "Monkey Tree". Even its title is kinda goofy! A song that opens with the lyrics, "I live in the jungle, I sleep in a monkey tree", is bound to make you smile! Well, it did for me, anyway. This song is also one that'll make you wanna dance! Come on and do the monkey, everybody!

MY TWO HUNDREDTH POST!!!! :D :D :D

This deserves some sorta celebration!! Ummmmmm....I dunno what, though. Anyway, here are this week's songs:


"Bad Habit" by The Kooks: At first, Luke Pritchard's voice appears to be surrounded only by various forms of percussion, a la Adele's "Rumour Has It", on the latest Kooks song, "Bad Habit". This made me a bit skeptical as to how I would like "Bad Habit". However, about a minute into the song, the faux-retro garage rock sound of Hugh Harris' guitar shows up, and makes it sound more like a typical Kooks song. It's definitely a catchy song (although what Kooks song isn't, really?!) However, it just doesn't measure up to that '60s folk-rock style charm of songs like "She Moves In Her Own Way" and "Junk of the Heart (Happy)". It sure is great to hear Luke and the boys back in action, though, nonetheless!


"Don't Know What It Means" by Puss N Boots: Norah Jones (yes, THAT Norah Jones) has attempted to assert herself as the lead singer of bands before, such as The Little Willies, but that didn't quite do the trick for me. Norah's new group, Puss N Boots, however, has actually gotten me to like her music. Initially, I didn't even realize she was in the band, when in fact she is the lead vocalist and guitarist! Their sound is country-rock, but a rather enjoyable, catchy sort of country-rock (think what a less rowdy Old '97s might sound like). "Don't Know What It Means" is only a little over two and a half minutes long, and Norah repeats the title phrase quite a few times, but there is still something quite likable about it. It is also worth mentioning that Puss N Boots is a trio of women (unlike The Little Willies, in which Norah was the only female in the group).


"Hayloft" by Nickel Creek: We've heard Nickel Creek attempt to blend bluegrass and rock before, and they're quite good at it. What about mixing bluegrass and pop, though?! Well, the answer to that comes to us in the form of Nickel Creek's latest song, "Hayloft", which combines the plucked strings of bluegrass with the synthesized beats of a typical 21st century pop song. Don't mistake this for a sugar-sweet pop song, though, as Sara Watkins' repeated mantra of "my daddy's got a gun, so you better run", as well as the rather menacing tone of the song overall, give "Hayloft" a bit of an edge that previous Nickel Creek songs haven't had. Sure is a sharp turnaround from the bittersweet, yearning sounds of "Destination"!! Makes me wonder what the rest of Nickel Creek's latest album, "A Dotted Line", sounds like.


"Heart Is A Drum" by Beck: Beck once covered the song "Pink Moon" by folk-rock cult hero, Nick Drake. Perhaps that rubbed off on him somehow, as Beck's latest song, "Heart Is A Drum", sounds a lot like a Nick Drake song. Its tuning even sounds similar to songs like Nick's "From the Morning", and the piano sounds awfully similar to a couple of Nick Drake's songs (most notably the songs from "Bryter Layter"). The electronic echo and drums in "Heart Is A Drum" make the song into more of a Beck song. With its continuously aching yet soothing melody, "Heart Is A Drum" is pure autumnal melancholia at its finest!


"Left Hand Free" by alt-J: Alt-J (who named themselves for how the ∆ symbol appears on computers) are pretty much as eclectic as their name would suggest they are! They've gone through quirky goofball rock with the Adam Sandler-esque "Fitzpleasure", as well as psychedelic pop with their "Where the Wild Things Are" homage, "Breezeblocks". Now it appears that alt-J are going for more of a blues-y garage rock based sound with their latest song, "Left Hand Free". If "Left Hand Free" sounds more simplistic than alt-J's previous work, there's a reason for that. Apparently, they were trying their hand (no pun intended) at creating a song that was more fit for American audiences (alt-J themselves are British) since their latest record was recorded on an American label, so they intentionally did a sloppy, haphazard sounding song. Perhaps they don't view American culture in the highest regard, but they were still able to come up with a good song in the process.


"Long Time Coming" by Saints of Valory: Saints of Valory are one of those bands who just seem to have a sound that's riding hot on the wave of what has become popular in alt-pop/rock of the 2010's. Their previous hit, "Neon Eyes" (from only one summer ago), was an excellent U2 homage, and SOV's follow-up song, "Long Time Coming", sounds a lot like Imagine Dragons, only with more emphasis on the electric guitar. While the sound of this song might not be terribly original, there is one thing that is, and that's the video, which boasts an electric neon glow (and talented dancers) throughout! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WR5GQNDQYY


"My Hurricane" by Jamie Scott (from Graffiti6): And the hit(makers) just keep on coming! "Free" and "Stare Into the Sun" might not be titles that are immediately recognizable (and a lot of people don't seem to know the name Graffiti6, either), but whistle a few bars (if you're good at it) to either song, and a lot of people will probably know what you're talking about! Now Jamie Scott, the lead singer of the wildly successful alt-pop/soul group, Graffiti6, has struck out on his own for the first time, with his song, "My Hurricane". "My Hurricane" doesn't seem like it'll fare as well on the charts as "Free" and "Stare Into the Sun", but the song does have a style all its own. Instead of being influenced by early '70s soul like his previous hits were, it seems to be influenced by more contemporary folk-pop (and legendary folk-rock like Bob Dylan - check out that harmonica solo at the beginning!) Another thing about "My Hurricane" that sticks out is its shifting from E major verses to C major choruses. I don't know too many songs that have verse to chorus changes quite like that!


"Navigate Below" by The Revivalists: "The Revivalists", indeed! What these guys are reviving is the sound of blues and jazz, wrapped up neatly in a pop/rock package! Though there have been a small number of musicians (i.e. Gary Clark Jr., Trombone Shorty, Alabama Shakes, etc.) who have attempted to keep the blues alive and well, there still have not been many, so a band like The Revivalists are a welcome addition to my blog, and hopefully, to your music collection. The hopeful lyrics ("we can work it out") and bright, shiny tone of "Navigate Below" set it apart from the mostly either world-weary or lovelorn blues/jazz-rock of the 2010's. Oh, did I mention they're from New Orleans?! No wonder they sound so good!


"White Lies" by Max Frost: As the title indicates, this song is basically about the lack of trust in a relationship that the lead singer (probably) experienced. Nothing new here. As for the sound of the song, it's been done, but it definitely has a way of creeping into your head! It mixes folk guitars with electronic beats (Avicii, anyone?!), but there's actually a very good reason for this. Apparently one of the first people Max Frost collaborated with was indie-folk-rocker Bob Schneider, and he first heard the music of contemporary R & B musicians like D'Angelo and Erykah Badu shortly afterward, which ultimately led to his combining of folk and hip-hop. Also, if this song sounds familiar, it might just be because you watched a commercial for Beats Electronics!