here they are:
"And It's Still Alright" by Nathaniel Rateliff: Nathaniel Rateliff, along with his backing group, The Night Sweats, have brought us numerous adult alt and alt radio hits with a distinctly soulful flavor, like "S.O.B." and "You Worry Me". This song, which also happens to be the first song released IN 2020 that I'm reviewing in 2020, marks Nathaniel's first significant appearance on his own without The Night Sweats. That song, "And It's Still Alright", plays out like a slightly countrified version of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic". Not exactly what I would have expected from the normally fiery Nathaniel Rateliff, but perhaps part of the reason it sounds the way it does is because Nathaniel does not have his backing group with him this time. It's a pleasant and bittersweet song, though, so I do like it. Not Nathaniel's best, but it is a good one...and it's still alright.
"Black Madonna" by Cage the Elephant: The title of this song refers to the "Madonna and Child" painting when people depict the titular woman with dark skin instead of lighter skin, proving Cage the Elephant to be both more spiritual and more knowledgable than I previously thought they were. Beneath the surface, though, the song "Black Madonna" seems to be about someone who is not ready to have a relationship. Given the themes of rocky relationships in other recent CTE tunes, like "Ready to Let Go", I would say this is an accurate conclusion to arrive at. The song goes in line with the spaced-out new wave sound CTE have been going for on their latest album, and like the other three songs that have been released from it so far as singles, "Black Madonna" is in a minor key. The overall darkness of the song seems to be offset by its title, as well as the "hallelujah" in the chorus, both indicating reverential undertones in a song that otherwise seems bleak and despairing.
"Dirt In My Eyes" by Cold War Kids: Much like their 2019 summer smash, "Complainer", Cold War Kids' "Dirt In My Eyes" is also a funky, catchy song in the CWK catalog. Where "Complainer", in spite of its title, was uplifting, "Dirt In My Eyes" seems to BE a complaint, probably against a former lover. "You just keep on kickin' dirt in my eyes", Nathan Willett sings in a Michael Jackson-esque falsetto during the chorus, "and I just keep on actin', actin' surprised", he continues. Those sound like the words of a man who's been pushed around for far too long. However, instead of making the song moody, he makes it funky! Go figure, eh?!
"Feel the Way I Want" by Caroline Rose: What is there to say about Caroline Rose except that she knows how to make great danceable tunes out of alternative pop/rock music? In 2018, she released the fun, sassy, booty shakin' "Soul No. 5". Where "Soul No. 5" was largely rock oriented, Caroline's latest, "Feel the Way I Want", seems more rooted in the eccentric funk stylings of Prince, and it also sounds a bit like the works of Funkadelic's Bootsy Collins. If not for Caroline's distinct vocal stylings, this song could be mistaken for a Lizzo song! "Feel the Way I Want" is a largely celebratory anthem that lives up to its title. Let's start this decade/year right, folks. We've gotta feel the way we want to!
"Hand Over My Heart" by The Secret Sisters: The only other song I've heard so far from The Secret Sisters was the bittersweet, yearning folk-rock song, "He's Fine", from about four years ago. "Hand Over My Heart", in contrast, is more sweet than bittersweet and more indie-pop with folky undertones than it is folk-rock. According to lead singer, Laura Rogers, the reason "Hand Over My Heart" sounds the way it does is because The Secret Sisters wanted to go in a direction that was more musically and lyrically positive. Lovelorn ballads have long been their typical style, but in the dawning of this new era, they've chosen love and kindness over loss and heartache. The resulting song is a sweet, bubbly song that is sure to put a smile on any indie-folk fan!
"I Don't Wanna Lie" by Yola: One of many blues-y R & B revivalists of the 2010's, Yola debuted at the end of the decade. Come the early 2020's, she has finally gotten the recognition she's deserved on adult alt radio with the Dan Auerbach (Black Keys) produced song, "I Don't Wanna Lie"! The guitars in the intro sound pretty Auerbach-ian, but cue the piano, string section, and drums, and "I Don't Wanna Lie" becomes its own song, evoking the sultry magic of early 1970's soul music. The song is a bold and funky declaration of love and honesty in the tradition of many of Yola's soulful forebears. This song is pretty somethin'! I mean I don't wanna lie and say it's not!
"Lost In Yesterday" by Tame Impala: The icy, stark new wave sound of Tame Impala's latest song, combined with its rhythm, made me think of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears. However, "Lost In Yesterday" differs greatly in its lyrics from the mostly pessimistic TFF song. As its title implies, "Lost In Yesterday" is about getting lost inside a memory. Lead singer Kevin Parker never makes it clear in the song whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. Perhaps his opinion can best be summed up in the verse where he says, "If they call you, embrace them. If they hold you, erase them". In other words, happy memories are great to get lost in, but if a memory holds you back from enjoying the present, get rid of it. Memories are an important part of my life and an important part of who I am overall. Thanks for speaking to my subconscious and empowering it, Kevin!
"Texas Sun" by Khruangbin (pronounced KRUNG-bin), featuring Leon Bridges: There is a good reason this song is about Texas. Post-psychedelic indie-rock group, Khruangbin, and soul revivalist, Leon Bridges, are both Texas natives. Of course, many other musicians are Texans as well, so why did these two choose one another? They seem like quite an unlikely pair! Somehow, though, it manages to work here. Trippy guitars and soulful vocals and rhythm join forces here without one offsetting the other. The result is something that is both strange and beautiful.
Showing posts with label The Secret Sisters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Secret Sisters. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
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.
"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.
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