New songs for February 16th, 2022

 here they are:


"Bad Dream" by Cannons: Electro-indie-pop group, Cannons, had one of the biggest hits of 2021 with the slinky, passionate "Fire for You." Currently climbing up the alt charts and scratching the surface of the adult alt charts is the song slated to be Cannons' second big hit, "Bad Dream." The song basically tells the tale of how lead singer Michelle Joy has been stood up by someone she has deep admiration for. That can indeed make someone feel like they're living in a bad dream! In contrast to the funky, echoic guitars in the background of "Fire for You," "Bad Dream" doesn't seem to feature any guitars at all, instead relying on synthesizer as its main instrument.

"Good Day" by Seratones: This marks the third time I've heard a song by Seratones, a Louisiana trio who combines vintage R & B sounds with fuzzed out, psychedelic guitar sounds. After the fiery "Gotta Get to Know Ya" and the righteous indignation of "Over You," "Good Day" might just be Seratones' first feel-good song! At least, the first feel-good song that has become a hit for them. According to lead singer, A.J. Haynes, Seratones intentionally chose a feel-good sound for both this song and its album as a form of protest, oddly enough, as Haynes feels that getting through tough times with joyful emotions is the type of protest she's "most interested in" for the time being. 

"Porta" by Sharon Van Etten: Through a stark electro-pop sound, Sharon Van Etten weaves a rather dark tale about how she feels about being stalked by someone, and how she wants to break free from it. The song serves as a message to her stalker, telling them to stay away from them, even culminating with the line, "stay out of my life." Fitting for a song with the subject matter it has, "Porta" is a very haunting song that doesn't get away from the listener very easily once they hear it for the first time. Who or what is "Porta"? I haven't the slightest idea! But this is a powerful song nonetheless!

"Too Late Now" by Wet Leg: While nowhere near as quirky or original-sounding as their breakthrough single, "Chaise Longue," Wet Leg's "Too Late Now" still retains the mix of indie-pop and electronica that that song had. "Too Late Now," as could be inferred from the title alone, is not exactly a cheery, upbeat song, though it does speed up midway through after a "sing-speak" interlude from lead singer Rhian Teasdale. Through the course of the song, Teasdale sings about her regret for a friendship she had when she was younger. The stress piles up as the song goes on, with Teasdale ultimately concluding that she "just need(s) a bubble bath to set (her) mind on a higher path." Clearly a cry for help disguised with somewhat cutesy words. 

"Virginia (Wind in the Night)" by The Head and The Heart: Among The Head and The Heart's already poignant catalog, their latest song, "Virginia (Wind in the Night)" sticks out as being one of the most poignant songs the band has recorded so far! Perhaps part of the reason the song tugs at the heartstrings as much as it does is because band member Jonathan Russell, who actually is from Virginia, is speaking of his own personal experiences in this song. Being a Virginia native, Russell feels a deep connection with the state and lets it pour out in this song. The song's parenthetical title, "Wind in the Night," was added in there so Russell could combine his personal experiences with something a bit more universal (hearing the wind in the night). In "Virginia (Wind in the Night)," we get the best of both worlds! In one sense, we get a feel for the strong ties Jonathan Russell feels to the place he was born in, and in another, we get imagery relating to nature that everyone can identify with, and very stark, haunting imagery, at that. 

"What, Me Worry?" by Portugal. The Man: When you saw the title to this song, was the first thing you thought of the goofy, buck-toothed Alfred E. Neuman of MAD Magazine fame?! If so, that was intentional! Portugal. The Man's "What, Me Worry?" comes from childhood memories that lead singer John Gourley had, including looking at MAD Magazine issues back then. Musically, the song combines the carefree, funky vibes of PTM's biggest hit, "Feel it Still," with the more guitar-oriented sounds the band went for prior to that song's existence. Much like the famed humor-based publication, the humor of "What, Me Worry?" is rather dark but still funny. The song talks about intense, scary situations, with the chorus almost taunting the verses with its titular question. Only one more thing I'd like to say about this song. Potrzebie! (MAD Magazine fans will get this reference). 

New songs for February 9th, 2022

 Here they are:


"Anyone for You" by George Ezra: Indie-folk/pop-ster George Ezra is known for his upbeat songs. Not a single one of his songs has been a downer so far, but "Anyone for You" might just eclipse all of his previous songs in terms of how happy it sounds! It is also notable for being the first George Ezra song that focuses on keyboard more than guitar. Just in time for Valentine's Day, "Anyone for You" is a love song, pure and simple. Not much more to it than that, but this is one of those songs that doesn't really need to carry a lot of weight on it in order for it be appealing!

"Black Summer" by Red Hot Chili Peppers: RHCP have had hit songs since 1991 and have been releasing records for even longer. They haven't had a hit record since 2016, but Flea and the boys just don't seem to run out of steam! Many of the lines in the verses tend to be completely random ("Playtpus are few/The secret life of roo" Ummm...say WHAT?!), but the title of the song and its chorus seem to simultaneously represent both the depression of certain members of the band and the state of the world as it approaches temperature levels that make it harder for us to survive each year. 

"Kissing Lessons" Lucy Dacus: Another love song just in time for Valentine's Day! This is no typical love song, though. Through a slightly punk-pop sound tinted through an indie-pop lens, Lucy tells a story from her childhood years about trying to win over a boy in her class, when she turns out being charmed by a girl instead simply for wanting "lessons on kissing." Lucy has created an anthem for bisexuals with her latest song. "Kissing Lessons" doubles in being a lesson both on love and diversity! Too bad the song is less than 2 minutes long.

"Love Brand New" by Bob Moses: Bob Moses, first of all, is not one person. They are actually two people. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, Bob Moses' latest song, "Love Brand New," is a techno-pop song that was written during their 2019 tour at Coachella. The subject of the song, obviously, is love, but the "brand new" part of the title is relevant to the song as well. According to the duo whose name sounds like a single person, "Love Brand New" is about experiencing love as though going through it for the first time. 

"Love is Selfish" by Jack White: After the fiery "Taking Me Back," Jack calms things down significantly with his latest song, "Love is Selfish." As the title implies, "Love is Selfish" finds Jack in the position of not wanting to be in love due to how ironically self-centered people can be when they're in love. He tries to find a solution to his problem but ends up falling short. As a balance from all the positive love songs being released this week, this one is for all the brokenhearted, single people who might not feel joy on Valentine's Day. Oddly, this song is in a major key, despite how sad it is. 

Happy Ground-blog Day!

 It's Groundhog Day...again. But this time, I'm doing something I don't think I've done on previous Groundhog Days: a music blog! Here are today's songs of the week:


"Hold U" by Indigo de Souza: The late '80s brought us the innovative, cutting-edge folk-rock duo, Indigo Girls. The early 2020's have brought us an equally innovative and cutting-edge indie-pop girl NAMED Indigo. Indigo de Souza, that is. Indigo is a North Carolinian with Brazilian heritage whose style of music can't be easily defined. It combines elements of techno, R & B, new wave, and pop music to create a uniquely catchy sound. Her breakthrough song, "Hold U," is a simple love song lyrically, but its sound is truly a breath of fresh air on alt and adult alt radio stations.

"Paddle to the Stars" by The Dip: As far as the indie-folk/rock record label, Dualtone, is concerned, The Dip are probably the most jazz and soul influenced band on their roster. The Dip have cultivated such a sound for a few years now, but "Paddle the Stars" marks the first time that adult alt radio has truly taken notice of their music, which carves out a sound more reminiscent of Stax Records than it does Dualtone. The song's lyrics aren't out of the ordinary for a love song, but the song definitely seems like it would hold appeal to fans of vintage, sax-heavy soul musicians like Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett. 

"Pierced Arrows" by Hurray for the Riff Raff: Where our first two entries of the week focused on love (fitting for the month of February), "Pierced Arrows" by Hurray for the Riff Raff focuses on heartbreak, and possibly on other negative emotions like fear. The song even starts on a sour, questionable note, with the lyrics, "Trying to avoid running into my ex on Broadway." Yikes! HFTRR's Alynda Segarra must have had some bad experiences with love before, if we are to go by those lyrics. The title alone indicates something negative, but Alynda holds nothing back right from the start in this paranoid yet catchy synth-driven indie-pop song. The song might also be a "screw-you" to the world at large (the third to the last line of the song is "The whole f**king world is changing.") Alynda gets both more fearful and more fierce than she ever has before on "Pierced Arrows." 

"Seventeen Going Under" by Sam Fender: Sam Fender's bittersweet yet catchy and Springsteen-esque song, "Hypersonic Missiles," might have just been the perfect song for 2019, exactly one year before the coronavirus pandemic. The song focused on the end of the world, but in a very triumphant and poetic manner. Two years later, Sam gives us the equally Springsteen-esque "Seventeen Going Under," combining shimmering, soulful jangle-pop guitars with stellar sax riffs, much like The Boss did during his early years. Lyrically, the song is about being 17, the age Sam was exactly a decade ago, and how awkward it is to be such an age. It's also about both the hunger and the pressure many teenagers feel to "grow up" at that age. Sam was no exception to the rule. He made the realization at this age that although he was no longer a little boy, he didn't feel like a fully-grown man either, and he struggled to cope with the confusing reality of this situation. At age 27, Sam has now realized that "growing up" and growing old are two different things, unlike what his teenage self probably thought. I think a lot of people can relate to this one!

"Simulation Swarm" by Big Thief: One thing that might jump out at listeners about Big Thief's latest song, "Simulation Swarm," if they listen carefully enough, is the contradiction between how sweet and warm the song sounds and how weird the lyrics are. It's a bit hard to make sense of Adrianne Lenker's rather stream-of-consciousness narrative, which consists of vivid imagery that never quite comes to fruition as a coherent story. Midway through, the gentle vibe of "Simulation Swarm" becomes slightly more trippy with its fuzzed-out, psychedelic guitar solo, yet it never climaxes to a point of intense loudness, remaining in the same state of blissed out calm throughout. The song leaves on a quiet, almost whispery note upon fading out. 

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 January 19th 2022

 here they are:


"Brother the Cloud" by Eddie Vedder: Simultaneously a hard rocker and alt-folk-y emotional tearjerker, the Pearl Jam frontman's latest song, "Brother the Cloud," is a poignant and cathartic song in which the word "brother" is not used merely as a metaphor for someone he was close to. "Brother the Cloud" is about Eddie's actual brother (well, half-brother), Chris Mueller, who died 6 years ago in a climbing accident. Similarly, the word "cloud" in this song was also well-chosen, referring not merely to heaven or something of the like, but rather to how Eddie's half-brother reached the end of his life while literally rising up towards the clouds. Vedder is a special kind of poet among rock stars who chooses his words both carefully and cleverly!

"Next to Normal" by Lucius: A psychedelic disco fusion that sounds more like St. Vincent than it does Lucius, "Next to Normal" is ostensibly a love song, but not a typical one. In it, the lead singer describes how she feels "next to normal" with her lover, but the titular phrase is not just some cutesy throwaway term used merely for the sake of romance. Elsewhere in the song, she discusses how her paranoia gets the best of her sometimes and how she has lost friends and tends to laugh at inappropriate moments. This sounds strangely familiar somehow! Maybe because in my own life I've experienced similar things. It is not fun to live life this way, but with a loved one at your side (romantic or platonic), members of the neurodiverse community such as myself can manage to feel "next to normal" for the understanding they are given by the other person. Isn't that what everyone wants?!

"Pa Pa Power" by Cat Power: From time to time, indie-folk musician Chan Marshall, better known as Cat Power, releases cover songs (one of her best was a cover of Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" that she did back in 2008). A little over a decade has gone by since she released that cover, and she has embarked once again on a collection of cover songs, although this one is a much more obscure one that was originally done by Dead Man's Bones, a band that features actor Ryan Gosling on lead vocals. Having not heard the original version of "Pa Pa Power," I can't make a comparison between Cat Power's version and the original version, but CP gives the song a haunting, minor-key mystique, perhaps fitting for its minimalistic yet morbid lyrics. 

"Slide Tackle" by Japanese Breakfast: 2021 was a year of unexpected surprise for electro-indie-pop group, Japanese Breakfast. Their song "Be Sweet," a slinky, seductive slice of synth-pop, became one of the most played adult alt radio singles of the year (and the one that I played the most, apparently), and they have since gotten Grammy nominations, performance spots at Coachella, and a guest appearance on James Corden's late night talk show. So how do you follow up THAT level of success, you may ask?! Japanese Breakfast's latest single, "Slide Tackle," doesn't quite have the power or quirkiness of "Be Sweet," but it has a fun, unique sound all its own. Unlike "Be Sweet"s minor key, "Slide Tackle" is in a major key, and it also has a sleek sax solo to boot that kind of defines the song. 

"You Will Never Work in Television Again" by The Smile: "The Smile" is probably the last thing you'd expect a Radiohead side project to be named, but that is what Radiohead's lead singer Thom Yorke and guitarist Johnny Greenwood are calling their new band! It's also a rather deceptive name for the kind of music they have chosen to do, which is somewhat aggressive both lyrically and musically (although not to an uncomfortable or unlistenable extent), and a bit avant-garde and minimalistic even by Radiohead standards! The title of this song, on the other hand, does seem to encapsulate the song's snide spirit, which probably serve as a way for Thom Yorke to vehemently rail against the entertainment industry. 

New songs for January 12th, 2022

 here they are:


"Funny Girl" by Father John Misty: Well, it's the '20s, isn't it?! The new '20s, that is. Yet this song, especially its intro, would not have sounded too out of place in the old '20s (or '30s or '40s). A piece of orchestral easy listening that I could easily picture Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett doing, "Funny Girl" is yet another daring venture in the already eclectic catalog of Father John Misty. The lyrics, however, are pure Misty. No time during the first half of the 20th century would you have heard about the "Cathy" comics, or about David Letterman, both of which get referenced in this song. Unlike the unrelenting sincerity of Frank or Tony, Father John Misty injects a hidden dose of sarcasm into "Funny Girl." It is not merely a song about someone he falls in love with, but rather a song that parodies such songs in a rather subtle manner, spitting snide, subtle commentary about contemporary society while pretending to serenade a special someone. Unless your lover is a hipster, you might wanna stick with something like "My Funny Valentine" this Valentine's Day. Nonetheless, this song is a welcome gem for being the first new song I've heard so far for the new year!

"Hell to Pay" by Davy Knowles: The guitarist for blues-rock group, Back Door Slam, Davy Knowles strikes out on his own this year with "Hell to Pay," a song that sounds anything but hellish. In fact, it actually sounds rather slinky, seductive, and soulful! Though the song's minor key does hint at the song's negative point of view and subject matter, Davy turns his heartbreak into heated, passionate music in "Hell to Pay." The song's R & B flavor turns slightly more to the "B" side (blues) towards the end, but even its blues-y guitar solo is one that's more tepid than torrid.

"In the Wake of Your Leave" by Gang of Youths: Gang of Youths had a surprisingly big adult alt radio hit last year with "The Angel of 8th Avenue," a song that mixed the urban poetry and rootsy folk-rock of Bruce Springsteen with the cold, detached synth-rock dynamics of New Order. GOY's followup single, "In the Wake of Your Leave," doesn't have quite as compelling or unique a sound as that one did, but is still a deep and inspired song lyrically. The "your" in question refers to the lead singer's recently deceased father, whose death he had a difficult time coping with. "In the Wake of Your Leave" serves as an outlet for GOY's lead singer to release his grief and stress into song. 

"Paint This Town" by Old Crow Medicine Show: Old Crow Medicine Show have thus far had only one adult alt radio hit with "Wagon Wheel," which came out over 15 years ago and became slightly better known about two years after its initial release when Hootie and The Blowfish's Darius Rucker took the song's rustic, roots-y bluegrass sound and turned it into country-pop. Who knew OCMS would return to adult alt radio over a decade and a half after that song was released?! I sure didn't! Their newest song, "Paint This Town," has slightly more rock influence than "Wagon Wheel" while still managing to retain OCMS's trademark country/folk/bluegrass inspired sound. The song sounds a little like some of the songs John Mellencamp was churning out in the mid to late '80s after his success at Farm Aid. The lyrics to "Paint This Town," telling of touring life out on the open road, seem to be more derivative of latter-day Bruce Springsteen than they do John Mellencamp, but either way, "Paint This Town" is sure to be a fave among roots-rock and "Heartland rock" enthusiasts!

Twos-Day! Two songs for Two thousand Twenty Two a day after Tues-day! (Happy New Year)

 Hey everyone! Happy New Year! (Or should I say, Happy TWO Year?!) I guess 2 is a lucky number this year! Two songs to start the year that is mostly twos with the exception of the zero in the middle of it. And it IS the day after Twos...I mean Tuesday. Ready 2 begin! How 'bout you?!

"B-Side" by Leon Bridges (featuring Khruangbin): Leon's effort from last year, "Motorbike," was not exactly the retro-soul I was used to from him. It sounded more like he was trying to emulate contemporary R & B with that song. With "B-Side," however, his second collaboration with Khruangbin since 2020's "Texas Sun," Leon gets his groove back! The song indulges in a 1970's funk influenced sound throughout as Leon tells the tale of a lover he feels he is missing in his life. The subject here doesn't seem to be as important as the music, though. To quote one of Leon's other songs, "If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be)"!

"Cheer Up Baby" by Inhaler: Those Irish rockers! Being part Irish myself, I love whenever I hear about any Irish musician trying to make it big, and indie-rockers Inhaler are the latest of the pack. They sound a bit more like the British Kooks or the Scottish Franz Ferdinand than they do like U2 or The Cranberries, but it's still a catchy sound! "Cheer Up Baby" has actually been around since the members of Inhaler were teenagers, but the song has taken on a new meaning during the pandemic. Rather than the song's original intent of cheering up a girlfriend, people (including Inhaler themselves) have now interpreted the song's message as one of hope during difficult times.