here they are:
"Even Though It Hurts" by Devon Gilfillian: Neo-soul sensation, Devon Gilfillian, returns just in time for the fall season with the sensitive R & B ballad, "Even Though It Hurts". With his debut song, "Get Out And Get It", Devon was the perfect ray of sunshine for neo-soul fans everywhere during the spring and summer. As the year becomes quieter and more settled down, though, "Even Though It Hurts" will be the perfect song to provide warmth to cold hearts as Devon croons of heartbreak over slow, smooth, slick R & B grooves!
"Might Be Right" by White Reaper: Don't fear the reaper! The White Reaper, that is. In spite of the band's scary sounding name, they're really more of danceable post-punk influenced band. The guitar solos in their song, "Might Be Right", are similar to more mainstream 1970's rock groups like Boston and Queen, even though the rest of it doesn't sound like that. The lyrics seem a little repetitive in some parts, but the song itself is both catchy and quirky enough to make you forget about that!
"Sing Along" by Sturgill Simpson: If ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" got a 2010's techno-pop makeover (with a bit of country music influence as well), it would probably sound like Sturgill Simpson's "Sing Along". Sturgill seems to be going in ZZ Top's direction, actually, going from Southern rock to more new wave-y stuff without losing his roots-y appeal in the process. There is a reason the song sounds so futuristic, actually. It's because it is part of an album that also serves as the soundtrack to the noir-ish, sci-fi anime series, "Sound and Fury", which is exclusive to Netflix. Why Sturgill Simpson is doing an album that ties with an anime series is anyone's guess. I suppose this is the year where anything can happen, though!
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
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!
"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!
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
New songs for August 7th 2019
here they are:
"Baptise Me" by Robert Randolph and The Family Band: Not to be confused with "Baptize Me" from the "Book of Mormon" musical, there is something rather spiritual about the latest song from blues-rocker, Robert Randolph. Unlike BOM's "Baptize Me", "Baptise Me" doesn't contain any sexual metaphors. Instead, it's a sincere plea from Robert Randolph to be made into someone who is more closely anointed with God. This song does exactly what it aims to do. It uplifts the spirits, regardless of one's personal worldview. It has often been said that rock and roll was rooted from the blues. Robert Randolph brings the two genres into holy matrimony here, full stop!
"Can I Go On?" by Sleater-Kinney: This song is probably a bit more pop than what Sleater-Kinney's fans are used to. That is, until Annie Clark (St. Vincent)'s guitar kicks in and gives what seems to be an upbeat, pleasant pop song more of an edge. The lyrics are pure Sleater-Kinney, though, as cutting and gritty as ever. One thing that is noticeably different about the lyrics of "Can I Go On?" is how its target is not a person(s), but a machine. A group of machines, to be more precise, that are closing off the way we used to communicate with one another. Thankfully, music still remains our greatest tool of communication, as illustrated in this song!
"Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile" by The New Pornographers: At 7 words long, this sounds more like the title of a Panic! At the Disco song than it does a New Pornographers song title! Its sound, however, is pure New Pornographers, particularly during the chorus of the song. It hearkens back to the power pop sound most NP's albums have, which was lacking in their previous post-punk/new wave influenced album, "Whiteout Conditions". The lyrics don't seem to mean much of anything, but this seems pretty typical of a band whose other song titles include such oddities as "Sing Me Spanish Techno" and "Brill Bruisers" (not to mention A.C. Newman's solo adult alt radio hit, "Encyclopedia of Classic Takedowns"). Like an indie-rock Fleetwood Mac, the male and female vocals of A.C. Newman and Neko Case, respectively, harmonize well with one another on this song and both play important roles in it. Neko shines particularly brightly during the song's chorus.
"Hold You Down" by X Ambassadors: X Ambassadors debut album from 2015 was marked by the energetic, catchy, "Renegades" being followed by the more bittersweet "Unsteady". It seems the band has taken a similar course for the first two singles they've released for 2019. X Ambassadors had a surprisingly rocking, super catchy smash hit with "Boom" in spring of this year, and now they've decided to mellow out a bit and show their more sensitive side with "Hold You Down". While it doesn't tug at the heartstrings near as heavily as "Unsteady" did, "Hold You Down" is still a sweet, romantic tune with a chorus that reassures the lead singer's love interest that "when there's no one left to hold (her)" he will still "hold (her) down". A nice song to listen to on a romantic beach trip once the sun starts to set!
"Peach Fuzz" by Caamp: The band's weird name (probably pronounced like "camp") is as unique as its sound. Well, maybe not THAT unique, but it's certainly a neat combo of sounds! It wouldn't be out of place to describe their debut song, "Peach Fuzz", as being like The Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" mixed with Ray LaMontagne's "Supernova". Caamp's lead singer even seems to have Ray LaMontagne's husky vocals! "Peach Fuzz" is a love song, though a bit of an odd one, in which the lead singer describes himself as a "peach fuzz boy". Uhhh...what?!
"Summer Girl" by Haim: Interesting that both this song and the previous one have brought about Lou Reed comparisons. This one bears resemblance to Lou's biggest chart hit, "Walk On the Wild Side". It contains a similar bass line and a similar sax riff as well. After hearing the sunny, Fleetwood Mac-ish pop/rock of "The Wire" and the more plaintive indie-folk-pop of "Want You Back", it's a welcome change of pace to hear the all-sister trio, Haim, take on something more jazzy and soulful. Between the upbeat vibes of the song and a video that ends with the three girls revealing how they look in bathing suit tops (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjuA_o6Jzyo), you would think this song would be celebratory, when in fact it really isn't. "I'm your summer girl" is not just a mere declaration of romance from lead singer Danielle Haim, but words of reassurance that she would tell her producer, to whom she was and is romantically linked, during a time when he was suffering from cancer. This is proof of just how powerful music can be!
"Supply And Demand" by Wilder Woods: I was never a fan of William Stanley "Bear" Rinehart's band, Needtobreathe, who combined the sweeter yet blander side of '00s folk-pop with Christian rock lyrical themes. However, Bear has redeemed himself with his side project, Wilder Woods, and their surprisingly soulful song, "Supply And Demand". The song sounds so much like an early '70s soul song that I would have never guessed that a white South Carolinian man from a post-millennial band did this song! Even the lyrics of this song, revolving around passionate and soul-baring love making, seem like they wouldn't be out of place in a band like The Delfonics, The Stylistics, or The Chi-Lites. This is a great song to get your groove on with!
"Baptise Me" by Robert Randolph and The Family Band: Not to be confused with "Baptize Me" from the "Book of Mormon" musical, there is something rather spiritual about the latest song from blues-rocker, Robert Randolph. Unlike BOM's "Baptize Me", "Baptise Me" doesn't contain any sexual metaphors. Instead, it's a sincere plea from Robert Randolph to be made into someone who is more closely anointed with God. This song does exactly what it aims to do. It uplifts the spirits, regardless of one's personal worldview. It has often been said that rock and roll was rooted from the blues. Robert Randolph brings the two genres into holy matrimony here, full stop!
"Can I Go On?" by Sleater-Kinney: This song is probably a bit more pop than what Sleater-Kinney's fans are used to. That is, until Annie Clark (St. Vincent)'s guitar kicks in and gives what seems to be an upbeat, pleasant pop song more of an edge. The lyrics are pure Sleater-Kinney, though, as cutting and gritty as ever. One thing that is noticeably different about the lyrics of "Can I Go On?" is how its target is not a person(s), but a machine. A group of machines, to be more precise, that are closing off the way we used to communicate with one another. Thankfully, music still remains our greatest tool of communication, as illustrated in this song!
"Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile" by The New Pornographers: At 7 words long, this sounds more like the title of a Panic! At the Disco song than it does a New Pornographers song title! Its sound, however, is pure New Pornographers, particularly during the chorus of the song. It hearkens back to the power pop sound most NP's albums have, which was lacking in their previous post-punk/new wave influenced album, "Whiteout Conditions". The lyrics don't seem to mean much of anything, but this seems pretty typical of a band whose other song titles include such oddities as "Sing Me Spanish Techno" and "Brill Bruisers" (not to mention A.C. Newman's solo adult alt radio hit, "Encyclopedia of Classic Takedowns"). Like an indie-rock Fleetwood Mac, the male and female vocals of A.C. Newman and Neko Case, respectively, harmonize well with one another on this song and both play important roles in it. Neko shines particularly brightly during the song's chorus.
"Hold You Down" by X Ambassadors: X Ambassadors debut album from 2015 was marked by the energetic, catchy, "Renegades" being followed by the more bittersweet "Unsteady". It seems the band has taken a similar course for the first two singles they've released for 2019. X Ambassadors had a surprisingly rocking, super catchy smash hit with "Boom" in spring of this year, and now they've decided to mellow out a bit and show their more sensitive side with "Hold You Down". While it doesn't tug at the heartstrings near as heavily as "Unsteady" did, "Hold You Down" is still a sweet, romantic tune with a chorus that reassures the lead singer's love interest that "when there's no one left to hold (her)" he will still "hold (her) down". A nice song to listen to on a romantic beach trip once the sun starts to set!
"Peach Fuzz" by Caamp: The band's weird name (probably pronounced like "camp") is as unique as its sound. Well, maybe not THAT unique, but it's certainly a neat combo of sounds! It wouldn't be out of place to describe their debut song, "Peach Fuzz", as being like The Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" mixed with Ray LaMontagne's "Supernova". Caamp's lead singer even seems to have Ray LaMontagne's husky vocals! "Peach Fuzz" is a love song, though a bit of an odd one, in which the lead singer describes himself as a "peach fuzz boy". Uhhh...what?!
"Summer Girl" by Haim: Interesting that both this song and the previous one have brought about Lou Reed comparisons. This one bears resemblance to Lou's biggest chart hit, "Walk On the Wild Side". It contains a similar bass line and a similar sax riff as well. After hearing the sunny, Fleetwood Mac-ish pop/rock of "The Wire" and the more plaintive indie-folk-pop of "Want You Back", it's a welcome change of pace to hear the all-sister trio, Haim, take on something more jazzy and soulful. Between the upbeat vibes of the song and a video that ends with the three girls revealing how they look in bathing suit tops (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjuA_o6Jzyo), you would think this song would be celebratory, when in fact it really isn't. "I'm your summer girl" is not just a mere declaration of romance from lead singer Danielle Haim, but words of reassurance that she would tell her producer, to whom she was and is romantically linked, during a time when he was suffering from cancer. This is proof of just how powerful music can be!
"Supply And Demand" by Wilder Woods: I was never a fan of William Stanley "Bear" Rinehart's band, Needtobreathe, who combined the sweeter yet blander side of '00s folk-pop with Christian rock lyrical themes. However, Bear has redeemed himself with his side project, Wilder Woods, and their surprisingly soulful song, "Supply And Demand". The song sounds so much like an early '70s soul song that I would have never guessed that a white South Carolinian man from a post-millennial band did this song! Even the lyrics of this song, revolving around passionate and soul-baring love making, seem like they wouldn't be out of place in a band like The Delfonics, The Stylistics, or The Chi-Lites. This is a great song to get your groove on with!
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
New songs for July 24th 2019
here they are:
"Love Is Everywhere (Beware)" by Wilco: So it's official. Now both the end of the 2000's AND the end of the 2010's have a Wilco song (and album to go along with it). Wilco's eclectic musical pallet, which is at once both sweet and sardonic, has made them one of the most appealing and enduring bands of the indie scene. A major difference between the end of the '00s and the end of the 2010's is how much political turmoil we have sadly had to face during the latter (perhaps even more so when it comes to how much indie and folk musicians have had to endure as a result). "Love Is Everywhere (Beware)" is a song of reassurance that Jeff Tweedy and co have offered us during these troubled times. Jeff is not a complete optimist, though, in spite of what he suggests in both the title and the sound of this song. If you're wondering just what to make of this song, perhaps the best thing to do is just to get swept up in its mellow vibes and focus more on the message of the song's title than that of the song itself.
"Stay High" by Brittany Howard: Well, sadly, "History Repeats" didn't do as well as I thought it would on adult alt radio, but Alabama Shakes' lead singer has decided to release a second single about three weeks later with "Stay High". The song is unusual for a Brittany Howard song in that it focuses on acoustic guitar more than it does on electric. Given Brittany's rock and roll reputation, the phrase "stay high" might refer to drugs on the surface, but the lyrics are actually quite sweet otherwise, much like the song itself. The song is hardly about drugs (from what I can tell), the sex aspects are replaced by pure love, and it's not really a rock and roll song either so much as it is folk-rock. The song is basically an expression of pure love, whichever way you choose to look at it.
"Love Is Everywhere (Beware)" by Wilco: So it's official. Now both the end of the 2000's AND the end of the 2010's have a Wilco song (and album to go along with it). Wilco's eclectic musical pallet, which is at once both sweet and sardonic, has made them one of the most appealing and enduring bands of the indie scene. A major difference between the end of the '00s and the end of the 2010's is how much political turmoil we have sadly had to face during the latter (perhaps even more so when it comes to how much indie and folk musicians have had to endure as a result). "Love Is Everywhere (Beware)" is a song of reassurance that Jeff Tweedy and co have offered us during these troubled times. Jeff is not a complete optimist, though, in spite of what he suggests in both the title and the sound of this song. If you're wondering just what to make of this song, perhaps the best thing to do is just to get swept up in its mellow vibes and focus more on the message of the song's title than that of the song itself.
"Stay High" by Brittany Howard: Well, sadly, "History Repeats" didn't do as well as I thought it would on adult alt radio, but Alabama Shakes' lead singer has decided to release a second single about three weeks later with "Stay High". The song is unusual for a Brittany Howard song in that it focuses on acoustic guitar more than it does on electric. Given Brittany's rock and roll reputation, the phrase "stay high" might refer to drugs on the surface, but the lyrics are actually quite sweet otherwise, much like the song itself. The song is hardly about drugs (from what I can tell), the sex aspects are replaced by pure love, and it's not really a rock and roll song either so much as it is folk-rock. The song is basically an expression of pure love, whichever way you choose to look at it.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
New songs for July 17th 2019
here they are:
"Fighter" by Joseph: The somewhat ironically named all-girl trio, Joseph, graced adult alt radio in 2016 and 2017 with their harmonious, bittersweet brand of indie-folk with songs like "White Flag" and "S.O.S. (Overboard)". The success must have paid off well for the three of them because summer 2019 marks their return to adult alt radio with "Fighter". The song is a bit of a departure from the acoustic guitar driven sound of their previous songs, as it doesn't seem to feature guitar much at all. However, the mood of "Fighter" is pure Joseph. Like their biggest hit to date, "White Flag", "Fighter" is all about never giving up. It touches on a more personal level than "White Flag" did, though. "Fighter" is actually a song that almost didn't even come into existence due to personal strife within the band, but Natalie, Allison, and Megan took that tension, made it into a song, and as a result, have landed the biggest new adult alt radio hit of the week! Way to go, girls!
"Heat of the Summer" by Young the Giant: In the mood for a summer song to make a splash on alt and adult alt radio?! Then wait no more! Young the Giant might just have what you're looking for with "Heat of the Summer". The song is actually a clever mix of the traditional fun summer song and the more contemporary type of "summer boredom" song. Lead singer, Sameer Gadhia, expresses his boredom with summer during the verses, which are accompanied by sparse bass sounds, and the richer, guitar laden sounds of the chorus complement its more joyful lyrics quite nicely.
"Rylan" by The National: Who is Rylan? Furthermore, what kind of a NAME is Rylan?! I've heard of (and met) people named Ryan, but adding an "L" into the middle of their names just seems odd. Anyway, as to the question of who Rylan is, it's a bit of a mystery. From the context of the song, he seems to be a neglected, sad child who rarely speaks. Beneath Rylan's quiet lies a troubled boy, as Matt Berninger switches between saying that he "reminds him of everyone" during the first part of the song, to saying that "there's a little bit of hell in everyone" towards the end of it. "Everyone", to Matt Berninger, is flawed in some way. Rylan, therefore, reminds Matt of just how imperfect the human race truly is. The National have often talked about alienation in their music, but rarely at a level that cuts as deep as this one does.
"See You Through My Eyes" by The Head and The Heart: Although The Head and The Heart's previous hit, "Missed Connection", was a significant departure from the folk-rock sound they started out with, it ended up becoming one of the biggest hits of the first half of 2019. We have now arrived at the second half of the year, and The Head and The Heart's move from folk-rock to soft alt-pop still hasn't waned with their latest song, "See You Through My Eyes", which looks poised to become one of the year's biggest hits as well. Musically, it's pretty much the major key version of "Missed Connection". Lyrically, it touches on more positive themes as well, focusing primarily on learning to love yourself.
"Strangers" by City and Colour: If you first found out about City and Colour through their 2009 folk-rock song, "Sleeping Sickness", then you might be in for a surprise to learn that lead singer Dallas Green's previous band was a hard-edged emo band called Alexisonfire. C & C's latest song, "Strangers", seems to be an attempt at combining the sweetness and harmonies of City and Colour with the chord progressions and energy of Alexisonfire. The song has a sound that is both sweet and moody, probably the moodiest that C & C have recorded so far. Its title, "Strangers", gives it an air of mystery to match its moodiness. As for the lyrics ("we are strangers in this land with so much left to discover"), they almost make the song seem vulnerable. Any way you look at it, this song is packed full of emotion!
"Wasted Youth" by Jenny Lewis: According to the YouTube comments on this song, I'm not the only one who thought of Carole King when I first heard this song on my local radio station, KCSN, a few weeks ago. Jenny has emulated quite a few of the women who have helped to shape rock and alternative music, from Joni Mitchell to Patti Smith, but I have not heard her try to take on Carole's style yet. Carole has an almost nostalgic, childlike quality to her music, something that Jenny offers somewhat on the surface, often interspersed with world weary, sarcastic lyrics underneath. There is no sarcasm in "Wasted Youth", though. If anything, the song offers up bittersweet truths that lament her own drug addictions and deaths that have occurred in her family. The song is basically "It's Too Late" for millennials. Something inside has indeed died within Jenny, and she makes no attempts to hide or fake it either!
"Fighter" by Joseph: The somewhat ironically named all-girl trio, Joseph, graced adult alt radio in 2016 and 2017 with their harmonious, bittersweet brand of indie-folk with songs like "White Flag" and "S.O.S. (Overboard)". The success must have paid off well for the three of them because summer 2019 marks their return to adult alt radio with "Fighter". The song is a bit of a departure from the acoustic guitar driven sound of their previous songs, as it doesn't seem to feature guitar much at all. However, the mood of "Fighter" is pure Joseph. Like their biggest hit to date, "White Flag", "Fighter" is all about never giving up. It touches on a more personal level than "White Flag" did, though. "Fighter" is actually a song that almost didn't even come into existence due to personal strife within the band, but Natalie, Allison, and Megan took that tension, made it into a song, and as a result, have landed the biggest new adult alt radio hit of the week! Way to go, girls!
"Heat of the Summer" by Young the Giant: In the mood for a summer song to make a splash on alt and adult alt radio?! Then wait no more! Young the Giant might just have what you're looking for with "Heat of the Summer". The song is actually a clever mix of the traditional fun summer song and the more contemporary type of "summer boredom" song. Lead singer, Sameer Gadhia, expresses his boredom with summer during the verses, which are accompanied by sparse bass sounds, and the richer, guitar laden sounds of the chorus complement its more joyful lyrics quite nicely.
"Rylan" by The National: Who is Rylan? Furthermore, what kind of a NAME is Rylan?! I've heard of (and met) people named Ryan, but adding an "L" into the middle of their names just seems odd. Anyway, as to the question of who Rylan is, it's a bit of a mystery. From the context of the song, he seems to be a neglected, sad child who rarely speaks. Beneath Rylan's quiet lies a troubled boy, as Matt Berninger switches between saying that he "reminds him of everyone" during the first part of the song, to saying that "there's a little bit of hell in everyone" towards the end of it. "Everyone", to Matt Berninger, is flawed in some way. Rylan, therefore, reminds Matt of just how imperfect the human race truly is. The National have often talked about alienation in their music, but rarely at a level that cuts as deep as this one does.
"See You Through My Eyes" by The Head and The Heart: Although The Head and The Heart's previous hit, "Missed Connection", was a significant departure from the folk-rock sound they started out with, it ended up becoming one of the biggest hits of the first half of 2019. We have now arrived at the second half of the year, and The Head and The Heart's move from folk-rock to soft alt-pop still hasn't waned with their latest song, "See You Through My Eyes", which looks poised to become one of the year's biggest hits as well. Musically, it's pretty much the major key version of "Missed Connection". Lyrically, it touches on more positive themes as well, focusing primarily on learning to love yourself.
"Strangers" by City and Colour: If you first found out about City and Colour through their 2009 folk-rock song, "Sleeping Sickness", then you might be in for a surprise to learn that lead singer Dallas Green's previous band was a hard-edged emo band called Alexisonfire. C & C's latest song, "Strangers", seems to be an attempt at combining the sweetness and harmonies of City and Colour with the chord progressions and energy of Alexisonfire. The song has a sound that is both sweet and moody, probably the moodiest that C & C have recorded so far. Its title, "Strangers", gives it an air of mystery to match its moodiness. As for the lyrics ("we are strangers in this land with so much left to discover"), they almost make the song seem vulnerable. Any way you look at it, this song is packed full of emotion!
"Wasted Youth" by Jenny Lewis: According to the YouTube comments on this song, I'm not the only one who thought of Carole King when I first heard this song on my local radio station, KCSN, a few weeks ago. Jenny has emulated quite a few of the women who have helped to shape rock and alternative music, from Joni Mitchell to Patti Smith, but I have not heard her try to take on Carole's style yet. Carole has an almost nostalgic, childlike quality to her music, something that Jenny offers somewhat on the surface, often interspersed with world weary, sarcastic lyrics underneath. There is no sarcasm in "Wasted Youth", though. If anything, the song offers up bittersweet truths that lament her own drug addictions and deaths that have occurred in her family. The song is basically "It's Too Late" for millennials. Something inside has indeed died within Jenny, and she makes no attempts to hide or fake it either!
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
New songs for July 10th, 2019
here they are:
"Complainer" by Cold War Kids: Most of what passes for "rock" these days seems to come in either a folk-y flavor or a funky one. Cold War Kids' "Complainer" definitely falls into the latter category. Contrary to its title, "Complainer" is not about complaints. It's actually about going against those who complain about things. The central line of the song is probably the first words of its chorus: "You say you want to change the world, but do you really believe in magic?" This line is probably about how people who say they want to "change the world" don't usually do anything aside from complaining about how bad the world is. Nathan Willett isn't having any of that, and that's basically how he was able to turn a song with a negative title into a more positive song overall.
"History Repeats" by Brittany Howard (from Alabama Shakes): The only other song for this week is also funk influenced. Instead of going for the pop-funk sound of Michael Jackson like Cold War Kids opted for in the previous entry, Alabama Shakes' lead singer goes more for the more eccentric, subversive funk of the '80s other leading soul man, Prince. Another thing this song shares in common with Prince is how clever it is lyrically. The name of the song is "History Repeats", and...well...that's exactly what it does during the second half of the song (in a song that's only around 3 minutes to begin with)!! It repeats the same words over and over at this point, but I feel like Brittany Howard meant to do this. She's TRYING to mess with our heads when she says this line! She states in the beginning of the song that she doesn't want to go back to where she was again, yet that's exactly what she does. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make sure I don't repeat myself. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make sure I don't repeat myself. (See what I did there?!)
"Complainer" by Cold War Kids: Most of what passes for "rock" these days seems to come in either a folk-y flavor or a funky one. Cold War Kids' "Complainer" definitely falls into the latter category. Contrary to its title, "Complainer" is not about complaints. It's actually about going against those who complain about things. The central line of the song is probably the first words of its chorus: "You say you want to change the world, but do you really believe in magic?" This line is probably about how people who say they want to "change the world" don't usually do anything aside from complaining about how bad the world is. Nathan Willett isn't having any of that, and that's basically how he was able to turn a song with a negative title into a more positive song overall.
"History Repeats" by Brittany Howard (from Alabama Shakes): The only other song for this week is also funk influenced. Instead of going for the pop-funk sound of Michael Jackson like Cold War Kids opted for in the previous entry, Alabama Shakes' lead singer goes more for the more eccentric, subversive funk of the '80s other leading soul man, Prince. Another thing this song shares in common with Prince is how clever it is lyrically. The name of the song is "History Repeats", and...well...that's exactly what it does during the second half of the song (in a song that's only around 3 minutes to begin with)!! It repeats the same words over and over at this point, but I feel like Brittany Howard meant to do this. She's TRYING to mess with our heads when she says this line! She states in the beginning of the song that she doesn't want to go back to where she was again, yet that's exactly what she does. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make sure I don't repeat myself. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make sure I don't repeat myself. (See what I did there?!)
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
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.”
“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.”
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