here they are:
"Again And Again" by Dave Matthews Band: After the wild adult alt radio success that DMB had with "Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin)" earlier this year, Dave and his band return just in time for fall 2018 with "Again And Again". As opposed to the sprightly, shimmering rocker that "Samurai Cop" was, "Again And Again" is a slow burning jazz and funk influenced rock tune. Dave's intricately jazzy guitar work shines on this song, as it typically does on DMB songs where electric guitar functions as the central instrument. One thing worth noting about "Again And Again" is how it is a minor key song during the verses, but a major key song during the chorus. The song ends on a fadeout of the chorus, which means, fortunately, that it ends in a major key, which is how DMB fans seem to like their songs to end!
"Homesick" by The Marcus King Band: What are the odds that I blog about two songs in a row with a similar style?! Well, I'm not sure, but this time, it just happens to be the case! Contemporary bluesman Marcus King churns out his second adult alt radio hit with "Homesick", which combines jazz, blues, soul, and rock in a similar manner to The Dave Matthews Band. Marcus has a distinctively more Southern flavor than DMB, though, in "Homesick", which lasts for a total of 6 and a half minutes. The song is the type that fans of groups like The Allman Brothers or The Black Crowes might be drawn to, both of whom combine the Southern rock sound with "jam band" aesthetics, like Marcus King is doing here. Gritty guitars meet bright brass in "Homesick", keeping the old flames of both rock and soul burning passionately!
"Move" by Milo Greene: Milo Greene haven't had a hit since 1957...oh...I mean Milo Greene haven't had a hit since 2012 with their SONG, which was CALLED "1957". Ahem. Now that I've cleared that up, a bit about Milo Greene, for those who don't know. First, they are a quartet, not one person. In case you're wondering why "Milo" sounds like a girl, that's why. Singer Marlana Sheetz takes the lead on their latest song, "Move". The group shares both male and female vocalists, like Fleetwood Mac, which Milo Greene sound like an electronic indie-pop version of on "Move". Imagine a quirky techno-pop remix of "Dreams" and you've got "Move" in a nutshell. Marlana sexily croons on the chorus that she's "the only one who makes" the object of her desire "move". Whether she's referring to dancing or to a more intimate act is left up to the listener's imagination, which will be left echoing with Marlana's sultry vocals after listening to this song!
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
New songs for August 22nd, 2018
here they are:
"Loading Zones" by Kurt Vile: Yes, this is a song about the troubles of parking cars. Kurt Vile is truly a man of mystery sometimes. I mean, how can he take such mundane subject matter and turn it into such a cool song?! No one really knows the answer that question, but Kurt definitely has the magic touch when it comes to churning out songs that sound both roots-y enough to be Bob Dylan and quirky enough to be Frank Zappa (Come to think of it, that's kinda what Tom Waits did back in the day, isn't it?!) Trouble finding a spot for your vehicle? You now have a song that's right for you!
"Mansion Door" by Shakey Graves: Shakey Graves' debut album really only yielded one adult alt radio hit with the quaint but catchy country-rocker, "Dearly Departed". With their latest album, however, they now have two more hits on their hands. Earlier this year, we heard the energetic indie-pop tune, "Kids These Days", and now we have another song that takes the indie-pop sound in a more quirky direction with "Mansion Door", which sounds a bit like a cross between Wilco and Sufjan Stevens. Like Sufjan's music, "Mansion Door" is a bundle of contradictions: sweet but somewhat loud, ordinary lyrics mixed with more cryptic ones, etc. The sentimental recurring phrase, "my one and only lonely star", fits well with its yearning sound.
"Sky Full of Song" by Florence and The Machine: This song was originally poised to be the first single from FATM's latest album, but instead, that honor went to "Hunger", which has thus far become one of the most successful songs of 2018. Will "Sky Full of Song" do the same?! Well, to answer your question, it's Florence and The Machine, so I'm pretty sure it will! Florence's songs have a thing for being haunting and somewhat poetic. If you thought "Hunger" fit this description, "Sky Full of Song" seems to fit it even more! From the mysterious opening, defined by both thumping bass and lush orchestration, to its passionate vocals, and its profound lyrics ("I can't hide from the thunder in a sky full of song"), "Sky Full of Song" has the potential to be yet another gem in the Florence and The Machine catalog!
"When the Curtain Falls" by Greta Van Fleet: No, this is not a long lost Led Zeppelin song, in spite of how it might sound both instrumentally AND vocally. Greta Van Fleet have become known for pretty much CHANNELING Led Zeppelin in the few years they've been around so far, and they continue to prove this with "When the Curtain Falls". I'm a bit surprised that so many adult alt radio stations have now latched onto this song, given how they could have easily gone for the more folk-y "Flower Power" when they had the chance (but didn't), but the fact is, they have. In particular, "When the Curtain Falls" seems to draw heavily from one of Led Zeppelin's hardest rocking songs, "The Wanton Song", as both are in G major, and both just sneak up on you from behind when you first listen to them. In case you think GVF are a Zeppelin ripoff, you might wanna take note that they have, in fact, received the Robert Plant stamp of approval. Apparently, the Zeppelin frontman thinks they are one of the best new bands out there!
"Woman" by Cat Power and Lana Del Rey: Two women doing a song CALLED "Woman". What to think of that?! Well, given how the women in question are Cat Power and Lana Del Rey, count me in! Cat Power is no stranger to acoustic guitar, which dominates this song, but it's probably the first time that Lana Del Rey has dabbled in folk-rock, and I must say it suits her well! Lyrically, the song is a bit like Courtney Barnett's "Charity" from earlier this year, only more melancholy than angry. Both songs are about women who are mistreated and have suffered far too long from verbal abuse in their relationships. While I am not female, I would consider myself feminist, and I consider this song to be a gentle but still very convincing feminist anthem for the late 2010's.
"Loading Zones" by Kurt Vile: Yes, this is a song about the troubles of parking cars. Kurt Vile is truly a man of mystery sometimes. I mean, how can he take such mundane subject matter and turn it into such a cool song?! No one really knows the answer that question, but Kurt definitely has the magic touch when it comes to churning out songs that sound both roots-y enough to be Bob Dylan and quirky enough to be Frank Zappa (Come to think of it, that's kinda what Tom Waits did back in the day, isn't it?!) Trouble finding a spot for your vehicle? You now have a song that's right for you!
"Mansion Door" by Shakey Graves: Shakey Graves' debut album really only yielded one adult alt radio hit with the quaint but catchy country-rocker, "Dearly Departed". With their latest album, however, they now have two more hits on their hands. Earlier this year, we heard the energetic indie-pop tune, "Kids These Days", and now we have another song that takes the indie-pop sound in a more quirky direction with "Mansion Door", which sounds a bit like a cross between Wilco and Sufjan Stevens. Like Sufjan's music, "Mansion Door" is a bundle of contradictions: sweet but somewhat loud, ordinary lyrics mixed with more cryptic ones, etc. The sentimental recurring phrase, "my one and only lonely star", fits well with its yearning sound.
"Sky Full of Song" by Florence and The Machine: This song was originally poised to be the first single from FATM's latest album, but instead, that honor went to "Hunger", which has thus far become one of the most successful songs of 2018. Will "Sky Full of Song" do the same?! Well, to answer your question, it's Florence and The Machine, so I'm pretty sure it will! Florence's songs have a thing for being haunting and somewhat poetic. If you thought "Hunger" fit this description, "Sky Full of Song" seems to fit it even more! From the mysterious opening, defined by both thumping bass and lush orchestration, to its passionate vocals, and its profound lyrics ("I can't hide from the thunder in a sky full of song"), "Sky Full of Song" has the potential to be yet another gem in the Florence and The Machine catalog!
"When the Curtain Falls" by Greta Van Fleet: No, this is not a long lost Led Zeppelin song, in spite of how it might sound both instrumentally AND vocally. Greta Van Fleet have become known for pretty much CHANNELING Led Zeppelin in the few years they've been around so far, and they continue to prove this with "When the Curtain Falls". I'm a bit surprised that so many adult alt radio stations have now latched onto this song, given how they could have easily gone for the more folk-y "Flower Power" when they had the chance (but didn't), but the fact is, they have. In particular, "When the Curtain Falls" seems to draw heavily from one of Led Zeppelin's hardest rocking songs, "The Wanton Song", as both are in G major, and both just sneak up on you from behind when you first listen to them. In case you think GVF are a Zeppelin ripoff, you might wanna take note that they have, in fact, received the Robert Plant stamp of approval. Apparently, the Zeppelin frontman thinks they are one of the best new bands out there!
"Woman" by Cat Power and Lana Del Rey: Two women doing a song CALLED "Woman". What to think of that?! Well, given how the women in question are Cat Power and Lana Del Rey, count me in! Cat Power is no stranger to acoustic guitar, which dominates this song, but it's probably the first time that Lana Del Rey has dabbled in folk-rock, and I must say it suits her well! Lyrically, the song is a bit like Courtney Barnett's "Charity" from earlier this year, only more melancholy than angry. Both songs are about women who are mistreated and have suffered far too long from verbal abuse in their relationships. While I am not female, I would consider myself feminist, and I consider this song to be a gentle but still very convincing feminist anthem for the late 2010's.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
New songs for August 15th, 2018
here they are:
"Jumbo" by Punch Brothers: Ever since Donald Trump got elected president, I had thoughts that harder edged rock groups would be doing protest songs against him, the way Green Day did with their "American Idiot" record in response to George W. Bush's presidency during the 2000's. Hard rock, however, has become a thing of the past (for the most part) during the 2010's, so instead we have softer rock groups like Punch Brothers doing songs about him - or rather, Donald Trump's SON, Donald Trump, Jr. Yes, that's what "Jumbo" is about. Though his name is never mentioned, many articles about the bluegrass-rock group's latest song have already come out, and they all point to Trump Jr. as the song's villain, nicknamed "Jumbo" in the song. Punch Brothers have had enough hits on adult alt radio to count on a single hand, but even with the few songs I know by them, I can still tell that this is the first time the group have gotten political on one of their albums. I never thought I'd see so many soft and middle-of-the-road rock groups (Arcade Fire would fit the latter category) doing songs against our current president. I thought it would be mostly hard rock (and possibly punk rock), like how it was during the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Bush presidency. The times, they are a changin'!
"Last Lion of Albion" by Neko Case: Our next song is a protest song as well, although not necessarily a political one. Neko Case's "Last Lion of Albion" is a protest song against none other than mankind itself, and the many (mostly unsuccessful) ways it tries to "tame" nature. With a melancholy, pessimistic sound that seems halfway between Alanis Morissette and Lissie, Neko Case weaves a chilling parable about how natural resources are exploited by human beings in ways they weren't meant to be used that ultimately become detrimental to how we live. More specifically, the song targets Britain, since the nation often uses lions to symbolize their power. "You'll feel extinction", warns Case, during the chorus, "when you see their face on your money." There is no need for guns and war when you can use the greatest weapon of all against those who won't listen to you - music!
"Natural" by Imagine Dragons: Thus far on this week's blog, we have seen two acts use quiet music to express loud feelings of distress. That's not the way Imagine Dragons like to do things. If Dan Reynolds and co want their desires and ideas to be known to others, they SHOUT it! This is exactly what they do on "Natural", particularly during the chorus, which sounds like the type of song that would be used when two rivaling sports teams are facing off against one another. In today's competitive world, you need things to build you up and make you stay strong and alert. That's pretty much what bands like Imagine Dragons are there for, especially on songs like this one!
"Shame" by Elle King: The blonde "Ex's And Oh's" bombshell is back with yet another song to motivate strong female empowerment with "Shame". The song doesn't have quite the rock-meets-jazz swing that "Ex's" did, but it still manages to be a catchy tune. Mixing the beat of Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" with the darkly seductive pop/rock techniques of musicians like Lorde, "Shame" is a song just screaming to be the next summer anthem of the year. Though she might not be as rockin' on this song as she was back in 2014, Elle still maintains her sense of lyrical talent by being as deliciously scathing as she has been on her other songs. After repeating the title of the song four times, she burns and traps a former lover of hers by saying, "Mama doesn't know who every night you go to." "King" is not Elle's real last name, but she sure has a lot of kingly (or rather, queenly) power on this song!
"Something Human" by Muse: After almost 15 years, I've finally gotten on the Muse bandwagon that many friends of mine have been on ever since they broke through to the mainstream in the mid 2000's. Their song "Starlight" was kinda cool, as it sounded like a slightly harder rocking Coldplay tune, but the rest of their stuff I dunno about. They always seemed like a cross between Queen and Depeche Mode to me, which was like peanut butter and hot dogs to me (In other words, both good, but not together). With "Something Human", this has all changed. The song has given Muse a dimension that's more...well...human! Instead of being all bombastic and arena rock-y, "Something Human" is a more calming song that combines acoustic guitar instrumentation with electronic beats and synthesizer in the background. The song is almost spiritual in a way, like a U2 song, with Muse searching for something more significant in life than how life appears to be, throughout the song.
"Jumbo" by Punch Brothers: Ever since Donald Trump got elected president, I had thoughts that harder edged rock groups would be doing protest songs against him, the way Green Day did with their "American Idiot" record in response to George W. Bush's presidency during the 2000's. Hard rock, however, has become a thing of the past (for the most part) during the 2010's, so instead we have softer rock groups like Punch Brothers doing songs about him - or rather, Donald Trump's SON, Donald Trump, Jr. Yes, that's what "Jumbo" is about. Though his name is never mentioned, many articles about the bluegrass-rock group's latest song have already come out, and they all point to Trump Jr. as the song's villain, nicknamed "Jumbo" in the song. Punch Brothers have had enough hits on adult alt radio to count on a single hand, but even with the few songs I know by them, I can still tell that this is the first time the group have gotten political on one of their albums. I never thought I'd see so many soft and middle-of-the-road rock groups (Arcade Fire would fit the latter category) doing songs against our current president. I thought it would be mostly hard rock (and possibly punk rock), like how it was during the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Bush presidency. The times, they are a changin'!
"Last Lion of Albion" by Neko Case: Our next song is a protest song as well, although not necessarily a political one. Neko Case's "Last Lion of Albion" is a protest song against none other than mankind itself, and the many (mostly unsuccessful) ways it tries to "tame" nature. With a melancholy, pessimistic sound that seems halfway between Alanis Morissette and Lissie, Neko Case weaves a chilling parable about how natural resources are exploited by human beings in ways they weren't meant to be used that ultimately become detrimental to how we live. More specifically, the song targets Britain, since the nation often uses lions to symbolize their power. "You'll feel extinction", warns Case, during the chorus, "when you see their face on your money." There is no need for guns and war when you can use the greatest weapon of all against those who won't listen to you - music!
"Natural" by Imagine Dragons: Thus far on this week's blog, we have seen two acts use quiet music to express loud feelings of distress. That's not the way Imagine Dragons like to do things. If Dan Reynolds and co want their desires and ideas to be known to others, they SHOUT it! This is exactly what they do on "Natural", particularly during the chorus, which sounds like the type of song that would be used when two rivaling sports teams are facing off against one another. In today's competitive world, you need things to build you up and make you stay strong and alert. That's pretty much what bands like Imagine Dragons are there for, especially on songs like this one!
"Shame" by Elle King: The blonde "Ex's And Oh's" bombshell is back with yet another song to motivate strong female empowerment with "Shame". The song doesn't have quite the rock-meets-jazz swing that "Ex's" did, but it still manages to be a catchy tune. Mixing the beat of Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" with the darkly seductive pop/rock techniques of musicians like Lorde, "Shame" is a song just screaming to be the next summer anthem of the year. Though she might not be as rockin' on this song as she was back in 2014, Elle still maintains her sense of lyrical talent by being as deliciously scathing as she has been on her other songs. After repeating the title of the song four times, she burns and traps a former lover of hers by saying, "Mama doesn't know who every night you go to." "King" is not Elle's real last name, but she sure has a lot of kingly (or rather, queenly) power on this song!
"Something Human" by Muse: After almost 15 years, I've finally gotten on the Muse bandwagon that many friends of mine have been on ever since they broke through to the mainstream in the mid 2000's. Their song "Starlight" was kinda cool, as it sounded like a slightly harder rocking Coldplay tune, but the rest of their stuff I dunno about. They always seemed like a cross between Queen and Depeche Mode to me, which was like peanut butter and hot dogs to me (In other words, both good, but not together). With "Something Human", this has all changed. The song has given Muse a dimension that's more...well...human! Instead of being all bombastic and arena rock-y, "Something Human" is a more calming song that combines acoustic guitar instrumentation with electronic beats and synthesizer in the background. The song is almost spiritual in a way, like a U2 song, with Muse searching for something more significant in life than how life appears to be, throughout the song.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
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!
"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!
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
new songs for August 1st 2018
Here they are:
“Empress” by Snow Patrol: You probably wouldn’t know this song is even called “Empress” if you heard it for the first time, since the word is not mentioned anywhere in the song, and it’s not exactly about royalty either. “Empress” continues in the direction of “Don’t Give In”, lyrically. It is another song where Gary Lightbody expresses a sense of grief about his own sense of depression and the struggle to survive. “Sound, pulse, and volume/Hands just reaching out for hands/This is almost overload” starts off the chorus of “Empress”, which conveys an urgency of sorts that ends up being too much for Lightbody to bear. The song has a bit more of a rock sound than “Don’t Give In” did, but lyrically it is just as poignant!
“Throwback” by Jim James: No, this is not a song about Throwback Thursday. Quite the opposite, really. In spite of its nostalgic sounding title, “Throwback” is actually about how much Jim James wants people to live in the present. It continues from where his last single, “Just A Fool”, left off. Jim continues to express how frustrated he is by the quick yet insidious spread of erroneous information in today’s media in “Throwback”. He expounds on that theme here by begging for people to use the media for justice and equal rights instead of merely for fun. Jim’s talking about a throwback, all right. The type of “throwback” that makes you want to throw something back in someone’s face!
“Unwanted Number” by Elvis Costello: Good news and bad news. The bad news is that Elvis Costello has now succumbed to cancer. The good news is that, in spite of that, he still knows how to make music as compelling and thrilling as ever! “Unwanted Number” is his first song with backing group, The Imposters, he has done in a decade! The song is a sublime, R & B styled number that combines the syncopation of The Supremes with the timeless beauty of Dionne Warwick. The lyrics of the song also hearken back to an earlier era, with the song’s theme about the difficulties of love, as opposed to some of the more politically charged songs Elvis Costello has done in recent years.
“Empress” by Snow Patrol: You probably wouldn’t know this song is even called “Empress” if you heard it for the first time, since the word is not mentioned anywhere in the song, and it’s not exactly about royalty either. “Empress” continues in the direction of “Don’t Give In”, lyrically. It is another song where Gary Lightbody expresses a sense of grief about his own sense of depression and the struggle to survive. “Sound, pulse, and volume/Hands just reaching out for hands/This is almost overload” starts off the chorus of “Empress”, which conveys an urgency of sorts that ends up being too much for Lightbody to bear. The song has a bit more of a rock sound than “Don’t Give In” did, but lyrically it is just as poignant!
“Throwback” by Jim James: No, this is not a song about Throwback Thursday. Quite the opposite, really. In spite of its nostalgic sounding title, “Throwback” is actually about how much Jim James wants people to live in the present. It continues from where his last single, “Just A Fool”, left off. Jim continues to express how frustrated he is by the quick yet insidious spread of erroneous information in today’s media in “Throwback”. He expounds on that theme here by begging for people to use the media for justice and equal rights instead of merely for fun. Jim’s talking about a throwback, all right. The type of “throwback” that makes you want to throw something back in someone’s face!
“Unwanted Number” by Elvis Costello: Good news and bad news. The bad news is that Elvis Costello has now succumbed to cancer. The good news is that, in spite of that, he still knows how to make music as compelling and thrilling as ever! “Unwanted Number” is his first song with backing group, The Imposters, he has done in a decade! The song is a sublime, R & B styled number that combines the syncopation of The Supremes with the timeless beauty of Dionne Warwick. The lyrics of the song also hearken back to an earlier era, with the song’s theme about the difficulties of love, as opposed to some of the more politically charged songs Elvis Costello has done in recent years.
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