here they are:
"Gold" by Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds: This song is a bit more like an indie/soul hybrid than the blues-y neo-soul that Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds' fans might be used to, but it still has plenty of soul left inside of it! Lead singer Arleigh Kincheloe assures her fans during the chorus that her love is "gold, gold, gold". We believe it, Arleigh! The passion in your voice says it all! Something you fans of the band might not have known is that Arleigh had a son just last year. Nothing like releasing new life into the world to celebrate your musical joy, eh?!
"Hey Mama" by Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats: Nathaniel and his Night Sweats have been on fire this year! They have not one, but TWO, of the most played tracks on adult alt radio for 2018: the feisty "You Worry Me" and the sensual but gritty soul music of "A Little Honey". "Hey Mama" is not exactly a free spirited or soulful song, but there's a good reason for this. "Hey Mama" is not about a girl that Nathaniel is calling "Mama" simply because of his affections towards her, but about his actual mother. It's about the bond Nathaniel shares with her. The band released this song as a single, aptly, on Mother's Day, but it hasn't quite stormed adult alt radio until the past week or so. This song is a quiet but striking reminder that October isn't all about witches and goblins and ghosts. It's also part of the season of autumn, the most bittersweet season of the year!
"Hide" by Rainbow Kitten Surprise: So what do you do after your "Fever Pitch" has infectiously wound its way onto alt and adult alt stations everywhere?! Well...you "Hide"!! Unlike what the title of the song indicates, RKS aren't hiding anything from their fans! They bare all their emotions, in fact, with "Hide". Judging from both the drag queens in the video for the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aetcUc3ejPE), and from its ending lyrics, urging the subject of the song to "hide (their) love", it is probably about someone falling in love with someone who is transgender, but not wanting to admit it because of the way the singer's family feels about such people. Way to break off the barriers of judgment, RKS!! Here's hoping the world will be less judgmental thanks to you guys!!
"If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be)" by Leon Bridges: Leon Bridges has jumped all over the soul music spectrum for his latest album, and, like Nathaniel Rateliff, has so far had TWO of his songs become some of the most played songs on adult alt radio in 2018 ("Bad Bad News" and "Beyond"). "Bad Bad News" sounded like a vintage jazz-rock track, and "Beyond" was a lovely, poignant slice of the rarely heard folk-soul subgenre. For "If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be)", he blurs the lines between funk and disco (with some sweet guitar licks in the middle, I might add) to get his point across. As for the point of this song? Well, look no further than its title! If it feels good, then it must be, right?! Right!
"Just to Say I Love You" by Michael Franti: After a dry spell of folk and world music blending during the late 2000's and early 2010's, Michael Franti got back into the reggae-rock groove he originally became known for with "Once A Day" in 2015. The reggae rock trend continues with "Just to Say I Love You", albeit with a sweeter flavor this time around. I can't help but feel like the miracle of birth is a theme in this week's blog! "Gold" seemed like a declaration of Arleigh Kincheloe's feelings as a new mother, and "Hey Mama" reflected Nathaniel Rateliff's feelings for his own mother. "Just to Say I Love You" is a song Michael Franti has dedicated to his wife, who, like Arleigh, is a new mother this year. Love and unity are common themes in Franti's music, but they have never been as profound as this!!
"Northern Lights" by Death Cab for Cutie: This song is like a mix of R.E.M. and The Smiths, while not being near as good as either one. Because of its influences, though, as well as its use of guitar, I feel like I might like it better than I did "Gold Rush". Another similarity "Northern Lights" shares to both R.E.M. and The Smiths is how it has a small amount of verses while still managing to seem deep in its meaning. The song itself might be a "word salad" of sorts, but its chorus still manages to be captivating, even if it only contains the words, "Northern lights filled our skies/Empty nights synchronized".
