here they are:
"Armageddon's Back In Town" by Drive-by Truckers: Though it is not the first time that contemporary Southern rock outfit, Drive-by Truckers, have dealt with dark subject matter, their latest song, "Armageddon's Back In Town", is probably the first one that deals directly with the concept of the end of the world, as can be evidenced from its title alone. As lead singer Patterson Hood deals with the stress of what has now become everyday life for him and countless others, a lively and fiery Southern rock sound blares in the background, defining the essence of the song. Armageddon seems like it's always been lingering in the shadows of DBT, whose previous subjects have included the devil, protest, and even AIDS, so for Patterson to claim that it's "back in town" seems dubious when it seems to have been there all along for them. Perhaps the one thing that can be said is that "Armageddon" has gotten bigger as time has gone on for DBT.
"Fortune" by Wye Oak: Baltimore indie-pop/rock duo, Wye Oak, are a name that is often mentioned but rarely heard among adult alt radio programmers. Until now, that is. With "Fortune", Wye Oak have finally gotten the attention they've deserved on the Triple A format. And why (no pun intended) is that?! Perhaps it's the haunting combination of slinky, shimmering guitar and lead singer Jenn Wasner's sweet but shaky vocals, both of which are backed by a catchy rhythm. Jenn's yearning lyrics, which never seem to get fully resolved in spite of her earnest searching for answers, might be another part of the equation as to why "Fortune" has captured the public's attention like no Wye Oak song has previously.
"Mariners Apartment Complex" by Lana Del Rey: To paraphrase Patti Smith, Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not Lana Del Rey's. Patti Smith, particularly the softer side of her music, might have just inspired Lana Del Rey in more ways than one here on LDR's latest song, "Mariners Apartment Complex". For one, there's the lyrical theme of struggling with one's faith in a quest to understand oneself on a deeper level, grappling between the sacred and the profane as Patti has done, as well as other rock poets like Leonard Cohen (the song has even been compared lyrically to Cohen's "Chelsea Hotel # 2"). Musically, it sounds like it's evocative of songs from the mid 1970's, during which both Cohen and Smith were active, relevant musicians. Lana uses the name "Jesus" both sincerely ("kiss the sky and whisper to Jesus") and blasphemously ("I f**ked up, I know that, but Jesus, can't a girl just do the best she can?"), perhaps to represent just how conflicted she feels about love...and about religion and spirituality as well (the phrase "big-time believer", used midway through the song, could reference both love and religion). The world might never understand Lana Del Rey fully...but maybe she prefers being misunderstood.
"Somedays (I Don't Feel Like Trying)" by The Raconteurs: With the possible exception of their 2008 song, "Old Enough", The Raconteurs have never sounded as close to Southern rock as they have on their latest song, "Somedays (I Don't Feel Like Trying)". The song contains echoes of Southern rock staples like Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Tuesday's Gone" and The Allman Brothers' "Whipping Post", as Jack White tells a sorrowful tale of how downtrodden he feels sometimes. At only the second line into the song, White claims that the "only trouble is it's doomed from the start", "it" being his heart. Jack has really delved into his inner bluesman with his latest record, but this one feels like the blues-iest and most forlorn he's had to offer so far!
"The Fool" by Overcoats: It seems as though Sleater-Kinney's switch earlier this year from raw, guitar centered punk rock to more melodic yet still aggressive electro-rock has influenced other musicians as well, most notably the all-girl New York duo, Overcoats. "The Fool" is not a song for fools, unlike what its title might indicate. Instead, it is a song for people who want to break free from societal moulds and boldly declare their individuality like none before or since. The duo state that fools are what they do NOT want to be during the chorus of the song, and are tired of "bending over backwards" for others. In doing so, Overcoats have created an excellent song for marching forward into the next decade. One small step for woman, one giant leap for womankind!
