here they are:
"Dance of the Clairvoyants" by Pearl Jam: You may find yourself...listening to a song by Pearl Jam. And you may ask yourself, "Why doesn't this sound like Pearl Jam?" And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful Pearl Jam!" This seems to be the reaction many have had to Pearl Jam's latest effort, the surprisingly quirky, "Dance of the Clairvoyants". After nearly 30 years of existence, perhaps Eddie and the boys thought it was time to expand their horizons a bit...and did they ever! The cosmic, almost psychedelic lyrics seem a bit out of place for Pearl Jam as well, and to top that off, it's the first Pearl Jam song I've ever heard with synthesizers! "Dance of the Clairvoyants" clearly dances to the beat of a different drummer!
"Everything Has Changed" by Best Coast: Do you know who loves rock and roll? Bethany Cosentino, that's who! I would not have expected Best Coast to adapt an early '80s hard rock sound a la Joan Jett, but that's exactly what she does here in Best Coast's latest song, "Everything Has Changed". I guess everything HAS changed, although the song is in the key of G major, like most Best Coast songs tend to be. In the song, Bethany recalls what a mess she used to be, and how glad she is that things have taken a turn for the better. I liked Best Coast better when they had a sweeter sound and a more lo-fi approach to their music, so hopefully musical direction is not what Bethany means by "change"!
"I Want More" by Kaleo: Kaleo were truly one of the most eclectic groups of the 2010's. They had taken on folk-rock ("All the Pretty Girls"), Hozier-ish indie-pop with some soul ("Way Down We Go", their biggest hit so far), and even Led Zeppelin-esque hard rock ("No Good"). "I Want More" marks Kaleo's return to folk-rock. It is a sweet, pleasant song. The whistling in the beginning and middle of the song only adds to the cutesy vibe the song has. "I Want More" describes exactly what I want from Kaleo. I want more songs like this one!
"Unreal City" by M. Ward: M. Ward has a lot of the spirit of the '60s in his music, typically either folk-rock or a light form of blues-rock. "Unreal City" touches on that aspect that everyone associates with the '60s that Ward hasn't touched upon yet: psychedelic rock, albeit with more synthesizers than guitars, in this case. This is probably the first M. Ward song I've heard in which he doesn't use guitar as the central instrument. I must say, it's a little disappointing to hear more and more musicians turning away from the guitar, since that's the instrument I like best, but on the plus side, this song does have an adventurous, meandering sound that M. Ward's other songs don't have, so it adds a bit more dimension to his catalog. Oh, and thankfully, a guitar solo does come in the middle of the song, but it's only on during that part.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
New songs for January 22nd, 2020
here they are:
"Circle the Drain" by Soccer Mommy: We're not sure if Sophie Allison plays soccer or if she's a mommy, but we do know that she has good musical influences. Innovative female alt-rockers from the '90s like Alanis Morissette, The Cranberries, and Liz Phair seem to have all influenced Sophie "Soccer Mommy" Allison to a certain degree, even though all three of the aforementioned acts were making music before Sophie was even born. Like Alanis, Liz, and Dolores, Sophie's go-to topic seems to be depression. Her breakthrough song, "Circle the Drain", makes it clear that she "feels low sometimes/even when everything is fine". "Chick rockers" might not be a new thing anymore, but at least Sophie is there to keep the torch of brutally honest female alt-rockers alive!
"He Loves Me" by Brittany Howard: In case you were wondering, "He" is none other than Jesus Christ himself! Howard announces in the powerful, soulful opening of this song that even though she doesn't go to church anymore, "he" still loves her. Perhaps some might view it as a blasphemous claim to make in a song where Howard mentions that even when she's "smoking blunts" or "drinking too much", that Jesus still loves her, but looking at the context of the song from another angle, she seems to be trying to say that Jesus was a nonjudgmental person, and that a truly Christian act is to love one another, no matter what the other might be doing or saying. At the end of the song, a statement is made that, "'somebodiness' does not come from your opinion of God". Since "somebodiness" is a made-up word, it might be hard to interpret what Brittany Howard is trying to say here, but my best guess would be that who we are as individuals is ultimately more important than who (or what) we worship. Amen, sista!
"High to Low" by Brent Cowles: There's not much depth to Brent Cowles' funky, bass-heavy, "High to Low", at least not on the surface. However, this is one of those songs where its simplicity IS its depth. Its message of "gettin' down" might seem like a simple declaration of getting people to dance, but it's also about being who you are and being OK with who you are. So go ahead get down with yo' bad self...as long as you can BE yourself while doing so!
"Paper Cup" by Real Estate (featuring Amelia Meath from Sylvan Esso): Songs like "Darling" and "Stained Glass" from Real Estate's 2017 album sounded like odes to '60s jangle-pop in the style of The Byrds. "Paper Cup" flashes forward one decade later, echoing the "yacht rock" phenomenon made popular by groups like Steely Dan, America, and Kenny Loggins. Along with its similarity in breeziness to the Dan, "Paper Cup" also shares Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's fondness for cynical, obtuse lyrics. The song appears to harbor a tinge of criticism towards people who feel like certain bands and styles are "over the hill". Lead singer Martin Courtney contemplates the future of his career on "Paper Cup" and the potential dangers that come with it - not the sex, drugs, and rock & roll type of dangers, but the more inevitable dangers of growing old and becoming irrelevant.
"Phase" by Pinegrove: Take the quirky, nasal vocals of Ben Folds, add the contemporary jangle-pop of Guster, and imagine that both somehow formed a not-so-heavy emo group, and you've got "Phase" by Pinegrove. The lead singer sounds frustrated with his angst-ridden lyrics and delivery, but it gets offset by pseudo-grunge guitars that never climax to a full rock sound and instead end up sounding like modern-day musical descendants of R.E.M. This is a song that wants to be taken seriously, but it's hard to take it completely seriously when you listen to it. "Phase" is a puzzle of a song to try to describe! But perhaps my feelings towards this song will change later on...after all, it's just a "phase"!
"Circle the Drain" by Soccer Mommy: We're not sure if Sophie Allison plays soccer or if she's a mommy, but we do know that she has good musical influences. Innovative female alt-rockers from the '90s like Alanis Morissette, The Cranberries, and Liz Phair seem to have all influenced Sophie "Soccer Mommy" Allison to a certain degree, even though all three of the aforementioned acts were making music before Sophie was even born. Like Alanis, Liz, and Dolores, Sophie's go-to topic seems to be depression. Her breakthrough song, "Circle the Drain", makes it clear that she "feels low sometimes/even when everything is fine". "Chick rockers" might not be a new thing anymore, but at least Sophie is there to keep the torch of brutally honest female alt-rockers alive!
"He Loves Me" by Brittany Howard: In case you were wondering, "He" is none other than Jesus Christ himself! Howard announces in the powerful, soulful opening of this song that even though she doesn't go to church anymore, "he" still loves her. Perhaps some might view it as a blasphemous claim to make in a song where Howard mentions that even when she's "smoking blunts" or "drinking too much", that Jesus still loves her, but looking at the context of the song from another angle, she seems to be trying to say that Jesus was a nonjudgmental person, and that a truly Christian act is to love one another, no matter what the other might be doing or saying. At the end of the song, a statement is made that, "'somebodiness' does not come from your opinion of God". Since "somebodiness" is a made-up word, it might be hard to interpret what Brittany Howard is trying to say here, but my best guess would be that who we are as individuals is ultimately more important than who (or what) we worship. Amen, sista!
"High to Low" by Brent Cowles: There's not much depth to Brent Cowles' funky, bass-heavy, "High to Low", at least not on the surface. However, this is one of those songs where its simplicity IS its depth. Its message of "gettin' down" might seem like a simple declaration of getting people to dance, but it's also about being who you are and being OK with who you are. So go ahead get down with yo' bad self...as long as you can BE yourself while doing so!
"Paper Cup" by Real Estate (featuring Amelia Meath from Sylvan Esso): Songs like "Darling" and "Stained Glass" from Real Estate's 2017 album sounded like odes to '60s jangle-pop in the style of The Byrds. "Paper Cup" flashes forward one decade later, echoing the "yacht rock" phenomenon made popular by groups like Steely Dan, America, and Kenny Loggins. Along with its similarity in breeziness to the Dan, "Paper Cup" also shares Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's fondness for cynical, obtuse lyrics. The song appears to harbor a tinge of criticism towards people who feel like certain bands and styles are "over the hill". Lead singer Martin Courtney contemplates the future of his career on "Paper Cup" and the potential dangers that come with it - not the sex, drugs, and rock & roll type of dangers, but the more inevitable dangers of growing old and becoming irrelevant.
"Phase" by Pinegrove: Take the quirky, nasal vocals of Ben Folds, add the contemporary jangle-pop of Guster, and imagine that both somehow formed a not-so-heavy emo group, and you've got "Phase" by Pinegrove. The lead singer sounds frustrated with his angst-ridden lyrics and delivery, but it gets offset by pseudo-grunge guitars that never climax to a full rock sound and instead end up sounding like modern-day musical descendants of R.E.M. This is a song that wants to be taken seriously, but it's hard to take it completely seriously when you listen to it. "Phase" is a puzzle of a song to try to describe! But perhaps my feelings towards this song will change later on...after all, it's just a "phase"!
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
New songs for January 15th, 2020
here they are:
"And It's Still Alright" by Nathaniel Rateliff: Nathaniel Rateliff, along with his backing group, The Night Sweats, have brought us numerous adult alt and alt radio hits with a distinctly soulful flavor, like "S.O.B." and "You Worry Me". This song, which also happens to be the first song released IN 2020 that I'm reviewing in 2020, marks Nathaniel's first significant appearance on his own without The Night Sweats. That song, "And It's Still Alright", plays out like a slightly countrified version of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic". Not exactly what I would have expected from the normally fiery Nathaniel Rateliff, but perhaps part of the reason it sounds the way it does is because Nathaniel does not have his backing group with him this time. It's a pleasant and bittersweet song, though, so I do like it. Not Nathaniel's best, but it is a good one...and it's still alright.
"Black Madonna" by Cage the Elephant: The title of this song refers to the "Madonna and Child" painting when people depict the titular woman with dark skin instead of lighter skin, proving Cage the Elephant to be both more spiritual and more knowledgable than I previously thought they were. Beneath the surface, though, the song "Black Madonna" seems to be about someone who is not ready to have a relationship. Given the themes of rocky relationships in other recent CTE tunes, like "Ready to Let Go", I would say this is an accurate conclusion to arrive at. The song goes in line with the spaced-out new wave sound CTE have been going for on their latest album, and like the other three songs that have been released from it so far as singles, "Black Madonna" is in a minor key. The overall darkness of the song seems to be offset by its title, as well as the "hallelujah" in the chorus, both indicating reverential undertones in a song that otherwise seems bleak and despairing.
"Dirt In My Eyes" by Cold War Kids: Much like their 2019 summer smash, "Complainer", Cold War Kids' "Dirt In My Eyes" is also a funky, catchy song in the CWK catalog. Where "Complainer", in spite of its title, was uplifting, "Dirt In My Eyes" seems to BE a complaint, probably against a former lover. "You just keep on kickin' dirt in my eyes", Nathan Willett sings in a Michael Jackson-esque falsetto during the chorus, "and I just keep on actin', actin' surprised", he continues. Those sound like the words of a man who's been pushed around for far too long. However, instead of making the song moody, he makes it funky! Go figure, eh?!
"Feel the Way I Want" by Caroline Rose: What is there to say about Caroline Rose except that she knows how to make great danceable tunes out of alternative pop/rock music? In 2018, she released the fun, sassy, booty shakin' "Soul No. 5". Where "Soul No. 5" was largely rock oriented, Caroline's latest, "Feel the Way I Want", seems more rooted in the eccentric funk stylings of Prince, and it also sounds a bit like the works of Funkadelic's Bootsy Collins. If not for Caroline's distinct vocal stylings, this song could be mistaken for a Lizzo song! "Feel the Way I Want" is a largely celebratory anthem that lives up to its title. Let's start this decade/year right, folks. We've gotta feel the way we want to!
"Hand Over My Heart" by The Secret Sisters: The only other song I've heard so far from The Secret Sisters was the bittersweet, yearning folk-rock song, "He's Fine", from about four years ago. "Hand Over My Heart", in contrast, is more sweet than bittersweet and more indie-pop with folky undertones than it is folk-rock. According to lead singer, Laura Rogers, the reason "Hand Over My Heart" sounds the way it does is because The Secret Sisters wanted to go in a direction that was more musically and lyrically positive. Lovelorn ballads have long been their typical style, but in the dawning of this new era, they've chosen love and kindness over loss and heartache. The resulting song is a sweet, bubbly song that is sure to put a smile on any indie-folk fan!
"I Don't Wanna Lie" by Yola: One of many blues-y R & B revivalists of the 2010's, Yola debuted at the end of the decade. Come the early 2020's, she has finally gotten the recognition she's deserved on adult alt radio with the Dan Auerbach (Black Keys) produced song, "I Don't Wanna Lie"! The guitars in the intro sound pretty Auerbach-ian, but cue the piano, string section, and drums, and "I Don't Wanna Lie" becomes its own song, evoking the sultry magic of early 1970's soul music. The song is a bold and funky declaration of love and honesty in the tradition of many of Yola's soulful forebears. This song is pretty somethin'! I mean I don't wanna lie and say it's not!
"Lost In Yesterday" by Tame Impala: The icy, stark new wave sound of Tame Impala's latest song, combined with its rhythm, made me think of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears. However, "Lost In Yesterday" differs greatly in its lyrics from the mostly pessimistic TFF song. As its title implies, "Lost In Yesterday" is about getting lost inside a memory. Lead singer Kevin Parker never makes it clear in the song whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. Perhaps his opinion can best be summed up in the verse where he says, "If they call you, embrace them. If they hold you, erase them". In other words, happy memories are great to get lost in, but if a memory holds you back from enjoying the present, get rid of it. Memories are an important part of my life and an important part of who I am overall. Thanks for speaking to my subconscious and empowering it, Kevin!
"Texas Sun" by Khruangbin (pronounced KRUNG-bin), featuring Leon Bridges: There is a good reason this song is about Texas. Post-psychedelic indie-rock group, Khruangbin, and soul revivalist, Leon Bridges, are both Texas natives. Of course, many other musicians are Texans as well, so why did these two choose one another? They seem like quite an unlikely pair! Somehow, though, it manages to work here. Trippy guitars and soulful vocals and rhythm join forces here without one offsetting the other. The result is something that is both strange and beautiful.
"And It's Still Alright" by Nathaniel Rateliff: Nathaniel Rateliff, along with his backing group, The Night Sweats, have brought us numerous adult alt and alt radio hits with a distinctly soulful flavor, like "S.O.B." and "You Worry Me". This song, which also happens to be the first song released IN 2020 that I'm reviewing in 2020, marks Nathaniel's first significant appearance on his own without The Night Sweats. That song, "And It's Still Alright", plays out like a slightly countrified version of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic". Not exactly what I would have expected from the normally fiery Nathaniel Rateliff, but perhaps part of the reason it sounds the way it does is because Nathaniel does not have his backing group with him this time. It's a pleasant and bittersweet song, though, so I do like it. Not Nathaniel's best, but it is a good one...and it's still alright.
"Black Madonna" by Cage the Elephant: The title of this song refers to the "Madonna and Child" painting when people depict the titular woman with dark skin instead of lighter skin, proving Cage the Elephant to be both more spiritual and more knowledgable than I previously thought they were. Beneath the surface, though, the song "Black Madonna" seems to be about someone who is not ready to have a relationship. Given the themes of rocky relationships in other recent CTE tunes, like "Ready to Let Go", I would say this is an accurate conclusion to arrive at. The song goes in line with the spaced-out new wave sound CTE have been going for on their latest album, and like the other three songs that have been released from it so far as singles, "Black Madonna" is in a minor key. The overall darkness of the song seems to be offset by its title, as well as the "hallelujah" in the chorus, both indicating reverential undertones in a song that otherwise seems bleak and despairing.
"Dirt In My Eyes" by Cold War Kids: Much like their 2019 summer smash, "Complainer", Cold War Kids' "Dirt In My Eyes" is also a funky, catchy song in the CWK catalog. Where "Complainer", in spite of its title, was uplifting, "Dirt In My Eyes" seems to BE a complaint, probably against a former lover. "You just keep on kickin' dirt in my eyes", Nathan Willett sings in a Michael Jackson-esque falsetto during the chorus, "and I just keep on actin', actin' surprised", he continues. Those sound like the words of a man who's been pushed around for far too long. However, instead of making the song moody, he makes it funky! Go figure, eh?!
"Feel the Way I Want" by Caroline Rose: What is there to say about Caroline Rose except that she knows how to make great danceable tunes out of alternative pop/rock music? In 2018, she released the fun, sassy, booty shakin' "Soul No. 5". Where "Soul No. 5" was largely rock oriented, Caroline's latest, "Feel the Way I Want", seems more rooted in the eccentric funk stylings of Prince, and it also sounds a bit like the works of Funkadelic's Bootsy Collins. If not for Caroline's distinct vocal stylings, this song could be mistaken for a Lizzo song! "Feel the Way I Want" is a largely celebratory anthem that lives up to its title. Let's start this decade/year right, folks. We've gotta feel the way we want to!
"Hand Over My Heart" by The Secret Sisters: The only other song I've heard so far from The Secret Sisters was the bittersweet, yearning folk-rock song, "He's Fine", from about four years ago. "Hand Over My Heart", in contrast, is more sweet than bittersweet and more indie-pop with folky undertones than it is folk-rock. According to lead singer, Laura Rogers, the reason "Hand Over My Heart" sounds the way it does is because The Secret Sisters wanted to go in a direction that was more musically and lyrically positive. Lovelorn ballads have long been their typical style, but in the dawning of this new era, they've chosen love and kindness over loss and heartache. The resulting song is a sweet, bubbly song that is sure to put a smile on any indie-folk fan!
"I Don't Wanna Lie" by Yola: One of many blues-y R & B revivalists of the 2010's, Yola debuted at the end of the decade. Come the early 2020's, she has finally gotten the recognition she's deserved on adult alt radio with the Dan Auerbach (Black Keys) produced song, "I Don't Wanna Lie"! The guitars in the intro sound pretty Auerbach-ian, but cue the piano, string section, and drums, and "I Don't Wanna Lie" becomes its own song, evoking the sultry magic of early 1970's soul music. The song is a bold and funky declaration of love and honesty in the tradition of many of Yola's soulful forebears. This song is pretty somethin'! I mean I don't wanna lie and say it's not!
"Lost In Yesterday" by Tame Impala: The icy, stark new wave sound of Tame Impala's latest song, combined with its rhythm, made me think of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears. However, "Lost In Yesterday" differs greatly in its lyrics from the mostly pessimistic TFF song. As its title implies, "Lost In Yesterday" is about getting lost inside a memory. Lead singer Kevin Parker never makes it clear in the song whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. Perhaps his opinion can best be summed up in the verse where he says, "If they call you, embrace them. If they hold you, erase them". In other words, happy memories are great to get lost in, but if a memory holds you back from enjoying the present, get rid of it. Memories are an important part of my life and an important part of who I am overall. Thanks for speaking to my subconscious and empowering it, Kevin!
"Texas Sun" by Khruangbin (pronounced KRUNG-bin), featuring Leon Bridges: There is a good reason this song is about Texas. Post-psychedelic indie-rock group, Khruangbin, and soul revivalist, Leon Bridges, are both Texas natives. Of course, many other musicians are Texans as well, so why did these two choose one another? They seem like quite an unlikely pair! Somehow, though, it manages to work here. Trippy guitars and soulful vocals and rhythm join forces here without one offsetting the other. The result is something that is both strange and beautiful.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
First blog of the new year AND new decade, 2020!!
Happy New Year/Decade, folks!! I can't believe I've been doing this blog for (almost) 10 years now! It's been a wild ride, ain't it?! As the day draws closer to my actual blog-iversary (February 11th - 12th this year, since that's a Wednesday), I'll have something very special planned!! Though I don't know what that is yet. In the meantime, four brand new songs for a brand new year AND decade! Here goes:
"Dawn" by Fruition: What's been one of the most popular things to grace the internet during the past 15 years? Did you say "cute animals"?! Perfect! Because that's what the music video for Fruition's latest song, "Dawn", is all about! You can view the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OStNjwHRjh4. Much to the dismay of cat fans like myself, the video focuses more on dogs, but it's still a cute video that's well worth the watch. As for the song itself? Musically, it's almost as sweet as its video with its peppy folk-rock sound. Lyrically, it's a therapeutic song that tries to deal with negative emotions and thoughts. The title, "Dawn", represents a beacon of hope amidst all the darkness that is talked about during the rest of the song. What a fitting way to start out the first new blog of both the new year and the 2020's! Here's to the "Dawn" of a new era! May it bring us plenty of sweet music and cute animals!
"Go Easy" by Matt Maeson: And now, for more positive sentiments and comfort for this new year/decade. Matt Maeson was previously known for his lyrically quirky and musically smooth song, "Cringe", which made waves on both alt and adult charts in late 2018/early 2019. Matt returns for late 2019/early 2020 with "Go Easy", a fun and somewhat spiritually cleansing indie-folk-pop tune about trying to learn from your mistakes and improve on how your life is. "Please just go easy on me, baby", Matt sings during the chorus, in which he also claims that you "can't change" and "can't blame" him. Perhaps it's a bit of a stretch to compare the sentiments of a contemporary alt musician to someone like Mr. Rogers, but this song shares Rogers' famously warm point of view that we all have someone out there who loves us just the way we are!
"Happy Birthday, Baby" by Hiss Golden Messenger: They say it's your birthday?! It's my birthday, too! Well, at least it WAS 10 days ago. Coincidentally, many of the gifts I got that day were related to either cats (see entry # 1 for this week) or Mr. Rogers (see entry # 2 of this week). On the subject of Rogers and other old PBS children's shows, if there's any show I loved in childhood on PBS other than his, it would undoubtedly be Sesame Street, which taught about numbers, just as this song does during its chorus. Specifically, the song counts up to 5, starting with a clever allusion to Three Dog Night's "One (Is the Loneliest Number)" and working its way through the rest of the numbers up to 5. With 2, we hear how the subject of the song was "born in thunder", on 3, they were "lightning quick", and finally, with 4 and 5, we hear how the subject of the song is "a wonder" and how the singer wants to tell that person he loves them. Not sure if this is directed to a girlfriend or a child, but either way, it's a cute song with a pleasant sound, as pretty much all the entries have been so far this week/year/decade. I remember hearing the Three Dog Night song I mentioned earlier in this entry back when I was a kid, disappointed that there were no mentions of numbers higher than one except on the "two can be as bad as one" line. Thankfully, this song mentions all the numbers from 1 through 5 during its chorus. Where was this song when I was a kid?! I probably would have loved it!
"Shine A Little Light" by The Black Keys: As usual, The Keys have had quite an album where their latest one is concerned! I've heard five songs off of it so far, this being the fifth, and their impressive streak of being the last great rock and roll band continues to be proven here! Their latest song, "Shine A Little Light", is a bit like The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" with a slower beat and slightly less intense sound. With its rather apocalyptic lyrics, "Shine A Little Light" could have easily fit in the Stones' catalog during their heyday, although Dan Auerbach offers a beacon of hope with the title of the song in a tune that otherwise seems lyrically bleak. The song itself, thankfully, is not a downer, although then again, I have not known a single Black Keys song to be one!
"Dawn" by Fruition: What's been one of the most popular things to grace the internet during the past 15 years? Did you say "cute animals"?! Perfect! Because that's what the music video for Fruition's latest song, "Dawn", is all about! You can view the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OStNjwHRjh4. Much to the dismay of cat fans like myself, the video focuses more on dogs, but it's still a cute video that's well worth the watch. As for the song itself? Musically, it's almost as sweet as its video with its peppy folk-rock sound. Lyrically, it's a therapeutic song that tries to deal with negative emotions and thoughts. The title, "Dawn", represents a beacon of hope amidst all the darkness that is talked about during the rest of the song. What a fitting way to start out the first new blog of both the new year and the 2020's! Here's to the "Dawn" of a new era! May it bring us plenty of sweet music and cute animals!
"Go Easy" by Matt Maeson: And now, for more positive sentiments and comfort for this new year/decade. Matt Maeson was previously known for his lyrically quirky and musically smooth song, "Cringe", which made waves on both alt and adult charts in late 2018/early 2019. Matt returns for late 2019/early 2020 with "Go Easy", a fun and somewhat spiritually cleansing indie-folk-pop tune about trying to learn from your mistakes and improve on how your life is. "Please just go easy on me, baby", Matt sings during the chorus, in which he also claims that you "can't change" and "can't blame" him. Perhaps it's a bit of a stretch to compare the sentiments of a contemporary alt musician to someone like Mr. Rogers, but this song shares Rogers' famously warm point of view that we all have someone out there who loves us just the way we are!
"Happy Birthday, Baby" by Hiss Golden Messenger: They say it's your birthday?! It's my birthday, too! Well, at least it WAS 10 days ago. Coincidentally, many of the gifts I got that day were related to either cats (see entry # 1 for this week) or Mr. Rogers (see entry # 2 of this week). On the subject of Rogers and other old PBS children's shows, if there's any show I loved in childhood on PBS other than his, it would undoubtedly be Sesame Street, which taught about numbers, just as this song does during its chorus. Specifically, the song counts up to 5, starting with a clever allusion to Three Dog Night's "One (Is the Loneliest Number)" and working its way through the rest of the numbers up to 5. With 2, we hear how the subject of the song was "born in thunder", on 3, they were "lightning quick", and finally, with 4 and 5, we hear how the subject of the song is "a wonder" and how the singer wants to tell that person he loves them. Not sure if this is directed to a girlfriend or a child, but either way, it's a cute song with a pleasant sound, as pretty much all the entries have been so far this week/year/decade. I remember hearing the Three Dog Night song I mentioned earlier in this entry back when I was a kid, disappointed that there were no mentions of numbers higher than one except on the "two can be as bad as one" line. Thankfully, this song mentions all the numbers from 1 through 5 during its chorus. Where was this song when I was a kid?! I probably would have loved it!
"Shine A Little Light" by The Black Keys: As usual, The Keys have had quite an album where their latest one is concerned! I've heard five songs off of it so far, this being the fifth, and their impressive streak of being the last great rock and roll band continues to be proven here! Their latest song, "Shine A Little Light", is a bit like The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" with a slower beat and slightly less intense sound. With its rather apocalyptic lyrics, "Shine A Little Light" could have easily fit in the Stones' catalog during their heyday, although Dan Auerbach offers a beacon of hope with the title of the song in a tune that otherwise seems lyrically bleak. The song itself, thankfully, is not a downer, although then again, I have not known a single Black Keys song to be one!
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