New songs for August 26th, 2020

 here they are:

"Be An Astronaut" by Declan McKenna: Be an astronaut?! Ummm...sure! Why not?! I always wanted to be one when I was little! Declan McKenna's third adult alt radio single to date actually differs significantly from his previous two in a few ways. Both the atmospheric piano-pop sound and outer space lyrical theme seems to have been inspired rock songs from the early '70s about similar topics, most notably David Bowie's "Life On Mars?" and Elton John's "Rocket Man". Piano-pop is not a sound Declan has covered before, but he seems to be doing a good job at it so far, throwing a bit of influence from Queen's Brian May during the surprise guitar solo in the middle of "Be An Astronaut." Being an astronaut seems to be the final fate of the song's character, as narrator Declan states that this character will "do that or die trying." British rock hasn't had this much grandeur or sci-fi exploration for quite a long time, so it is refreshing to hear a song like this one!

"Identical" by Phoenix: This song has been getting a lot of buzz lately around the alt and adult alt communities for a few reasons. First of all, it's Phoenix! Ever since they broke through to the mainstream with "1901" back in 2009, it seems like everything they've done since has been major news, and this is no exception! The other reason, though, is because Phoenix's latest song, "Identical", is part of the soundtrack to the Sofia Coppola directed Bill Murray dramedy film, "On the Rocks." The combo of Sofia Coppola and Bill Murray working on the same project would not sound out of place in a Wes Anderson film. Phoenix have tackled quirky '60s-ish pop before, like their cover of The Beach Boys' "Alone On Christmas Day", so a Wes Anderson style SONG could have worked here as well. However, Phoenix have opted for their usual electro-pop sound on "Identical". The lyrics of "Identical" seem to be a "word salad" of sorts, like most of Phoenix's material, so it might be worth noting that the key of this song is D major, as opposed to the usual F major and C major tunes Phoenix have done.

"Own Alone" by Bahamas: For a group (or rather, a one-man band) named for an island, Bahamas typically have a chill, tropical vibe to their music. The guitar in "Own Alone" suggests this tropical sound, but its beat is far more zippy and almost ska-like in comparison to most of Bahamas' other material. The song chorus is interestingly contradictory (perhaps on purpose), with the lyrics, "I'm on my own, but I'm not alone." This lyric lends itself to many interpretations. My best guess would be that it means that the lead singer is facing something by himself, but he still has other people to back him up on whatever his quest is, which isn't made too clear in the context of the song. What really makes this song stand out, though, is the ace guitar playing, lasting about a minute long and more complex and freewheeling than Bahamas' other material!


"Video Game" by Sufjan Stevens: Though this song starts out with synth-y music that wouldn't be out of place in an actual video game, eclectic indie-folk star, Sufjan Stevens, is merely using the term "video game" as a metaphor here. Specifically, he is viewing collective contemporary society as a "gamer" that controls his every move. He is reflecting here on how we have become a society dependent upon the approval of others, when we should really just be our own people and do our own things. Sufjan, being a Christian, uses a few Christian metaphors in this song, even starting the song with the lyrics, "I don't wanna be your personal Jesus", using a phrase popularized by synth-rock group, Depeche Mode. He also uses phrases like "believer" and "redeemer", both referring here to himself and who he wants to be in his life. Perhaps that means God is a gamer?! Sounds like a Far Side comic strip in the making to me! 

New songs for August 19th, 2020

 here they are:

"AUATC" by Bon Iver: The title of this song is short for "Ate Up All Their Cake". Mmm...cake! The song itself doesn't have much to do with cake, though, so what gives?! Well, it's probably an extended metaphor referring to those who "have their cake and eat it too." Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, along with an eclectic roster of guests ranging from rock legend Bruce Springsteen to millennial indie-pop star Jenny Lewis, are urging people everywhere to rebuild society in a way that's less greedy and more inclusive. Why Justin Vernon sounds like Alvin and The Chipmunks reaching puberty in this song is anyone's guess, as he doesn't normally sound like that, but the song's message is a good one to heed nonetheless. "AUATC" is an odd song for Bon Iver (and company). It could be described as a quirky Bruce Hornsby soundalike that's trying to work on a millennial update of "We Are the World". 

"Do You Think We'll Last Forever?" by Caroline Rose: The title of this funky, Prince-esque song by indie-pop diva, Caroline Rose, might sound like a lovesick, romantic plea, but it actually isn't. It is actually a song fueled by Caroline's inner anxiety when it comes to matters of the heart. She is not asking, "Do you think we'll last forever?" in a doe-eyed way in the manner one might expect from a pop performer, but rather in a way that conveys potential doubt, as in, "Do you THINK we'll last forever...or will this just be another brief, meaningless fling?" I hear ya, Caroline. Romance can be very trying and hard to figure out sometimes! While the music seems to have a "look how super cool I am" kind of boastfulness to it, the lyrics reveal a deeper, more emotional meaning.

"Don't Walk Away" by The Heavy Hours: The Heavy Hours are anything but heavy. They're really more of a laid-back kind of group that combines folk, country, and rock with a little bit of soul, at least in this song. The song seems to be one of assurance, in spite of its urgent title. The song seems like one to listen to when you're in need of a "breather" during the day, but that's about all it seems to have going for it. Surprised that The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach produced this one, as it doesn't seem to have his typical sense of energy and rawness.

"High Feeling" by Cordovas: This song is yet another that was produced by a member of a fellow band I've reviewed on this website, Black Pumas' Adrian Quesada. Where The Black Keys have been around for over a decade now (and so it would make sense that their sound might slowly be wearing thin by now), Black Pumas just debuted two years ago, and their sense of soulfulness sounds very fresh on "High Feeling", the debut single from Cordovas. The guitar on the song is Adrian's, which makes sense given both how rhythmic and how blues-y it sounds. The vocals are from country-rock musician, Joe Firstman, who has had hits on adult alt radio before, but so far, none of them have sounded quite as powerful as this one has! As the chorus of this song states, you'll "never wanna come down" after listening to this song!

"Ocean Bed" by Darlingside: Folk-rock group, Darlingside, came during the wake of the neo-folk-rock boom in 2012, the same year that bands like The Lumineers and Of Monsters & Men were first getting attention. However, Darlingside failed to make the impact that those two groups made on the music world. I had known Darlingside previously for their bouncy, quirky, folks-y cover of the classic Smashing Pumpkins tune, "1979". Come 2020, and it seems like Darlingside still haven't broken out of the early 2010's neo-folk-rock sound. Darlingside's "Ocean Bed" seems lined with gentle clapping, lovely harmonies, and lush string instrumentation everywhere. That sound just hasn't been on the airwaves in awhile, perhaps largely because many of the bands who originated it went on to experiment with other kinds of sounds, but Darlingside's "Ocean Bed" has a sound as calming and buoyant as the ocean itself, tucked away in a snug corner of the radio airwaves!

"Preach" by Saint Motel: To date, Saint Motel have had three singles on adult alt radio, and they all have something in common with one another - they all make you wanna dance! Their fourth Triple A radio single, "Preach", is no exception to the rule! From the moment that the blaring, funky horns in the opening of the song take charge, "Preach" is a non-stop dance fest! Even the lyrics center around dancing in this song! For instance, the last two lines of the second verse are, "A hip's gotta sway/So shake it like your mama and seven-day pray." So what are you waiting for?! Get down with your bad self and boogie!

"The Let Go" by Elle King: For awhile, it seemed like all Elle King could do was energetic, catchy songs. There's nothing wrong with this, of course, as one of those songs, "Ex's and Oh's", ended up becoming one of the biggest hits of the 2010's! However, Elle's latest song, "The Let Go", shows a more sensitive side to the singer who brought a blues-y growl and swagger to the alterna-pop world of the 2010's. Only the chorus hints even slightly at something energetic. The rest of the song showcases a vulnerable, sensitive side to Elle as she tells of a relationship that left her wounded. This is also the first Elle King song I've heard with no drums in the background, only guitar (though it is electric guitar, not acoustic). Elle certainly lets go in this song by releasing her inner demons like she never has before! 

New songs for August 12th, 2020

 here they are:

"Burn Too Bright" by Laura Veirs: It's been 7 years since we last heard from indie-folk-rocker, Laura Veirs (by herself, at least - she was also part of indie-folk supergroup, case, lang, and veirs, back in 2016), and it feels like it's been even longer ago than that. I was not expecting to hear new material from her any time soon, yet here it is. Underneath the quirky upbeat vibes of her latest song, "Burn Too Bright", there lies an undercurrent of darkness, perhaps because the song is essentially a eulogy to Richard Swift, one of Laura's record producers and a member of indie-pop sensations, The Shins, for 6 years. Swift died two years ago from alcohol complications when he was only a year past 40. I had no idea until today that Laura has been a mother for about a decade now, but she has, and that probably just makes matters worse for her in light of both losing a close friend two years ago and losing her marriage just one year later. Here's hoping Laura continues to burn brightly in this world, but not too bright!

"Club Zero" by The Go-Go's: As both a Southern California native and as someone whose father has connections to the L.A. punk scene, it makes me proud that 2020 has been a great year for members of that very scene. In spring of this year, Los Angelean punk rock poets, X, made a surprise splash onto the fringes of adult alt radio with the spiky yet catchy "Alphabetland." Now it's The Go-Go's turn at bat. Both X and The Go-Go's moved away from punk later on, branching out into folk-rock and pop/rock respectively, yet 2020 has found both groups returning to their punk roots. With The Go-Go's being the flashy, bubbly group they are, there's a bit of a pop influence to their latest song, "Club Zero", but it's also the band's hardest rocking song since "We Got the Beat", perhaps even a little harder edged than that one was! You might be wondering why the song is called what it's called. There is no actual location known as Club Zero (that I know of), but there was the Zero Zero Club in Hollywood that existed during The Go-Go's heyday, which is how the song derived its name. There might also be an undercurrent of nihilism to the title of the song, as well as a sense of rebellion of, to quote the group's Jane Wiedlin, "zero f**ks given", the unapologetically brash attitude of both this song and the era it was created in!

"Double Denim Hop" by Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard: Here's another rock and roll throwback, this time more evocative of the swingin' sounds of the early to mid-1970's. Groups like Sweet, Foghat, Steve Miller Band, and Thin Lizzy seemed to influence the retro sounds of this song with an equally retro title. The title of the song was just thought up on a whim when the lead singer happened to be wearing double denim (which all four members sport in the song's music video). He posted his trendy look on Instagram, referred to it as, "that double denim hop", and thus, a new rock song with an old rock sound was born! One more thing. The band's name IS "Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard". Is that anything like "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice"?! WHOA, holy cow, there he is! How'd Beetlejuice get here?!

"Just Because I Can" by Lissie: It has now been a decade since indie-folk-rocker, Lissie, first graced adult alt radio with her debut record, and its Triple A radio hits, "In Sleep", and "When I'm Alone." Her latest track, "Just Because I Can", is meant to be a retrospective to the year she debuted on the music scene. A bittersweet indie-folk ballad, "Just Because I Can" illustrates the struggle Lissie went through and eventually achieved to gain both recognition and independence as a musician. 2010 seems a little soon to be nostalgic for, but Lissie has already developed a nostalgia for that year and the importance it played in helping her break through to a small yet very dedicated audience that seems to have grown bigger every year since. I love how moving this song is, and how much strength and dedication was put into it!

"What You Gonna Do?" by Bastille (featuring Blur's Graham Coxon): It may be Bastille's Dan Smith on lead vocals here, but "What You Gonna Do?" is clearly a Graham Coxon song as far as its instrumentation is concerned! The song contains far more guitar licks than pretty much any Bastille song I've heard so far! I must say, I'm pretty impressed by the punchy power pop vibes this song has. Its brief, two-and-a-half minute length also distinguishes it from other Bastille songs, which often run roughly between three-and-a-half to four minutes. Both the length and sound of "What You Gonna Do?" were intentionally meant to be different from most of Bastille's other material. Dan Smith has acknowledged just what a chaotic year this has been so far, and "What You Gonna Do?" was meant to be a quick moment of fun, goofy escapism from an otherwise troubled world. So what you gonna do? Rock out and dance my butt off, that's what! 

New songs for August 5th, 2020

Here they are: 

"Ferris Wheel" by Sylvan Esso: After having collaborated earlier this year with fellow indie groups like Real Estate and Local Natives, Sylvan Esso have now made the decision to strike out on their own in the middle of summer! And nothing says "summer" like a Ferris wheel, right? Well, back when we were allowed to go out more in public, that is. Anyway, "Ferris Wheel" is a happy, upbeat indie-pop tune dominated by synthesizers that attempts to evoke sweet memories of summers past. From the title of the song to mentions of "tilt-a-whirling", not to mention multiple mentions of hot, steamy weather, "Ferris Wheel" captures the essence of summer, albeit with the title of the song serving as a potential metaphor for the ups and downs of relationships. "August in the heat" is the perfect opening line for a song released in early August like this one was, by the way! 

"Is It True?" by Tame Impala: Another memory of summers past that won't likely happen for too many this year is probably having summer parties, for a lot of people. Tame Impala's latest song, "Is It True?", is a song that seems designed for parties! Imagine a bunch of people out by a pool or a beach forming a conga line. That's the basic feel of "Is It True?" The song itself, meanwhile, attempts to answer the question of whether Kevin Parker's partner truly loves him or not. The answer given is simply "we'll see", repeated enough times to comprise the third and final minute of the song. As the weather heats up, so does love! Tame Impala's latest tune plays out like a techno-pop soap opera that never truly gets resolved! 

"It Ain't Easy" by Delta Spirit: Delta Spirit have always sounded a little "retro", with one foot in the '70s and the other in the present day. The mellow, '70s inspired sound of Delta Spirit's "It Ain't Easy" is nothing new for them. However, it is the first Delta Spirit song I've heard where acoustic guitar is clearly audible, particularly during the intro. It's also a surprisingly bittersweet, minor key track for Delta Spirit, who are normally more sunny and major key (even when the subject matter is darker, like in "Bushwick Blues"). This song is yet another in a long line of songs for this year (and possibly the next) to be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Delta Spirit were set to have their reunion tour this year after having made the decision to reunite two years prior, but of course, just as things were starting to look up for the band, their decision ended up getting postponed. "I found it hard to be myself without your help" seems to be a central line in this song, too. Sad the way things work out sometimes, isn't it?