"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?
