New songs for April 28th, 2021

 here they are:


"Diamond Studded Shoes" by Yola: Yola's unique combination of country and R & B gains an even thicker musical gumbo with her latest song, "Diamond Studded Shoes." Coming off almost like a Grateful Dead-style combo of country, blues, jazz, and rock with meandering guitar licks during the solo, "Diamond Studded Shoes" is an upbeat song about downbeat subject matter. The titular phrase, "diamond studded shoes," is mentioned only once in the song during the second verse, referring to the much sought after financial value of such clothing, and how people in the big biz buying those sorts of shoes with their taxes is really just their way of keeping more ordinary folk divided. The theme of divisiveness continues throughout the song, addressing more specifically the issue of poverty and how negatively it affects Yola and others whose monetary rank is middle class or lower. Nothing brings controversial issues to the forefront like a catchy song, eh?!

"Easy Sleazy" by Mick Jagger and Dave Grohl: Essentially, the leading Stone and the leading Foo Fighter are churning out classic rock for a generation that has become increasingly disconnected from the idea of rock music. The news of two rock and roll giants collaborating on a song together might excite parents and grandparents of today, but what about the youth which the music industry has long been obsessed with catering to?! Is it really going to be effective for them?! While this question might remain unanswerable, Mick and Dave seem to at least trying to appeal to the youth here, delivering a gut busting rock and roll number that crams all the issues that defined 2020 into the space of roughly three and a half minutes. A world with no tours and no sports, protective face gear mysteriously becoming trendy, the once virtually unknown service of Zoom becoming an internet giant in less than a year, quarantine weight, vaccination, and global warming all get referenced in this song. Only time will tell if this song makes a truly lasting impact, though. 

New songs for April 21st, 2021

here they are:

"Crawling Kingsnake" by The Black Keys: If anyone still knows how to rock and roll in an EDM, hip-hop, and dubstep dominated world, it's The Black Keys! "Crawling Kingsnake" goes back to the roots of rock, predating even the genre's initial pioneers like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry, unearthing a cover of a song made popular by blues musician John Lee Hooker, and written by fellow blues musician Big Joe Williams. Much like an actual snake, "Crawling Kingsnake" crawls slowly, wraps itself around you, and releases a seductive "venom," intoxicating its listeners in an arousing swirl of oozing guitar riffs backed by tight drumbeats!

"Hot and Heavy" by Lucy Dacus: I previously knew Lucy Dacus only for an ultra-cool indie-pop/rock version of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" that seemed to outdo the Boss himself. Therefore, "Hot and Heavy" is my first taste of how Lucy Dacus fares with her own material. Lucy has a similar vibe to other women who have recently become rising stars in the indie-pop/rock world, such as Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker, and she has a similarly poignant and confessional vibe to these musicians as well. "Hot and Heavy," specifically, is about Lucy trying to grapple with the notion of how her past "selves" (what she was like in various stages of her life, such as childhood and teen years) are nothing like who she is today and probably wouldn't like who she became. It's a common issue for many of us, including myself. Would rock-and-roll me from my teens be ok with the more eclectic and mellow musician I became in young adulthood? Who knows?! Would my past self who was initially embarrassed and frustrated about being neurodivergent be ok with the neurodiversity embracing, open-minded person I've become today? It's all up in the air, but it can be quite fascinating to imagine what that might be like!

"Spanish Doors" by Liz Phair: And speaking of past selves, on the latest song from indie-rock queen, Liz Phair, Liz was apparently inspired by the musicians and bands she listened to during her early college years, including but not limited to alt-rock innovators like The Velvet Underground, Talking Heads, and R.E.M. The song itself, "Spanish Doors," is about having your foundations shaken out from under you. Initially, the song was written about one of Liz's friends who was going through a divorce at the time it was written, but she soon found that the lyrics also applied to her own life, particularly in how the song centers around witnessing your own life break into shambles while those around you are enjoying theirs. This seems like it could be a theme that many people could relate to. That, of course, is part of the beauty of music! 

New songs for April 14th, 2021

 here they are:

"Last Day on Earth" by beabadoobee: As you can probably guess from the song's title, "Last Day on Earth" is about our recent situation facing lockdowns and a "new normal," a phrase that I have still struggled with fully accepting even after a year. March 2020 felt like the "last day on earth" for Beatrice "beabadoobee" Kristi Laus, and in this song, she expresses what that feels like, in a song that attempts musically to emulate the "lighter" elements of female-led '90s alt-rock groups like Garbage and No Doubt. I guess we can all be thankful that "Last Day on Earth" is not the last SONG on Earth! At the bottom of our hearts, let's still hold on to hope!

"Vertigo" by Alice Merton: We haven't heard too many songs from Alice Merton so far, but we've heard enough to know that her typical style is an "alterna-dance-pop" of sorts that dominated the 2010's and which, so far, has carried into the 2020's as well. Not to be confused with U2's rock anthem, "Vertigo," Alice Merton's "Vertigo" has a more intense mood than the U2 song of the same name, though it's still pretty catchy in its own way. The lyrics of the song seem like a disaster movie waiting to happen! The floor is shaking, faces "seem deadly," and there is nothing but darkness all around! Unlike our previous entry, however, "Vertigo" is NOT about recent events. It is instead a more personal song, revealed towards the end to be about jealousy, but Alice keeps us on our toes beforehand, making us wonder just what it is that's making her feel so dizzy and so threatened!

New songs for April 7th, 2021

 here they are:


"Better" by Michigander: "Better" marks a few turning points for indie-pop/rock newcomers, Michigander. For one, at almost 5 minutes, it's Michigander's longest song to date to become an adult alt radio hit. For another, the instrumentation on "Better" has more of a swelling "arena alternative" sound a la The Killers, The War on Drugs, The National, etc. than the songs Michigander did beforehand. Perhaps most striking of all, though, is just how personal this song is! There is no doubt that the recent coronavirus pandemic has impacted musicians of all stripes, and "Better" is one of a growing number of songs to reflect on that subject. The title alone, "Better," is a statement of optimism from Michigander, albeit a cautious and bittersweet kind of optimism that acknowledges the pain we've all suffered as a result of drastic changes and sudden deaths. 

"Evergreen" by Bendigo Fletcher: Kentucky alt-country group, Bendigo Fletcher, have been around for a few years now, but they appear to have ditched the country and folk influences of their earlier material here in favor of a more crunchy yet still melodic psychedelic rock sound. Though their song's title is "Evergreen," a plant known for its willingness to adapt through hard times, the song itself reflects on just how hard it has been for the members to adapt to new ways of life. The song was written a little over 5 years ago, but the band members contend that because of how hard it's been to get used to our new decade-to-be's harsh and startling way of life that it's even more relevant now than it was then. The song is all about anxiety, and the grappling between hopes for the future and more grim yet realistic expectations of how life will probably turn out to be. 

"Heatwave" by Julien Baker: A rarity in this day and age, Julien Baker doesn't hide anything in her music! She tells it like it is! On her last adult alt radio hit, "Faith Healer," she candidly and poignantly discussed her struggles with drug addiction. "Heatwave" addresses the even more troubling subject of suicide, albeit not directly. Instead, hints are given within the lyrics, such as, "Nothing to lose 'till everything's really gone/It's worse than death, that life," as well as the recurring line, "On a long spiral down before I make it to the ground." She is not advocating suicide in this song, but nor is she saying that it's a bad choice for the individual who choose to do so. Instead, she has chosen to sympathize and empathize with people who have suicidal thoughts and offer herself as a shoulder to cry on.

"Spirit" by Judah and The Lion: Judah and The Lion have been a popular indie-pop act for quite some time now, yet it hasn't been until now that I've really delved into their material. Judah and The Lion, from what little I've heard of their material, seem to be to the later 2010's what Mumford and Sons were to the earlier part of the decade: an indie-folk/pop group known for their use of banjo. The song is yet another attempting to offer hope and strength during otherwise difficult times, though I find it to be a bit more gimmicky than some of the others on this list for its heavy use of promotion on Disney+'s reboot of "The Mighty Ducks," a show about a fictional sports team. Oh well, still a good song nonetheless, though I think it could do without the whole "emotional moment during a sports game" ploy.