here they are:
"Chaise Longue" by Wet Leg: The execution of Wet Leg's debut song, "Chaise Longue" is somewhat similar to the band Cake, albeit without the in-your-face use of brass that they were known for. The formula for "Chaise Longue" recalls Cake's penchant for deadpan "sing-speak" vocal delivery, heavy use of the bass, and bizarre lyrics. The opening lyrics of "Chaise Longue," for instance, refer to graduating from college, but for reasons unknown to anyone but the band themselves, the lead singer of Wet Leg claims that her friends call "degrees" the "Big D." Less than a minute into the song, after the part that talks about college, it immediately slips into innuendo territory ("Is your muffin buttered?") Apparently, these lyrics are being addressed to someone "on the chaise longue in (their) underwear." To add to the "quirky" factor, the phrase "on the chaise longue all day long" (and variations of it) is repeated 13 times until the song ends. You've never heard a song like this one, and you probably never will!
"Las Vegas" by Houndmouth: Along with many folk-rock influenced acts of the early and mid-2010's, Houndmouth was a band in which guys and girls shared equal vocal time. That is, until backing vocalist Katie Toupin left the band in 2016. Their first album without her had the synth-pop-y and largely forgettable song, "This Party," so I didn't think Houndmouth would do so well without her. But with their newest song, "Las Vegas, " I get the feeling I might have been wrong about that! Katie is still not in the band, but Houndmouth have gone back to the roots-rock sound they originally became known for in "Las Vegas"! Probably the hardest-rocking song they've recorded so far, but at least they're back to BEING a rock band! Lead singer Matt Myers triumphantly proclaims during the chorus of the song that he "believes in Las Vegas." I'm not sure what it is specifically about Las Vegas that he believes in, but my belief in Houndmouth themselves has certainly been restored by this song!
"Magnolia Blues" by Adia Victoria: Adia Victoria gave us a catchy blues-rock number in 2019 with "Different Kind of Love." "Magnolia Blues" is a slower, more sensuous, and more acoustic based song than that one was. There's a reason for the more delicate sound of this song as compared to her last major effort on adult alt radio. The song is actually about her identity as an African-American citizen, and how she wants to rightfully reclaim that citizenship amidst a world of people who mistreat others simply because of their race. Although the history of violence against black men and women has unfortunately being going on for a very long time, it reached a significant apex in summer of last year with the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. There is no doubt in my mind that Adia felt negatively affected by that, as many people have, regardless of what race they are, but it probably hit her twice as hard given her ethnic background. "Magnolia Blues" is a sad song that comments on a sad reality that many have faced and that many have been affected by, but sometimes we need to wake up and know what's going on in order to right the wrongs of the world, as well as to sympathize with the plights of others.
