New songs for October 20th 2021

 here they are:


"Beggin'" by Maneskin: Italian rock group, Maneskin (pronounced MAHN-skin), have now broken through to alt and adult alt radio with their first major hit, "Beggin'." However, "Beggin'" is not actually their song, but one that was originally done by 1960's pop sensations, The Four Seasons! Can you believe it?! A Frankie Valli song, be it one of his own or a cover, hasn't sounded this funky since the Grease theme song! The original "Beggin'" had more of an early 1960's pop sound as people were then accustomed to hearing from The Four Seasons. How Maneskin were able to resurrect a slightly obscure pop nugget, give it a funky sheen, and have it explode to popularity far more than the original did is anyone's guess, but I'm glad they did it!

"Crutch" by Band of Horses: After a five-year hiatus from the music biz, indie-pop/rock sensations Band of Horses are back with a fun, upbeat, catchy song called "Crutch." Lead singer Ben Birdwell claims he has a "crutch" on someone during the chorus of the song. In case you were wondering, yes, that IS meant to be misheard as "crush." Well, sort of. It's really more that whether one hears the title as "crutch" or "crush," it more or less means the same thing, since relationships can leave you feeling dependent on the other person, and thus a "crutch" for your emotions. Not often a love song is this clever or punny, is it?

"Taking Me Back" by Jack White: Doing what he does best, Jack White really amps up his guitars loud on his latest song, "Taking Me Back." Somehow, he makes his guitar sound both "robotic" and blues-y on the track, as only he can! Jack sounds pretty assertive and gutsy on this track, as if he is not merely suggesting, but demanding that the subject of the song take him back! It is not the mere presence of Jack and his guitar that is making this song popular, though. Fans of the unapologetically brash video game, Call of Duty, have probably brought this track (which, fittingly, is unapologetically brash as well) to the forefront since it is one of the songs included on the soundtrack for the latest installment of the game. I really couldn't care less about the game (or most video games, really), but I'm all for seeing Jack flex his electric guitar muscles and putting them to the test!

New songs for October 13th 2021

 here they are:


"The Last Dance" by St. Paul and The Broken Bones: Neo-soul group, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, seem to keep moving further and further forward in time with each album they make! Their debut boasted Al Green-ish vintage soul with an early 1970's sound, they progressed into a more mid-1970's sound with their next two albums, and with a fourth album on the way, St. Paul and The Broken Bones seem to be heading into an early 1980's soul sound, evoking vibes of acts like Prince and Hall & Oates. There is a reason, by the way, that this song is called "The LAST Dance." It is yet another song reflective of a world facing imminent danger, hence it could be the last time that they (or anyone) is able to perform music, or do anything, really. Might as well go out with a bang, right?! That is exactly what St. Paul and The Broken Bones do here!

"The Tipping Point" by Tears for Fears: A fave band of people nostalgic for the 1980's, Tears for Fears are back for the first time in 17 years! Although the song uses familiar elements, like the beat of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," TFF's latest song, "The Tipping Point," mostly sounds like something that would be indistinguishable from current indie-pop-tronica. TFF have never been a band to shy away from dark subject matter either, and they continue to delve into bleak territory with "The Tipping Point," as the title alone might indicate to some. It refers specifically here to singer Roland Orzabal's former wife, Caroline, who passed away a few years ago, and how Orzabal remained uncertain as to when she had officially crossed the "threshold" (or "tipping point") from life to that which lies beyond.

"Working for the Knife" by Mitski: Mitski is not like everyone else, even in a world where it's the thing to not be like "everyone else." Over a bleak synthesizer functioning as the lead instrument and a throbbing guitar riff in the center, Mitski's latest song is one that seems to show her disdain for the music industry, and possibly for industries in general. The "knife" in the song's title serves as a metaphor for anyone and anything, including ourselves, that expects more of us than we intend to give. What can I say? Life is exhausting sometimes! And Mitski makes that clear in both the music and the lyrics of her latest song.

"You've Got a Habit of Leaving" by David Bowie: Did you ever wonder what David Bowie would have sounded like as "David Jones"? Well, now's your chance to find out! "You've Got a Habit of Leaving" was first written and recorded about four years before David Bowie became "David Bowie." Although the instruments themselves sound relatively modern on this track, the structure of the chords, the harmonies, and the "ooh-ah-ooh"s that dominate the chorus sound decidedly more "retro" than what you might otherwise expect of David Bowie. If The Beatles had survived into the new millennium, they'd probably sound a lot like what David Bowie sounds like here! Bowie may be gone, but his music lives on!

New songs for October 6th, 2021

 here they are:


"Rushing Water" by Sting: Rock and roll birthday boy, Sting, who celebrated the big 7-O four days ago, has opted to go less New Age and more New Wave once again, just as he did in 2016. His latest song, "Rushing Water," has a very Andy Summers-ish guitar sound, even though Summers does not appear anywhere in the song. The beat of the song and the muted-palm guitar sound are somewhat reminiscent of "Every Breath You Take," albeit slightly less ominous. The former Police-man came up with the idea to "Rushing Water" during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, attempting to write a song that could help to patch up the many areas that have divided us as a society. Another interesting thing to note about this song is that some of the lyrics highlight Sting's roots in Catholicism, with biblical references woven within such as the Book of Numbers and the story of Jonah getting swallowed by a whale.

"Telepath" by Manchester Orchestra: If Manchester Orchestra's song "Bed Head" from earlier this year had a bit too much of a rock sound for a band previously known best for the indie-folk ballad, "The Gold," then perhaps "Telepath" will be more to your liking. The song is even more acoustic guitar driven than "The Gold" was, and twice as emotional to boot. The song seems to be about a relationship that the lead singer knows is destined to fail, yet he pines for it anyway. The chorus of the song manifests in three different ways. First, the singer asks the object of his affections if she wants him, then if she loves him, and finally, if she's with him? The answer, each time, is no. To admit defeat is not an easy thing to do, perhaps even more so in the context of a relationship, but Manchester Orchestra not only do so here, but they do so with dignity.

"Wasted Days" by John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen: Two legends in the classic rock subcategory of "Heartland rock," Mellencamp and Springsteen both started out as scrappy, determined rock stars who became more politically focused and folk-y as their careers went on. Both performers are now in their early 70's (with Mellencamp celebrating a birthday tomorrow), and their first notable collaboration, "Wasted Days," takes a bittersweet look at life from a seasoned, septuagenarian perspective. Their advanced age is actually what "Wasted Days" seems to be about, with both singers asking just how many moments are left in their musically fulfilled lives. With both Mellencamp and Springsteen having been rock stars since the 1970's, it's truly a miracle that they're still able to celebrate life today. To paraphrase another aging, folksy rock star, "May they stay forever young"!

"Write A List of Things to Look Forward To" by Courtney Barnett: I'm wondering if the title of this song is supposed to be a joke. It's only two and a half minutes long, and Courtney really doesn't lay out a "list" of things for us to look forward to, or any list at all, really. The entire song seems shrouded in irony, though this is hardly surprising for a performer as sardonic as Courtney. "Nobody knows why we keep trying," "a baby is born as a man lay dying," and "We did our best, but what does that even mean?" are just some of the pearls of not-quite-wisdom that she shares in this song. Almost seems like a song about someone who's just about to give up on life. Please don't go, Courtney! You have so many years ahead of you! Yeah I know...she's probably just venting here, but still...