here they are:
"All Comes Crashing" by Metric: Metric have long been a fixture in the indie-pop/rock community, but "All Comes Crashing" marks the first time that adult alt radio stations have paid attention to their music. The sudden interest such stations now have for Metric is a bit mystifying to me, as this song does not differ much from their normal stuff in terms of how it sounds. It is essentially dance-pop synthesizers playfully clashing with gritty post-punk guitars, which is typical for Metric. Perhaps, then, it is the lyrical content of "All Comes Crashing" that adult alt radio programmers are sympathizing with. The song is ostensibly a love song, but a closer listen to the lyrics reveal how it's actually about wanting to have someone to love (not necessarily in the romantic sense) and depend on during a crisis.
"Mistakes" by Sharon Van Etten: With "Mistakes," Sharon Van Etten continues to move further from her folk-rock roots and into more electro-pop territory. Unfortunately apt to the song's title, some longtime fans of hers might think "Mistakes" IS a mistake, but the heart of the song lies in its lyrics. Even the song's title and its chorus are a reflection of how Sharon's "mistakes" can turn out to be great things after all.
"Settling" by Ripe: It was around the mid-1980's that Paul Simon indelibly wove African polyrhythms into pop/rock music, and many musicians have followed suit with this winning combination since such as Ben Harper, Dave Matthews, and Michael Franti. The latest to join this trend is Boston quintet, Ripe, whose song, "Settling," is an upbeat, fun pop/rock song with elements of jazz and world music. Fitting to its jubilant sound, "Settling" is a song all about trying to live the life you please and celebrating it for all it's worth.
