here they are:
"Blood Runs Red" by Matt Maeson: A fast and somewhat dark folk-rock waltz that turns quickly to an Imagine Dragons-esque indie-alt/pop anthem ("Radioactive" and "Believer" are two songs that come to mind here), "Blood Runs Red" might just be Matt Maeson's answer to "Radioactive." Both songs seem to take place in a post-apocalyptic world. However, where Imagine Dragons seemed to accept their fate begrudgingly in "Radioactive," Matt Maeson seems to struggle with the negative changes of the world around him in "Blood Runs Red," even asking a higher power for guidance in the song's pre-chorus. To cope with the destruction of the world, Matt turns to alcohol and drugs to get him through it all.
"Hear My Dear" by The Tedeschi-Trucks Band: If Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks did folk-rock music, it'd probably sound like their latest tune, "Hear My Dear." It's sort of a blues-y variant of Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You," almost identical to that song in terms of rhythm, and somewhat so in chord structure. The song is a love song, as is obvious from its title, but it seems more specifically to be a love song for the 2020's. That is to say, it's a song that seems to be saying "Let's keep our love lasting for as long as it can while we still can." Both a sweet and timely sentiment for us all.
"Spitting Off the Edge of the World" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Almost 20 years into their career, Yeah Yeah Yeahs have lived up to their name by making their audience say "Yeah yeah yeah!" to their ever-changing musical output. They started as a rough garage rock influenced group, but added to their sound quickly afterwards, starting with their breakthrough hit, "Maps," which was more of a sensitive alt-rock ballad than it was a brash garage rock song. Since then, they've touched upon folk-rock ("Turn Into"), and now they appear to be going in more of an icy techno-pop direction with their latest song, "Spitting Off the Edge of the World." The song is the first from the YYYs in nearly a decade, and the best part about it is that it has a strong, commanding presence, in true YYY's fashion. Lead singer Karen O has pursued solo efforts on occasion, perhaps most notably "Strange Love" for the soundtrack of the Tim Burton film, "Frankenweenie." While "Strange Love" was enjoyable for its cuteness, "Spitting Off the Edge of the World" is enjoyable because it has a frigid yet still domineering presence!
"Tek It" by Cafune: Both the band name and song title are unexplainable here! Nowhere is the phrase "Tek It" (take it?) used in the song, and nor do I have even an inkling of a clue who or what a "Cafune" even is! Mystery elements aside, "Tek It" is still a good song. A catchy techno-pop tune with alt/indie elements, "Tek It" is one of those songs that has become popular thanks to social media app, TikTok. The lines "I watch the moon/Let it run my mood/Can't stop thinking of you" comprised the tidbit most TikTok users seem to be familiar with.
"These Are the Ways" by Red Hot Chili Peppers: After their smash alt and adult alt radio hit, "Black Summer" (which, ironically, took radio by storm in spring, not summer), RHCP rock the airwaves once again with their latest song, "These Are the Ways." The song shows a bit more chunky hard rock grit than their last song did, both in terms of Frusciante's guitar and Chad Smith's drums! Where "Black Summer" was a lament on the state of the world, "These Are the Ways" is a lament as well, but more of an angry one than a sad one. It takes on the subject of politics, and how corrupt America has become. At the same time, though, it also seems to have a begrudging stance of acceptance on that exact subject.
