here they are:
"A.M. Radio" by The Lumineers: The Lumineers' latest song is a bittersweet folk-rock tune, like most of their material is. What separates "A.M. Radio" from their other tunes, however, is its lyrics. The lyrics of the song center around how you can't avoid your life's purpose no matter how far you try to wander away from it. The song evokes a feeling of nostalgia as well, as can be inferred from the title. (I mean who really listens to A.M. radio anymore, or any commercial radio, for that matter?) This is one of those songs that's just meant to give a feeling of comfort to its listeners.
"I'm Just a Clown" by Charley Crockett: I'm just a clown, yes I'm only a clown, and I'm sittin' here on...oh wait, wrong song! "Schoolhouse Rock" references aside, "I'm Just a Clown" is a good song, and one that will sit well with people who have coulrophobia (fear of clowns). The word "clown" in the context of the song simply means "foolish person," not someone with white makeup and colorful, goofy hair who entertains children at birthday parties. As for the song itself, there's also a story to tell there, since it combines country music with soul music, a rare but intriguing trend from the past few years that musicians like Sturgill Simpson have brought to the limelight. If the name "Crockett" sounds familiar, Charley is actually a distant relative of Davy Crockett - yes, THAT Davy Crockett. You know, "King of the Wild Frontier"?
"The Otter" by Caamp: Folk-rock is a common feature of Caamp's music, but their latest song, "The Otter," sounds a bit more like their take on Mumford/Lumineers-styled songs than it is like the more roots-y sound they typically go for. The song is a love ballad, and its instrumentation seems to have everything that was common to the "neo-folk" boom of the early 2010's: rhythm punctuated by handclaps and snaps, a good mix of acoustic guitar and banjo, sweet harmony vocals, and unconventional guitar tuning (The last of these features seemed specifically common to Mumford and Sons songs, though. Most Lumineers songs use more conventional tuning). It also seems more pop-y than what Caamp typically go for, but by no means is this a bad thing. It could help them gain a wider audience!
"These Are the Days" by Inhaler: Inhaler's "Cheer Up Baby" was one of the catchiest songs to dominate the alt and adult alt airwaves of 2022! It seemed to cement Inhaler as the Irish answer to Scotland's Franz Ferdinand, composed almost entirely of riffs instead of chords except in the middle. Inhaler's latest song, "These Are the Days," seems pretty riff-heavy as well, but instead of relying on the angular pop/rock take on post-punk that Franz Ferdinand were known for, "These Are the Days" sounds a bit more like actual Irish rock, with more than a few nods to U2 in terms of its anthemic yet still warm and melodic sound. In contrast to the more subversive vibe "Cheer Up Baby" had, "These Are the Days" seems more sincere and hopeful than its predecessor.
