New songs for August 19th, 2020

 here they are:

"AUATC" by Bon Iver: The title of this song is short for "Ate Up All Their Cake". Mmm...cake! The song itself doesn't have much to do with cake, though, so what gives?! Well, it's probably an extended metaphor referring to those who "have their cake and eat it too." Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, along with an eclectic roster of guests ranging from rock legend Bruce Springsteen to millennial indie-pop star Jenny Lewis, are urging people everywhere to rebuild society in a way that's less greedy and more inclusive. Why Justin Vernon sounds like Alvin and The Chipmunks reaching puberty in this song is anyone's guess, as he doesn't normally sound like that, but the song's message is a good one to heed nonetheless. "AUATC" is an odd song for Bon Iver (and company). It could be described as a quirky Bruce Hornsby soundalike that's trying to work on a millennial update of "We Are the World". 

"Do You Think We'll Last Forever?" by Caroline Rose: The title of this funky, Prince-esque song by indie-pop diva, Caroline Rose, might sound like a lovesick, romantic plea, but it actually isn't. It is actually a song fueled by Caroline's inner anxiety when it comes to matters of the heart. She is not asking, "Do you think we'll last forever?" in a doe-eyed way in the manner one might expect from a pop performer, but rather in a way that conveys potential doubt, as in, "Do you THINK we'll last forever...or will this just be another brief, meaningless fling?" I hear ya, Caroline. Romance can be very trying and hard to figure out sometimes! While the music seems to have a "look how super cool I am" kind of boastfulness to it, the lyrics reveal a deeper, more emotional meaning.

"Don't Walk Away" by The Heavy Hours: The Heavy Hours are anything but heavy. They're really more of a laid-back kind of group that combines folk, country, and rock with a little bit of soul, at least in this song. The song seems to be one of assurance, in spite of its urgent title. The song seems like one to listen to when you're in need of a "breather" during the day, but that's about all it seems to have going for it. Surprised that The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach produced this one, as it doesn't seem to have his typical sense of energy and rawness.

"High Feeling" by Cordovas: This song is yet another that was produced by a member of a fellow band I've reviewed on this website, Black Pumas' Adrian Quesada. Where The Black Keys have been around for over a decade now (and so it would make sense that their sound might slowly be wearing thin by now), Black Pumas just debuted two years ago, and their sense of soulfulness sounds very fresh on "High Feeling", the debut single from Cordovas. The guitar on the song is Adrian's, which makes sense given both how rhythmic and how blues-y it sounds. The vocals are from country-rock musician, Joe Firstman, who has had hits on adult alt radio before, but so far, none of them have sounded quite as powerful as this one has! As the chorus of this song states, you'll "never wanna come down" after listening to this song!

"Ocean Bed" by Darlingside: Folk-rock group, Darlingside, came during the wake of the neo-folk-rock boom in 2012, the same year that bands like The Lumineers and Of Monsters & Men were first getting attention. However, Darlingside failed to make the impact that those two groups made on the music world. I had known Darlingside previously for their bouncy, quirky, folks-y cover of the classic Smashing Pumpkins tune, "1979". Come 2020, and it seems like Darlingside still haven't broken out of the early 2010's neo-folk-rock sound. Darlingside's "Ocean Bed" seems lined with gentle clapping, lovely harmonies, and lush string instrumentation everywhere. That sound just hasn't been on the airwaves in awhile, perhaps largely because many of the bands who originated it went on to experiment with other kinds of sounds, but Darlingside's "Ocean Bed" has a sound as calming and buoyant as the ocean itself, tucked away in a snug corner of the radio airwaves!

"Preach" by Saint Motel: To date, Saint Motel have had three singles on adult alt radio, and they all have something in common with one another - they all make you wanna dance! Their fourth Triple A radio single, "Preach", is no exception to the rule! From the moment that the blaring, funky horns in the opening of the song take charge, "Preach" is a non-stop dance fest! Even the lyrics center around dancing in this song! For instance, the last two lines of the second verse are, "A hip's gotta sway/So shake it like your mama and seven-day pray." So what are you waiting for?! Get down with your bad self and boogie!

"The Let Go" by Elle King: For awhile, it seemed like all Elle King could do was energetic, catchy songs. There's nothing wrong with this, of course, as one of those songs, "Ex's and Oh's", ended up becoming one of the biggest hits of the 2010's! However, Elle's latest song, "The Let Go", shows a more sensitive side to the singer who brought a blues-y growl and swagger to the alterna-pop world of the 2010's. Only the chorus hints even slightly at something energetic. The rest of the song showcases a vulnerable, sensitive side to Elle as she tells of a relationship that left her wounded. This is also the first Elle King song I've heard with no drums in the background, only guitar (though it is electric guitar, not acoustic). Elle certainly lets go in this song by releasing her inner demons like she never has before! 

New songs for November 28th, 2018

here they are:


"Baby Outlaw" by Elle King: If you can picture what it'd be like for a musician like Lorde to cover "Ghost Riders In the Sky", then you've pretty much got Elle King's "Baby Outlaw" in a nutshell! Just the opening of the song gives off imagery of a showdown in an old Western movie. This song has a similar premise to Elle's song, "Good Girls", which was her contribution to the 2016 version of "Ghostbusters". "Baby Outlaw" and "Good Girls" both revolve around how Elle has never been a "good girl", and how, as a result of this, she's no one to mess with. You'd better watch out, 'cause this song is the "Bad" and the "Ugly" to King's "Good Girls"!! (Cue Ennio Morricone theme here).


"Back On the Chain Gang" by Morrissey: The original "Back On the Chain Gang" by The Pretenders came out about a year before Morrissey's best known hit with The Smiths, "How Soon Is Now?", both in the mid 1980's. So how does this mopey alt-rock king interpret one of the best loved songs of a tough but tender rock and roll queen, you may ask?! Well, as you might have guessed, not as good as the original, but it's still worth hearing, and it's a pretty good attempt at covering the song, too! Moz retains the jangle-pop feel and heartfelt emotion of the original quite well. I never would have thought this cover was going to happen (I would have pictured a band like R.E.M. covering it first), but somehow, I'm glad it has!


"For Me It's You" by Lo Moon: With just a pair of singles ("This Is It" and "Real Love") under their belt so far, I'm a little surprised that Lo Moon are back with a second album after only a year, but "For Me It's You", their first single off of their sophomore record, retains the atmospheric electro-pop vibe of their first two breakthrough songs. "For Me It's You" could be viewed as a parallel to "This Is It", with its mostly melancholic but sweet atmosphere set off by a sudden burst of electric guitar after the chorus, though it does not disrupt the flow of the song overall. With lead singer Matt Lowell's technique of placing whispery, romantic vocals against an ersatz smooth jazz ensemble that briefly turns into a wall of noise, it's not hard to see why Lo Moon have recently toured with bands who use similar techniques, such as The War on Drugs, Phoenix, and Glass Animals, not to mention the band Ride, a legendary group of the "shoegazing" subgenre who have been around since the late '80s that inspired the other bands mentioned here (including Lo Moon themselves).


"Hey! Yeah!" by Deer Tick: Deer Tick have been all over the rock and roll map, primarily dabbling in either folk-rock or Southern rock. "Hey, Yeah!" marks what I believe is the first time that Deer Tick have taken on power pop, albeit with a somewhat Southern flavor to it. Think Big Star meets The Allman Brothers - a combination that sounds like it could just be crazy enough to work, and DOES, in this song! Here's what's even crazier, though. The music video for "Hey! Yeah!" features the band members as DANCING MAYONNAISE JARS!! Who on Earth thought THAT idea up?! I'm pretty sure the band members were ingesting far more than just mayonnaise when they made the music video for this song!! The video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbdcr5_tcd8


"Movement" by Hozier: Hozier's "Nina Cried Power" seemed unbeatable almost throughout this fall! Like all songs, though, its star eventually faded out on the radio airwaves, so here to take place of the Irish soul-ster's thunderous anthem is a more subtle, quieter song called "Movement". No matter what Hozier does, it always seems to gel well with adult alt radio stations, and it's not hard to see why! Whether he's dramatic or romantic, quiet or loud, he always manages to give soul stirring performances in his songs! "Movement" is not revolutionary like his previous hit, but is instead more fluent and more intimate. Regardless of what kinds of songs he puts out, the "movement" of Hozier's music will last a long time!

New songs for August 15th, 2018

here they are:


"Jumbo" by Punch Brothers: Ever since Donald Trump got elected president, I had thoughts that harder edged rock groups would be doing protest songs against him, the way Green Day did with their "American Idiot" record in response to George W. Bush's presidency during the 2000's. Hard rock, however, has become a thing of the past (for the most part) during the 2010's, so instead we have softer rock groups like Punch Brothers doing songs about him - or rather, Donald Trump's SON, Donald Trump, Jr. Yes, that's what "Jumbo" is about. Though his name is never mentioned, many articles about the bluegrass-rock group's latest song have already come out, and they all point to Trump Jr. as the song's villain, nicknamed "Jumbo" in the song. Punch Brothers have had enough hits on adult alt radio to count on a single hand, but even with the few songs I know by them, I can still tell that this is the first time the group have gotten political on one of their albums. I never thought I'd see so many soft and middle-of-the-road rock groups (Arcade Fire would fit the latter category) doing songs against our current president. I thought it would be mostly hard rock (and possibly punk rock), like how it was during the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Bush presidency. The times, they are a changin'!


"Last Lion of Albion" by Neko Case: Our next song is a protest song as well, although not necessarily a political one. Neko Case's "Last Lion of Albion" is a protest song against none other than mankind itself, and the many (mostly unsuccessful) ways it tries to "tame" nature. With a melancholy, pessimistic sound that seems halfway between Alanis Morissette and Lissie, Neko Case weaves a chilling parable about how natural resources are exploited by human beings in ways they weren't meant to be used that ultimately become detrimental to how we live. More specifically, the song targets Britain, since the nation often uses lions to symbolize their power. "You'll feel extinction", warns Case, during the chorus, "when you see their face on your money." There is no need for guns and war when you can use the greatest weapon of all against those who won't listen to you - music!


"Natural" by Imagine Dragons: Thus far on this week's blog, we have seen two acts use quiet music to express loud feelings of distress. That's not the way Imagine Dragons like to do things. If Dan Reynolds and co want their desires and ideas to be known to others, they SHOUT it! This is exactly what they do on "Natural", particularly during the chorus, which sounds like the type of song that would be used when two rivaling sports teams are facing off against one another. In today's competitive world, you need things to build you up and make you stay strong and alert. That's pretty much what bands like Imagine Dragons are there for, especially on songs like this one!


"Shame" by Elle King: The blonde "Ex's And Oh's" bombshell is back with yet another song to motivate strong female empowerment with "Shame". The song doesn't have quite the rock-meets-jazz swing that "Ex's" did, but it still manages to be a catchy tune. Mixing the beat of Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" with the darkly seductive pop/rock techniques of musicians like Lorde, "Shame" is a song just screaming to be the next summer anthem of the year. Though she might not be as rockin' on this song as she was back in 2014, Elle still maintains her sense of lyrical talent by being as deliciously scathing as she has been on her other songs. After repeating the title of the song four times, she burns and traps a former lover of hers by saying, "Mama doesn't know who every night you go to." "King" is not Elle's real last name, but she sure has a lot of kingly (or rather, queenly) power on this song!


"Something Human" by Muse: After almost 15 years, I've finally gotten on the Muse bandwagon that many friends of mine have been on ever since they broke through to the mainstream in the mid 2000's. Their song "Starlight" was kinda cool, as it sounded like a slightly harder rocking Coldplay tune, but the rest of their stuff I dunno about. They always seemed like a cross between Queen and Depeche Mode to me, which was like peanut butter and hot dogs to me (In other words, both good, but not together). With "Something Human", this has all changed. The song has given Muse a dimension that's more...well...human! Instead of being all bombastic and arena rock-y, "Something Human" is a more calming song that combines acoustic guitar instrumentation with electronic beats and synthesizer in the background. The song is almost spiritual in a way, like a U2 song, with Muse searching for something more significant in life than how life appears to be, throughout the song.

New songs for June 15th 2016

here they are:


"Cleopatra" by The Lumineers: Simon and Garfunkel seem like a pretty obvious influence on bands like The Lumineers, but they've never sounded more like them in both a musical and a lyrical sense than on "Cleopatra", albeit with a slight influence from the softer side of Southern rock as well. Lead vocalist Wesley Schultz weaves a tale filled with metaphor and the struggle between the sacred and the profane in this song. Songs such as Joni Mitchell's "Free Man In Paris" might have also influenced "Cleopatra", as both songs center around protagonists whose genders are the opposite of that of their narrators. In "Cleopatra", Wesley sings as a "young actress" who basically tells the story of her life and career in vivid detail.


"Good Girls" by Elle King: Who you gonna call?! Elle King, apparently! The "Ex's And Oh's" jazz-rock songstress is featured on the soundtrack of a "Ghostbusters" remake. This fierce, feisty, and fun blast of music comes off like a blues-y Stevie Nicks trying to cover "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'". Elle scratchily croons about how she "does what the good girls don't" in a sinfully sweet song filled with references to the unpleasant side of the afterlife in a manner that is more playful than scary. Hell hasn't been this tempting since Squirrel Nut Zippers sang about it back in '97!


"Take It From Me" by Kongos: Just like on their smash hit (and debut song) "Come With Me Now", Kongos have roared back onto the alt and adult alt charts with a song where rock guitars and "Graceland"-esque accordions collide! "Take It From Me" is song that's sure to scorch up your summer (in a good way, of course)! As this quartet of South African brothers proclaim on "Take It From Me", "nothing can stop me". Indeed, nothing CAN stop them from being one of the few 2010's bands that are liked equally by rock, pop, and alt fans! They've got all the good music in a single package here!

Nine New Songs for a Nifty New Year!!

Happy New Year everyone!! Did ya miss me?! Well, I'm back! Here are 9 brand new songs for you all to enjoy!


"Bring My Baby Back" by Dr. Dog: Dr. Dog's voyage of psychedelic-tinged folk-rock continues with their latest tune, "Bring My Baby Back". The sound of the song is pretty normal for Dr. Dog, or any indie-pop band for that matter, but what has made a lot of Dr. Dog's songs so special to me is the cleverness they exude. The cleverness factor just doesn't seem to be as strong on "Bring My Baby Back". The folk-rock factor is also more present on this song than it is on most Dr. Dog songs (with the notable exception of the Neil Young-esque "Shadow People", although even that one sounded more like a "Sgt. Pepper" song somewhere in the middle). This is a good song, don't get me wrong, but I do feel like Dr. Dog could be doing better than this.


"Cautionary Tale" by Dylan LeBlanc: Been awhile since we've had a newcomer to the music scene, eh?! Well here's one (at least as far as his airplay on adult alt radio stations is concerned). His name is Dylan LeBlanc and, perhaps not surprisingly, he sounds pretty influenced by a well-known musician whose last name is his first. Unlike THAT Dylan, THIS Dylan has a sound that's more dreamy than it is raw, and would probably be liked by fans of acts like Ryan Adams or Iron & Wine. The soul-searching lyrics of "Cautionary Tale" are well-suited to its tune, which is also rather yearning. So far, so good!


"Delilah" by Florence and The Machine: Who is Delilah?! Well, the only thing we know about her is that she taught Florence Welch how to dance, at least according to the lyrics of this song. Most of "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful" has been surprisingly guitar-centric, from the funky, Prince-esque hooks of "What Kind of Man" to the epic, Springsteen-ian rush of "Ship to Wreck". "Delilah" is a song that is more focused on piano hooks and clap-along rhythms than those two songs were, which make it a strangely fun combination of indie-pop and gospel music! Flo's latest album has been a great experience so far. Hoping "Queen of Peace", a sweeping, orchestral slice of baroque-pop ear candy, becomes the fourth single off the album! In the meantime, you can dance to the "different kind of danger" that is "Delilah" 'till the day is done!


"Gypsy In Me" by Bonnie Raitt: Flo may charm me with her cute and quirky ways, but Bonnie will always have a special place in my heart! She has, ever since I was little and my mom would play her records for me on road trips. Speaking of road trips, that pretty much seems to be the vibe that Bonnie's latest song, "Gypsy In Me", is going for! The lyrics play out like a more accessible and less drug-addled version of The Grateful Dead's "Truckin'". That is to say, "Gypsy In Me" is a song about being on the road nonstop. It's also about the joy of being a restless, energetic, unstoppable spirit! Bonnie has certainly proven herself to be unstoppable, still kickin' plenty of big ol' blues-y butt at age 66. Way to go!


"High Note" by Mavis Staples: While on the subject of legendary blues-y ladies, Mavis Staples, who has been recording even longer than Bonnie Raitt has, also has a new one out! Mavis started out as a gospel style singer, turned to more mainstream R & B during the peak of her career, and seems to have dabbled in blues-rock during the last few years. Mavis also seems to be pretty hip on singers of the new(er) generation, such as Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, whom she has duetted with at least once, as well as Valerie June, a blues/folk-rock musician who was probably heavily influenced by Mavis. Valerie actually helped to write Mavis' latest song, "High Note". Her new album is actually full of newer folk-rock and blues-rock musicians. Two of them, Benjamin Booker and Son Little, are also heirs to Mavis' musical throne, so I'm looking forward to hearing their contributions to her new album as well!


"Lazarus" by David Bowie: From a high note to a (very) low note, both literally and figuratively in this case. "Lazarus" is a minor key song, and from its opening lyrics, "Look up here I'm in heaven/I've got scars that can't be seen", one might get the hint that the song is about death, and they would be correct in assuming this. In fact, Bowie's entire newest (and, sadly, last) ALBUM is about death, and his self-awareness of exiting the Earth. Tragically, David Bowie recently died of cancer at age 69, and he was aware about his cancer the entire time he was recording his latest album, but no one knew about it until after the fact. "Lazarus" is a great reminder of the man we have lost. That man is a man who has influenced many subgenres of rock, from the punk sound of his contemporaries (and friends) like Iggy Pop and Lou Reed, to the quirky new wave of Talking Heads and Devo, to the entire "synth-pop" scene that dominated the '80s, icons of the '90s like Kurt Cobain (who famously covered his "The Man Who Sold the World"), and even more recent alt-rockers like The Killers and Franz Ferdinand. That may be a lot of examples for some of you, but it just goes to show what a tremendous impact he had. David Bowie, you will be missed!


"Overnight" by Wild Feathers: They were a little bit country, but now they're a little bit rock 'n' roll. Wild Feathers' latest song, "Overnight", has a bit more of a crunchy, electric guitar based rock sound. Perhaps the more forceful sound is fitting with the rather forceful, critical lyrics they have to offer in "Overnight", such as, "You can't wait 'till the morning light, 'cause you want it all right now". The song is basically Wild Feathers' way of pointing fingers at those who demand instant success, which Wild Feathers themselves have certainly not begged for. They are nowhere near as well-known as, say, The Lumineers or The Civil Wars, but they don't seem to have a problem with that. Just as it should be, I say.


"Under the Influence" by Elle King: It took awhile for Elle King to taste the surprising amount of success she had with the spirited jazz-rock tune, "Ex's And Oh's", but once she got it, she got it big! The song was even huge enough for her to perform it at New Year's Rockin' Eve 2015, which is pretty unbelievable to me (but in a good way)!! Can her second big tune, "Under the Influence", measure up to the crazy catchiness of "Ex's And Oh's"?! You might not think so at first, but "Under the Influence" is the type of song that can sink under your skin within a matter of minutes! It is a slow song, but it is also rather seductive, as Elle seems to simultaneously complain and contemplate about just how intoxicating falling in love can be!


"Wide Open" by The Chemical Brothers (featuring Beck): I've never been that into The Chemical Brothers, as I'm really not much of a fan of techno music to begin with, but with Beck on their side, The Chemical Brothers seem as though they've been touched by magic. "Wide Open" is still techno enough for Chemical Brothers fans to enjoy, but it also has a sound that's more catchy and memorable than it is repetitive, and with Beck featured as the song's leading vocalist for most of it, he seems to give "Wide Open" the Midas touch and make it his own. It's the type of song that would feel equally at home in a club as it would in a bookstore. Music for your feet as well as your mind! How about that, eh?!

New songs for October 8th, 2014

here they are:


"Above the Clouds of Pompeii" by Bear's Den: This beautiful, heartfelt song has been around since August, and, two months down the road, it has finally gotten the radio play on adult alt stations that it has deserved for so long! A bittersweet acoustic ballad, "Above the Clouds of Pompeii" is one of those songs that comes around only once in a blue moon. The song is about the death of someone important in the lead singer's life, probably his mother, but the song itself sounds more like the achingly lovely event of life starting anew! Highly recommended!!


"Cigarette Daydreams" by Cage the Elephant: Cage the Elephant are really putting the "mellow" in their latest album, "Melophobia", with each new song they've released from it. "Cigarette Daydreams" is, by far, the mellowest song on the album, and perhaps even of CTE's career. Though CTE aren't exactly strangers to "soft" rock, they have never done an acoustic song, to my knowledge, which makes "Cigarette Daydreams" a first for the band, since it is dominated by an acoustic guitar sound. "Cigarette Daydreams" is far from sounding pungent like a cigarette, and instead sounds light and airy, like a daydream. For a group of guys who started with frat-rock anthems like "Ain't No Rest For the Wicked", they sure have come a long way!


"Ex's And Oh's" by Elle King: Elle King could be the one to give fellow jazz/rock/blues/roots hybrid femme fatale, Gin Wigmore, a run for her money. Even their voices sound somewhat similar. Elle King's cleverly titled "Ex's And Oh's" is, of course, about Elle's ex-boyfriends, and how they have treated her, and has nothing to do with tic tac toe. Gin Wigmore exudes more energy and has more of an edge than Elle King, but Elle knows how to be sultry and jazzy with the best of 'em!


"From Eden" by Hozier: Does religion play a theme in the music of Irish indie-pop artist, Hozier? With titles like "Take Me to Church", and now, "From Eden", I would venture to say that is so! The two songs couldn't sound more opposite, though! "Take Me to Church" sounded like a dirge turned into a pop song, and was somewhat controversial (probably why the song was such a big hit on "alternative" rock stations), but "From Eden" sounds more like a bouncy indie-pop song, written in a more major key than its predecessor. Beneath the chirpy sound of "From Eden", however, lies yet another dark theme, and that is the temptation of lust, as indicated in the song's refrain, "I slithered here from Eden just to sit outside your door". What a two-faced "snake" Hozier is!