New songs for August 17th, 2022

 here they are:


"Burning" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Karen O and the YYY's return to guitar-based music on their latest song, "Burning," at least a little bit. The song is mostly dominated by piano in the beginning and then a synth-string "orchestra" later on, but it's not the instrumentation, necessarily, that makes this song so special. First of all, it's the style that the YYY's chose to go for here. The verses, in particular, seem to recall "girl groups" of the early 1960's such as The Ronettes, The Crystals, and The Chiffons with their pristine pianos on top of trembling tambourines. Although the string section is synth-laden, it still sounds compelling enough to lure listeners in. The subject of the song is also worth mentioning, as it is one of a growing number of songs to address climate change (albeit in a subtle manner, in this case). The imagery of the song is fittingly fiery to its torrid title, but Karen could easily be addressing an actual fire or a metaphorical one here, if not both!

"Lucky Ones" by Julian Lennon: With George and John long gone and Ringo's work not near as well-known to the public as the other members, Paul McCartney has been the only Beatle to remain active in the music scene into the 21st century. However, on a few occasions through the new millennium, John Lennon's kids have kept the Beatle flame burning, even for just a brief moment. Sean Lennon got minor attention for his folk-y, Elliott Smith-esque "Dead Meat" in the mid 2000's, and now it's Julian Lennon's turn to shine in the limelight for the first time in decades! An anthemic, piano-laden song with neat guitar flourishes in the background, "Lucky Ones" is a song of hope during a time of despair. He seems to want to embody the spirit of peace and love now just as much as his dad did in the 1960's and '70s. Like our previous entry, "Lucky Ones" also addresses the plight of climate change, but does so in a way that offers hope to future generations.

"Problem With It" by Plains: If any of you indie-folk fans are hearing this song for the first time and think that its lead vocalist sounds familiar, that's because those are the vocals of Katie Crutchfield from indie-folk group, Waxahatchee. Plains is her side project, and their debut song, "Problem With It," almost sounds like a "sequel song" to Waxahatchee's "Can't Do Much," a mellow country-rock tune in B flat, much like this one is. Adding to the song's country vibe are its "heartbreak out on the road" lyrical theme, as well as the instrumental help the song receives from Jeff Tweedy (Wilco)'s son, Spencer, and Jay Farrar from alt-country groups Son Volt and Uncle Tupelo. 

"Soul Sweet Song" by The Tedeschi-Trucks Band: One of the TTB's more bittersweet songs, "Soul Sweet Song" is a melancholy (yet still sweet and soulful) tune for a good reason. It's a tribute to the group's now former keyboardist, Kofi Burbridge, who died in 2019. While the song is poignant, it's not completely sad, due to its major key, the honey-drenched harmonies of Tedeschi and Trucks, the soulful horns that punctuate the song, and Tedeschi's trademark blues-guitar sound spreading joy through the sadness that might have permeated this composition otherwise. This is the way to do a tribute song, if you ask me!

"Spit of You" by Sam Fender: While many of Sam Fender's songs tend to evoke the anthemic yet melodic rock sound of acts like Bruce Springsteen and U2, "Spit of You" has a more bittersweet jangle evocative of groups like R.E.M. with soulful acoustic guitars layered with cleanly distorted electrics and a sweet sax solo at the end. The title of the song probably refers to the phrase "spitting image," as the song revolves around the bonds between fathers and sons. "Spit of You" also notably slower than the other songs Sam has gained attention with, although it isn't too slow of a song. Sam showing off his sensitive side is so sweet and sublime!

"Tangled" by Ceramic Animals: Pennsylvania's Ceramic Animals have been around since 2013, but this marks the first time adult alt radio has taken notice of them. The laid-back blues/country/folk/rock combo of their breakthrough song, "Tangled," sounds so much like one of Dan Auerbach (Black Keys)'s solo songs that I was convinced he was part of Ceramic Animals! As it turns out, he is not, but there seems to be a striking similarity between Auerbach's work and Ceramic Animals' sound, so perhaps he produced it. Not any wonder, then, that Ceramic Animals opened for The Black Keys recently!

"Vault of Heaven" by Pixies: Interesting that this is the second Pixies song (to my knowledge) that has the word "heaven" in its title (the first would be "Monkey Gone to Heaven," which ranks among their best-known songs) since The Pixies seem a bit too warped and dark to address ideas like heaven in their music. "Monkey..." was a rather twisted and angry environmental protest song, though, and "Vault of Heaven" seems to be almost satirical in a way. Perhaps part of the reason this gritty alt-rock take on "spaghetti western" music even uses the word "heaven" in the first place is to rhyme with "7-11." Lead singer Frank Black seems to weave a short yet compelling tale in "Vault of Heaven" how paradise isn't all that it's cracked up to be, as though it's useless to try to attain idealism in life. Dark and cryptic, as many Pixies songs are, but this one seems more noticeably country-rock than a lot of their stuff is. 

New songs for August 21st 2019

here they are:


"Catfish Kate" by Pixies: The legendary alternative rock band returns just in time for the end of the decade! In comparison to the spiky sound of their last "comeback" song, "Classic Masher", "Catfish Kate" sounds almost like an R.E.M. song, similar to The Pixies' now classic, "Here Comes Your Man". Frank "Black Francis" Black takes the lead vocals on this song and weaves a tale about someone he once knew whose nickname was "Catfish Kate". What is this tale about?! I'm scratching my head trying to figure THAT one out, but most Pixies songs tend to be rather obscure in meaning upon first listen. It's only upon listening to a Pixies song enough times that one can decipher its true significance, but such is part of the appeal of a band that was famously one of Kurt Cobain's favorites.


"Knock Me Off My Feet" by Soak: As an Irish-American myself, I think there are many talented Irish musicians. U2, of course, but there are many more: The Cranberries, Sinead O'Connor, The Boomtown Rats, Van Morrison, Damien Rice, and so much more. One of the latest performers to join their ranks is Bridie Monds-Watson, better known as "Soak". Her song, "Knock Me Off My Feet", has a sound that's evocative of groups like The Cure, Echo and The Bunnymen, and Joy Division. Much like the bands she is emulating, Soak's "Knock Me Off My Feet" has rather dark subject matter. Here it concerns how harshly people can treat themselves, although it also suggests the opposite idea of how well people can treat themselves.


"Lebanon" by J.S. Ondara: Thanks to L.A.'s trailblazing radio station, KCSN, I have heard J.S. Ondara's latest offering, "Lebanon". The song has an interesting title for a musician who was born in an African country and raised in the United States, since Lebanon itself is a Middle Eastern country. The song is not about geographical location, though, but is instead about providing friendship and loyalty through thick and thin. Through a sweet folk-rock sound that brings to mind what Tracy Chapman might sound like with a catchier beat, Ondara tells a story of his desire for friendship through troubled times. "In the water, in the fire, I'll go wherever you go", Ondara sings during the song's chorus. Powerful stuff!


"Life In the City" by The Lumineers: It's not every day you get a song with a waltz rhythm and a folk-rock sound, but The Lumineers did it before with "Submarines", and they're doing it again with their latest song, "Life In the City". Though the song itself might sound somewhat uplifting, do not be fooled. "Life In the City" does not celebrate the urban lifestyle, but instead criticizes it. Wesley Schultz croons sorrowfully about how city life has left him feeling empty inside, even stating in the chorus that it will "never be pretty". Through troubled times, though, come great songs, and this is one of them!


"So Caught Up" by The Teskey Brothers: Australian quartet, The Teskey Brothers, offer us music that does not sound like it came from down under at all. For that matter, it doesn't sound current either. Instead, it sounds like a 1960's soul song that came from someone like Sam & Dave or Otis Redding. Lyrically, it's a love song without a very deep meaning to it, but the way the song is delivered is so energetic that the listener can't help but get hooked into it!


"The Chain" by The Highwomen: An all-woman, country-rock supergroup, composed of Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Natalie Hemby, and Amanda Shires, most of whom have had adult alt radio hits as solo musicians, take on a song from one of the most legendary women (and men) in rock and roll history! If you saw the title, "The Chain", and thought of a Fleetwood Mac song from the mid 1970's, you'd be correct! This is the song the quartet of women are taking on. How does it fare in comparison to the original? An A for effort on their part, but it almost sounds TOO similar to the Fleetwood Mac version. The song is in the key of E (major for the verses, minor for the chorus) like the original, and it also has the same rhythm and remarkably similar instrumentation, right down to the bass riff and guitar solo that marks the end of the song, nearly note for note! The only way to truly differentiate the two versions is by vocals (and by the "jam band" styled section towards the end of the song). Still, they picked a great song to cover!


"2all" by Catfish and The Bottlemen: Our last entry of the week is another song I first heard on L.A.'s KCSN, just like J.S. Ondara's "Lebanon", which I reviewed earlier in this week's blog. The harmonious vocals and heartfelt message of "2all" marks an interesting contrast to the usual gritty material of Catfish and The Bottlemen's material. I couldn't even believe it WAS Catfish and The Bottlemen when I first heard it. There's a reason this song sounds sweet and mellow in comparison to most of CATB's material, though. Van McCann apparently wanted to do a song dedicated to his audience and how supportive they were to his band and their music. What a great idea! Now that's what I call dedication!

New songs for October 5th, 2016

here they are:


"Classic Masher" by The Pixies: "Classic" is right when it comes to describing the music of The Pixies! Bands like Nirvana, R.E.M., Radiohead, and even Weezer wouldn't exactly be where they are without 'em. Their last album wasn't actually released that long ago, but it didn't receive near as much attention as this one has. The Pixies' odd but endearing combo of arena rock sized hooks and garage rock distortion and attitude returns big time with their latest song, "Classic Masher". Like many Pixies songs, this one doesn't exactly have a clear narrative upon its first listen, but with a band as innovative and quirky as they are, what does it matter?! As The Smashing Pumpkins (yet another Pixies influenced group) once said in their song, "Cherub Rock", "Hipsters, unite!"


"Longer" by Lydia Loveless: Lydia is a musician who really puts the "rock" in country-rock! She is loved by alt-rock legends, The Replacements, and even met their bassist, and the opening to Lydia's latest song, "Longer", sounds a bit like the roots-y indie group, The Gaslight Anthem. Those awesomely cheesy guitar riffs that play in between each line also make this song well worth the listen, I think. "Longer" is as bittersweet as it is just plain bitter, as if Lydia can't decide whether to be "Loveless" (get it?) or love-lost!


"Mama Can't Help You" by Doyle Bramhall II: You may not know who Doyle Bramhall II is, but he has worked with rock legends like Eric Clapton and Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, and he also happens to be Renee Zellweger's current boyfriend. How's THAT for credibility?! Bramhall II is a smooth, slick combination of rock and soul that doesn't sound too far off from Eric Clapton and also bears similarity to other '60s and '70s blues-rock acts like Canned Heat, The Allman Brothers Band, and Little Feat. If this doesn't get your toes a-tappin', I dunno what will! This is the perfect song to satisfy both your groovy side and your rockin' side!


"33 God" by Bon Iver: This song is about as weird as its title sounds! I mean what does "33 God" even MEAN?! However, it is weird in a good way (kind of), I assure you! To give you an idea of how weird this song is, imagine if a Kate Bush song was being remixed by an electronica group led by Alvin and The Chipmunks. Ummm...yeah. I could do without the electronic remixing and those messed up chipmunk vocals, but the soft, delicate piano is definitely something I would both expect and welcome from Bon Iver. This is a good song, but I'd kinda like Justin Vernon and co to release a "piano-and-Justin-Vernon-vocals-only" version of this song. If they did, I'd gladly start playing that in regular rotation instead of this version. I guess good things come to those who wait, though.


"Washed Up Together" by Knox Hamilton: Knox Hamilton are proof that the "sophomore slump" is still goin' on. Their first song, "Work It Out", was kind of a pop-y song, but with plenty of juicy guitar riffs to please a guitarist like me. "Washed Up Together" has guitar hooks as well, but they don't sound near as distinct as the ones from "Work It Out" (and no unusual instruments like xylophones in the intro to "Washed Up Together" either). Perhaps it was KH's desire to win the approval of Katy Perry (which they did) for "Washed Up Together" that makes it sound...well...washed up! Oh well, at least they sound washed up TOGETHER! Besides, nothing wrong with liking catchy pop songs once in awhile, is there?!


"Wasting Time" by Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats: More sophomore slumps here, and with a band who has made just one ALBUM, at that! Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats have now had three singles in a row with a solid gold Memphis soul influenced sound (most notably the enjoyably rowdy "S.O.B.") Their not-yet-a-single, "Howlin' At Nothin'", is pretty solid retro-soul music as well. So why, then, is the fourth single from NRATNS the super-mellow, country influenced, "Wasting Time"? As a fifth single, it probably wouldn't have been a bad choice, but come on! Part of the reason I dig their music so much in the first place is for their relentlessly high energy that they have in their songs, of which "Wasting Time" has none. I'm not hating on this song, though. "Wasting Time" has a similar acoustic guitar riff to one of my fave folk/country-rock tunes, "The Weight" by The Band, and it's a good song to just chill to after a long, hard, busy day. "Wasting Time" is not a waste of time, but it is the weak little runt in a litter of otherwise rowdy piglets.


"We Don't Know" by The Strumbellas: We don't know if you'll like the latest song from folk-pop group, The Strumbellas. What we do know, though, is that if bands like The Lumineers and Of Monsters and Men are up your alley, that you'll probably like "We Don't Know". The same could probably be said if you happen to be a fan of groups like Imagine Dragons and Kaleo, which combine folk, rock, and electronica into one catchy, alt-pop-y package. Despite the uncertainty indicated in the song's title, "We Don't Know" is largely a song of hope, particularly during the part where they say, "If there's hope then we'll be okay." Pleasant, buoyant, optimistic folk-pop has been done many times before now, but it doesn't hurt to hear something like that again every now and then.