New songs for June 8th, 2022

 here they are:


"Alpha Zulu" by Phoenix: Phoenix sure have interesting titles for their songs! The title for this one is literally the letters "A" and "Z" in military code! The significance of this phrase in this catchy and surprisingly dark electro-pop/rock song is fitting with its apocalyptic theme, and it's also the first Phoenix song I've heard written in minor key instead of major. According to Phoenix's lead singer, Thomas Mars, the phrase "Alpha Zulu" in the context of the song is basically another way of saying, "Mayday! We're going down!" The song seems to be about how difficult modern times are for many people, and how we are desperate to cling to visions of a more idealistic realm in order to feel safe. It's the end of the world as we know it, but unlike R.E.M., Phoenix do not appear to "feel fine." This song is urgent, and for a good reason!

"Dance Around It" by Lucius (featuring Brandi Carlile Sheryl Crow): Lucius may be duetting with two roots-y folk-rockers on their latest song, but "Dance Around It," in case you hadn't already guessed from the title, is not a folk or roots-rock song! Apt to its title, "Dance Around It" has a very vibrant, dance-pop sound to it! It is a relentlessly happy song whose intention is to bring about happiness (and dancing) to its listeners. Lucius' main members, Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe, say that the point of "Dance Around It" is to "dance through the darkness." In other words, to take the bad times many of us have gone through recently, and to counteract those with fun, feel-good music. Sounds good to me!

"Expectations" by Lo Moon: Known for their soothing, atmospheric indie-pop sound, "Expectations" is a song that will defy your (pun intended) expectations of Lo Moon! The song is much more upbeat than the typically slow songs Lo Moon usually come up with. Setting the time machine to about 35 years ago for both its "Take on Me"-esque sound and its bittersweet lyrics reflecting on teen years (as many John Hughes films were known for doing back then), "Expectations" is a song that will probably appeal to fans of Stranger Things and other '80s-centric memorabilia that are actually present-day phenomena. "It's getting kinda hard not to blame myself," lead singer Matt Lowell mournfully sings towards the end of the song, perhaps to acknowledge how the song is not nostalgic in a sweet way, but more in a cynical manner. 

"Make a Picture" by Andrew Bird: Do you like indie-folk/pop musicians who use orchestral string instruments prominently in their songs? Great! Do you like kitties?! Even better! Perhaps it's the "running on the streets like feral cats" in the first verse that caused Andrew to make the decision for his latest video for his song, "Make a Picture," or perhaps it's just the quirkiness of Andrew Bird. Whatever the reason, though, this is the cutest music video I've seen in a long time! Fitting to the song's title, "Make a Picture"'s video also deals with taking photographs...but seriously. How can I not love a music video with KITTIES in it?! Here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XdqCjtveTw

"Talk" by beabadoobee: None of beabadoobee's songs really sound like they belong in the midst of the 21st century as much as they would towards the end of the 20th. Her latest song, "Talk," is no exception to the rule, evoking heavy influence from such '90s alt-rock heavyweights as Garbage and Smashing Pumpkins. The subject matter of the song would not be out of place in a '90s alt song either. It is about Beatrice "beabadoobee" Laus being in a relationship with someone whom she knows is bad for her, but she wants to be in it anyway, and the overall tone of the song seems to be somewhere between apathetic and angst-ridden.

"Turn Up the Sunshine" by Diana Ross (featuring Tame Impala): The soul singer who reigned "Supreme" in the 1960's with two other women backing her up has returned for the first time in many, many years with indie-pop/rock sensations, Tame Impala, for a song from the Minions: The Rise of Gru soundtrack. Tame Impala provide the electro-pop backbeat of the song, but it's clear that this song is mainly Diana's from both her strong vocal presence and equally strong '70s funk inspired choice of music! The soundtrack of the latest movie featuring the quirky, gibberish-speaking...things...that look like Homer Simpson's head with one eye seems to take place in the 1970's, judging from the classic soul and classic rock hits being covered on the soundtrack, all by indie-pop artists from the 2010's. Seems like they're attempting to do for 1970's pop music what Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks did for its own music: taking music from the past and giving it a "modern rock" twist (the Schoolhouse Rock tribute album featured mainly '90s alt-rock artists since it was released in the middle of the decade). For "Turn Up the Sunshine," the people behind the Minions and Despicable Me movies took the extra liberty of bringing in an actual musician who was popular in the 1970's, and not just someone covering music from that era. "Turn Up the Sunshine" is also an entirely original tune, making it that much fresher. With Diana being only two years shy of 80, it's amazing that she's still able to sound as funky fresh as she was in her younger years!

New songs for August 5th, 2020

Here they are: 

"Ferris Wheel" by Sylvan Esso: After having collaborated earlier this year with fellow indie groups like Real Estate and Local Natives, Sylvan Esso have now made the decision to strike out on their own in the middle of summer! And nothing says "summer" like a Ferris wheel, right? Well, back when we were allowed to go out more in public, that is. Anyway, "Ferris Wheel" is a happy, upbeat indie-pop tune dominated by synthesizers that attempts to evoke sweet memories of summers past. From the title of the song to mentions of "tilt-a-whirling", not to mention multiple mentions of hot, steamy weather, "Ferris Wheel" captures the essence of summer, albeit with the title of the song serving as a potential metaphor for the ups and downs of relationships. "August in the heat" is the perfect opening line for a song released in early August like this one was, by the way! 

"Is It True?" by Tame Impala: Another memory of summers past that won't likely happen for too many this year is probably having summer parties, for a lot of people. Tame Impala's latest song, "Is It True?", is a song that seems designed for parties! Imagine a bunch of people out by a pool or a beach forming a conga line. That's the basic feel of "Is It True?" The song itself, meanwhile, attempts to answer the question of whether Kevin Parker's partner truly loves him or not. The answer given is simply "we'll see", repeated enough times to comprise the third and final minute of the song. As the weather heats up, so does love! Tame Impala's latest tune plays out like a techno-pop soap opera that never truly gets resolved! 

"It Ain't Easy" by Delta Spirit: Delta Spirit have always sounded a little "retro", with one foot in the '70s and the other in the present day. The mellow, '70s inspired sound of Delta Spirit's "It Ain't Easy" is nothing new for them. However, it is the first Delta Spirit song I've heard where acoustic guitar is clearly audible, particularly during the intro. It's also a surprisingly bittersweet, minor key track for Delta Spirit, who are normally more sunny and major key (even when the subject matter is darker, like in "Bushwick Blues"). This song is yet another in a long line of songs for this year (and possibly the next) to be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Delta Spirit were set to have their reunion tour this year after having made the decision to reunite two years prior, but of course, just as things were starting to look up for the band, their decision ended up getting postponed. "I found it hard to be myself without your help" seems to be a central line in this song, too. Sad the way things work out sometimes, isn't it?

New songs for January 15th, 2020

here they are:


"And It's Still Alright" by Nathaniel Rateliff: Nathaniel Rateliff, along with his backing group, The Night Sweats, have brought us numerous adult alt and alt radio hits with a distinctly soulful flavor, like "S.O.B." and "You Worry Me". This song, which also happens to be the first song released IN 2020 that I'm reviewing in 2020, marks Nathaniel's first significant appearance on his own without The Night Sweats. That song, "And It's Still Alright", plays out like a slightly countrified version of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic". Not exactly what I would have expected from the normally fiery Nathaniel Rateliff, but perhaps part of the reason it sounds the way it does is because Nathaniel does not have his backing group with him this time. It's a pleasant and bittersweet song, though, so I do like it. Not Nathaniel's best, but it is a good one...and it's still alright.


"Black Madonna" by Cage the Elephant: The title of this song refers to the "Madonna and Child" painting when people depict the titular woman with dark skin instead of lighter skin, proving Cage the Elephant to be both more spiritual and more knowledgable than I previously thought they were. Beneath the surface, though, the song "Black Madonna" seems to be about someone who is not ready to have a relationship. Given the themes of rocky relationships in other recent CTE tunes, like "Ready to Let Go", I would say this is an accurate conclusion to arrive at. The song goes in line with the spaced-out new wave sound CTE have been going for on their latest album, and like the other three songs that have been released from it so far as singles, "Black Madonna" is in a minor key. The overall darkness of the song seems to be offset by its title, as well as the "hallelujah" in the chorus, both indicating reverential undertones in a song that otherwise seems bleak and despairing.


"Dirt In My Eyes" by Cold War Kids: Much like their 2019 summer smash, "Complainer", Cold War Kids' "Dirt In My Eyes" is also a funky, catchy song in the CWK catalog. Where "Complainer", in spite of its title, was uplifting, "Dirt In My Eyes" seems to BE a complaint, probably against a former lover. "You just keep on kickin' dirt in my eyes", Nathan Willett sings in a Michael Jackson-esque falsetto during the chorus, "and I just keep on actin', actin' surprised", he continues. Those sound like the words of a man who's been pushed around for far too long. However, instead of making the song moody, he makes it funky! Go figure, eh?!


"Feel the Way I Want" by Caroline Rose: What is there to say about Caroline Rose except that she knows how to make great danceable tunes out of alternative pop/rock music? In 2018, she released the fun, sassy, booty shakin' "Soul No. 5". Where "Soul No. 5" was largely rock oriented, Caroline's latest, "Feel the Way I Want", seems more rooted in the eccentric funk stylings of Prince, and it also sounds a bit like the works of Funkadelic's Bootsy Collins. If not for Caroline's distinct vocal stylings, this song could be mistaken for a Lizzo song! "Feel the Way I Want" is a largely celebratory anthem that lives up to its title. Let's start this decade/year right, folks. We've gotta feel the way we want to!


"Hand Over My Heart" by The Secret Sisters: The only other song I've heard so far from The Secret Sisters was the bittersweet, yearning folk-rock song, "He's Fine", from about four years ago. "Hand Over My Heart", in contrast, is more sweet than bittersweet and more indie-pop with folky undertones than it is folk-rock. According to lead singer, Laura Rogers, the reason "Hand Over My Heart" sounds the way it does is because The Secret Sisters wanted to go in a direction that was more musically and lyrically positive. Lovelorn ballads have long been their typical style, but in the dawning of this new era, they've chosen love and kindness over loss and heartache. The resulting song is a sweet, bubbly song that is sure to put a smile on any indie-folk fan!


"I Don't Wanna Lie" by Yola: One of many blues-y R & B revivalists of the 2010's, Yola debuted at the end of the decade. Come the early 2020's, she has finally gotten the recognition she's deserved on adult alt radio with the Dan Auerbach (Black Keys) produced song, "I Don't Wanna Lie"! The guitars in the intro sound pretty Auerbach-ian, but cue the piano, string section, and drums, and "I Don't Wanna Lie" becomes its own song, evoking the sultry magic of early 1970's soul music. The song is a bold and funky declaration of love and honesty in the tradition of many of Yola's soulful forebears. This song is pretty somethin'! I mean I don't wanna lie and say it's not!


"Lost In Yesterday" by Tame Impala: The icy, stark new wave sound of Tame Impala's latest song, combined with its rhythm, made me think of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears. However, "Lost In Yesterday" differs greatly in its lyrics from the mostly pessimistic TFF song. As its title implies, "Lost In Yesterday" is about getting lost inside a memory. Lead singer Kevin Parker never makes it clear in the song whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. Perhaps his opinion can best be summed up in the verse where he says, "If they call you, embrace them. If they hold you, erase them". In other words, happy memories are great to get lost in, but if a memory holds you back from enjoying the present, get rid of it. Memories are an important part of my life and an important part of who I am overall. Thanks for speaking to my subconscious and empowering it, Kevin!


"Texas Sun" by Khruangbin (pronounced KRUNG-bin), featuring Leon Bridges: There is a good reason this song is about Texas. Post-psychedelic indie-rock group, Khruangbin, and soul revivalist, Leon Bridges, are both Texas natives. Of course, many other musicians are Texans as well, so why did these two choose one another? They seem like quite an unlikely pair! Somehow, though, it manages to work here. Trippy guitars and soulful vocals and rhythm join forces here without one offsetting the other. The result is something that is both strange and beautiful.

New songs for November 20th 2019

here they are:


"Count On Me" by The Lone Bellow: Ever since their debut back in 2013, The Lone Bellow have always been about mellow sounds and sweet harmonies, but their latest song, "Count On Me", has that even more than most Lone Bellow songs have! With a bittersweet, almost heartbreaking sound slightly reminiscent of Tom Waits' "Hold On", "Count On Me" is a song that attests to how powerful friendship can truly be! During the last minute or so of this almost two-and-half-minute song, "Count On Me" starts to rev up a little bit and becoming more heartwarming than heartbreaking, but the sentiment of the song remains the same!


"It Might Be Time" by Tame Impala: If Supertramp's "The Logical Song" were remade into a nightclub rave type of song, you'd probably get Tame Impala's "It Might Be Time". And just what is it, you might ask, that it might "be time" for? Well, according to the song, it might be time to face how we're all getting older by the minute. For a band who has been around only since 2013, that's a pretty heavy thought to have! But time catches up to all of us eventually. Might as well have some good music and enjoy the ride while it lasts, right?

New songs for April 3rd 2019

here they are:


"Father Mountain" by Calexico and Iron & Wine: Yes, there are indie-folk bands who actually know each other! Calexico and Iron & Wine have actually known each other for awhile, but this is their first adult alt radio hit together. The words, "Father Mountain", sound almost like hippie-speak, as if it were a metaphor for nature. However, the "father" here is a literal one, with the song taking its title from the recurring line, "my father built a mansion on the mountain". As one might expect, the song blends the ultra-mellow vibes of Iron & Wine with the quaint country-rock of Calexico. The song appears to be about Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) and a girlfriend of his who lived in his father's house, named "Teresa" in the song.


"Get Out And Get It" by Devon Gilfillian: There's a bit of a '60s soul and '70s funk sound on this song, the debut song from Philadelphia native, Devon Gilfillian. The organ that resonates throughout the song gives it even more of a "vintage" sound. Apparently, the organ in the song reflects Devon's African roots, taking its influence from Nigerian music from the 1970's, and giving the song its unique, catchy flavor. The title of the song is exactly what Devon wants his listeners to feel like when hearing it. In other words, he wants them to feel like they're gonna "get out and get" the fresh soul grooves of this song!


"Patience" by Tame Impala: "Patience" is what Tame Impala's fans have been experiencing since 2015! Finally, their patience has paid off. And what has it brought us?! A song that sounds like it's from 1979, mixing disco music and Supertramp...yet at the same time, there's also a distinctly modern vibe to the song as only Tame Impala can bring it! Tame Impala are a clever and quirky enough band that "Patience" might just BE about how long they've waited to record a new song, or how long their fans have waited for such a thing to happen. The opening lines of the song are even, "Has it really been that long?" Yes, it has been that long. It's been four years. It's been worth the wait, though!


"Renegade" by Dylan LeBlanc: Not to be confused with 1970's rock anthem, "Renegade", by Styx...although this does have a slightly more rock vibe than Dylan's breakthrough single, "Cautionary Tale". Well, only slightly. Dylan LeBlanc's "Renegade" is still essentially folk-rock, but with more electric backing instrumentation. A bit stronger language than "Cautionary Tale", too, at least during the second verse, which is a bit of a shocker to me in what appears to be pretty laid back song. "Renegade" seems to be Dylan's attempt at doing "urban lyrical poetry" a la Bruce Springsteen. A bit of a grittier song than one might expect from Dylan LeBlanc, but it also adds more dimension and depth to his work.


"Trampoline" by Shaed: Being the "Simpsons" fan that I am, the first thing I think of when I hear the word, "trampoline", is Homer Simpson enthusiastically shouting, "TRAMPOLINE! TRAM-BOP-O-LINE!" Of course, Shaed's "Trampoline" has nothing to do with Homer and his eccentric family, but it's still funny to think about. What it's actually about is...well, not anything, really, but a bunch of sweet, dreamy imagery meant to sync with the sound of chilled out electro-pop. The lyrics and music match up well here, inviting the listener to dive into a pool of hypnotic emotions and sound.

New songs for June 17th 2015

here they are:


"Dreams" by Beck: After two melancholy singles (and an entirely melancholy album), Beck has now decided to up the energy on his tunes once again, musically channeling both David Byrne and Prince in the process! Don't be fooled by the song's "dream"-y title, heheh. Most songs with the title "Dreams" are rather bittersweet (I'm looking at you, Fleetwood Mac and Cranberries). This one is most certainly not. It's basically funk from outer space. It's like someone went to the moon and put a dance floor there! Forget about walking on the moon. It's time for bouncin' and bumpin' on the moon, now!


"Let It Happen" by Tame Impala: Even MORE funk from outer space!! This time, the "space" factor is increased in this 7-minute sprawl of a song from the same guys who brought you the Black Keys-meets-Pink Floyd jam, "Elephant". "Let It Happen" is an apt title for Tame Impala's latest song, as that is exactly what they do here! They just "let it happen". Whatever goes, goes! Fade-ins, fade-outs. Rock 'n' roll, disco, dance, funk, jazz...it's all here! Get ready for a wild ride!


"Somewhere Under Heaven" by Tom Petty: Our last song of the week isn't funky or weird, but it still rocks! After all, this IS a Tom Petty song. Specifically, this one rocks in the same way Petty might have during the '80s, with its similarity to some of the more jangly, Byrds-y Petty tracks like "The Waiting". I strongly suspected this was an outtake from one of his '80s albums, but it's actually from a decade later. It's a "missing" track from his mid-'90s album, "Wildflowers". This song kinda sounds like what you might expect to hear from a song with the word "heaven" in its title. It shimmers and sparkles throughout with its shiny, glistening wall of Rickenbacker guitars. Enough to satisfy both the mellower and rougher sides of Petty's catalog!

New songs for November 13th, 2013

here they are:


"Dirty Paws" by Of Monsters and Men: The fourth single from this exceptional Icelandic folk-rock group provides an answer as to why their debut (and so far, only) CD was called "My Head Is An Animal" (it's the words to the second line of this song). "Dirty Paws" continues in the pattern of a lot of what OMAM's material has had so far. A gentle folk-rock sound that evokes medieval and mythological imagery in both its instrumentation and its lyrics. The song can be interpreted many different ways, but it is most likely an allegory for war, using animals to tell its story ("Animal Farm", anyone?!) I would think that OMAM would be better at coming up with a hook to this song, which sounds a bit too much like their own "King and Lionheart" mixed with the beat of Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros' "Home". Quite a thrilling tale of a song otherwise, though!


"Elephant" by Tame Impala: If the name "Tame Impala" reminds you of bands with equally bizarre names like "Jefferson Airplane", "Strawberry Alarm Clock", and "Quicksilver Messenger Service", you should have a pretty good idea of what Tame Impala's music sounds like! It has a vaguely psychedelic influenced sound, but with a heavily pulsating beat that brings to mind bands like The White Stripes and Cage the Elephant. Another thing Tame Impala's "Elephant" shares in common with psychedelic rock songs is that the lyrics don't quite make sense (the opening lyrics are "well he feels like an elephant shaking his big grey trunk" - Huh?!) The song also meanders into quite adventurous instrumental territory during certain sections, which seems to be a defining feature of some of the best known psychedelic rock songs. So, as they say in "Hairspray", "Welcome to the '60s!!"


"Got It Wrong" by Wild Feathers: It could be said that The Wild Feathers are the indie-folk scene's answer to groups like The Allman Brothers Band and The Black Crowes. Their sound is clearly Southern influenced (well, they're from Nashville, Tennessee, so I guess that makes sense), but it is done in a more sincere and heartfelt manner than one might expect from, say, ZZ Top. The Feathers' latest song, "Got It Wrong", continues in that direction, with its down home-y (but still fun) sound that seems like it came straight out of a classic cowboy movie. The refrain of this song ("it's all right, we've got it all wrong"), only seems to further cement their "good ol' Southern boy" image, but I'm guessing they don't mind that.