New songs for March 10th 2021

 here they are:

"Down in the Country" by Israel Nash: It's not the first time that folk-rock and funk have melded into one, but it is certainly a rare occasion that the two genres come together. Israel Nash is bringing the two together as one in his latest song, "Down to the Country," a song that's as slinky as it is mellow. The idea of this song has now been around for about a year, and the issues discussed within are still as relevant today as they were then. The world was just starting to fall into the grip of coronavirus at the time, and much of "Down in the Country" seems to pertain to that topic. The bigger issue in the song, though, is the economy, and more specifically, how a certain someone who led the country until recently (referred to in the song as the "Yankee man") caused its downfall, all of which are reflective of the "hard times" Israel references in the second verse of the song. 

"El Invento" by Jose Gonzalez: Do you speak-o El Spanish-o? Apparently, neo-folk-rock musician Jose Gonzalez does, judging by the title of this song. Actually, this is Jose's first song entirely in Spanish (actual Spanish, not mock-Spanish). Interestingly, though his name suggests Spanish ancestry, Jose was actually born in Sweden (albeit to Argentinian parents). So what, then, do the lyrics of this song mean when you translate them into English?! It is actually a deep meditation Jose has on the world around him when you really stop and contemplate the meaning of the lyrics. A song in which a dreamer asks about the universe and marvels its beauty. This song is really, to use a Spanish phrase that I know, una canción fantastica (a fantastic song)! ¡Gracias, Jose!

"Greatest Enemy" by The Strumbellas: No matter what song they do, The Strumbellas always seem to make quite a splash on alt and adult alt radio stations! Their latest song, "Greatest Enemy" is no exception to the rule. Their previous big hit, "Salvation", already seemed to be an attempt to emulate the sound of groups like Imagine Dragons. "Greatest Enemy" goes a step further and tries both to sound like Imagine Dragons and imitate their "life's a struggle, but I'm gonna make it" lyrical style. One can't help but wonder if the lead singer of The Strumbellas really feels like he is his greatest enemy, or if this is just a way to cash in on the emotional trials and tribulations typically faced by millennials. If the latter, then "Greatest Enemy" is its own greatest enemy! Catchy song, though, nonetheless.


"Hey Lou" by Liz Phair: Perhaps I'm not the only one who has thought to himself, "What if Lou Reed was a guest star on Sesame Street?" Apparently, '90s alt-pop diva, Liz Phair, had similar thoughts in the video for her latest song, "Hey Lou," which features the legendary Velvet Underground singer, musician Laurie Anderson (to whom he was married during the last few years of his life), and even Andy Warhol as puppets! Who'da thunk?! The charmingly quirky video, almost as avant-garde as (but much more goofy than) The Velvet Underground itself, can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4LcFHMjH9k Liz's own music can typically be described as Lou Reed meets Joni Mitchell, so she obviously has had huge admiration for the man who was perhaps the world's first known alt-rocker for a very long time. The song seems to be Laurie Anderson (from Liz's point of view) trying to speak to Lou Reed, sympathize with him, and talk sense into him. And here I thought the appearance of Jefferson Airplane's lead singer on animations featured on actual episodes of Sesame Street during its early days were weird! Ha!! This, if it actually were to happen on there, would be TWICE as unexpected. Leave it to Liz to mix a TV fave from childhood with a musical fave from my teens and onward! 

"How Low Can You Go?" by LP: She was optimistic and freewheeling on her debut single, "Into the Wild." A few years later, she got more bittersweet and pensive on "Lost on You." As we enter the 2020's, a cynical decade so far, LP has become cynical along with it in "How Low Can You Go?" though without losing the indie-folk flair that made her a hit among her loyal listeners. The keyword in the title of this song is the word "low." A vital line in the song appears towards the end of it: "The days catch fire like gasoline. Tell me, what's the worst that you've seen?" The song appears to be on the surface about a relationship LP regretted, and is also notable for being the first song in her catalog I've heard where she swears (not once, but twice). Perhaps underneath it all, though, LP is venting her rage and frustration at the world, which has gotten pretty "low" itself lately. A scathing song disguised by a folk-y melody? Seems like that's becoming more and more typical as time goes on, for some reason.

"Pay Your Way in Pain" by St. Vincent: Last, but certainly not least, the remarkably talented St. Vincent gives us what is perhaps this week's most anticipated new song with "Pay Your Way in Pain." Musically, the song pays homage to two of rock's somewhat recently fallen heroes, David Bowie and Prince. It has a funky, progressive vibe that wouldn't sound out of character at all for either artist, and St. Vincent's repeated refrain of "pain" sounds an awful lot like Bowie's refrain of "fame" from the song "Fame." The song opens on a piano riff, but that sound is quickly left behind as soon as the rest of the song unfolds. This song almost seems like the left-of-center answer to Lady Gaga in some ways, an image which St. Vincent has cultivated somewhat already, but never as she has on this tune!  

New songs for July 10th, 2019

here they are:


"Complainer" by Cold War Kids: Most of what passes for "rock" these days seems to come in either a folk-y flavor or a funky one. Cold War Kids' "Complainer" definitely falls into the latter category. Contrary to its title, "Complainer" is not about complaints. It's actually about going against those who complain about things. The central line of the song is probably the first words of its chorus: "You say you want to change the world, but do you really believe in magic?" This line is probably about how people who say they want to "change the world" don't usually do anything aside from complaining about how bad the world is. Nathan Willett isn't having any of that, and that's basically how he was able to turn a song with a negative title into a more positive song overall.


"History Repeats" by Brittany Howard (from Alabama Shakes): The only other song for this week is also funk influenced. Instead of going for the pop-funk sound of Michael Jackson like Cold War Kids opted for in the previous entry, Alabama Shakes' lead singer goes more for the more eccentric, subversive funk of the '80s other leading soul man, Prince. Another thing this song shares in common with Prince is how clever it is lyrically. The name of the song is "History Repeats", and...well...that's exactly what it does during the second half of the song (in a song that's only around 3 minutes to begin with)!! It repeats the same words over and over at this point, but I feel like Brittany Howard meant to do this. She's TRYING to mess with our heads when she says this line! She states in the beginning of the song that she doesn't want to go back to where she was again, yet that's exactly what she does. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make sure I don't repeat myself. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make sure I don't repeat myself. (See what I did there?!)

New songs for June 19th 2019

here they are:


"High Steppin'" by The Avett Brothers: If you thought the Avetts departed from their folk/country-rock roots with the slightly more straight ahead rock of "Ain't No Man" and then went back to their original sound afterwards, you'd be wrong! "High Steppin'" is the least Avetts-y Avett Brothers song so far! It is the first song in which Seth and Scott employ (gasp!) a synthesizer. This element by itself seems like it would alienate quite a few members of their original fanbase, but surprisingly, Avett Brothers fans actually seem to like this song. For one thing, the video for the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwebrzEldA0) features one of the brothers in a skeleton outfit. No one quite knows the reason for this, but it is entertaining, to say the least! For another, you can still hear a bluegrass-y fiddle in the background in spite of the overall "alternative" sound this song boasts.


"I Need A Teacher" by Hiss Golden Messenger: This song marks yet another instance of a bluegrass influenced folk-rock group opting for a more "alternative" sound. However, there was a very good reason that Hiss Golden Messenger chose to make their latest song a more moody one. "I Need A Teacher" is a political protest song inspired by teachers from North Carolina who railed against the idea of budget cuts to public education a year ago. After hearing about this, HGM thought it was only right to make a song dedicated to all the hard working teachers who have made noble sacrifices for their students and their unions. You'll never look at the phrase "Schoolhouse Rock" the same way again!


"Superbike" by Jay Som: It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's (fanfare) Superbike!! Wait!! What's a superbike?! No one really knows the answer to that question, but what we do know is that Melina Mae Duterte, better known as Jay Som, is one cool chick! She fuses together the disparate musical worlds of the avant-garde psych-pop of groups like My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins with the bubblegum-y 2010's teen pop of Katy Perry and Carly Rae Jepsen (of "Call Me Maybe" fame). These are such opposite end elements that no one would think a song like this could even exist, especially in the mass-produced, autotune era of the 2010's, yet here it is! It's like if The Velvet Underground tried covering a song like "Yummy Yummy Yummy" or "Sugar Sugar". Unthinkable, yet somehow totally possible. "Superbike", much like Superman, attains to soar to new heights that no one has ever witnessed before!

New songs for June 22nd 2016

here they are:


"All I Ever Wonder" by St. Paul and The Broken Bones: Retro-soul revivalists St. Paul and The Broken Bones are on the run once again! In addition to the Al Green-ish R & B they've already become known for, St. Paul and The Broken Bones have a bit of an added gospel influence in their latest song, "All I Ever Wonder", that wasn't exactly apparent on their previous songs. So what is it that they "ever wonder", you may ask? Well, the song is basically about trying to make it through difficult situations. Perhaps the high-spirited gospel influenced sound of the song serves as a way to find light through the darkness of life.


"Better Love" by Hozier: The hits just keep on comin' from Irish soul/alt-pop hybrid, Hozier. Nearly half of his debut album has become well loved among indie and alt fans. With news of a new Hozier song that was NOT on his debut album, I thought maybe he had already released a sophomore effort! Sadly, this is not the case. His newest song, "Better Love", is actually a song featured exclusively on the soundtrack of the new movie, "The Legend of Tarzan". Most of Hozier's songs deal with the battle between the sacred and the profane, but it seems like it is mainly the former that is being focused on in this case. This is especially evident on the chorus when Hozier proudly proclaims that "there's no better love that beckons above me". What does sacred, pure love have to do with Tarzan?! As someone who has not seen the movie yet, I have yet to find out, but I'm guessing it has something to do with some heroic triumph that the title character has towards the end of the film.


"Good Grief" by Bastille: Since when has Charlie Brown joined an indie-pop group?! Come to think of it, that'd probably be pretty fitting for everyone's favorite "blockhead", considering how heavy the weight of his problems are, but I digress. Actually, "Good Grief" is pretty energetic for British indie-pop stars, Bastille, in spite of its pessimistic sounding title. The song plays out like Queen and David Bowie's "Under Pressure" filtered through a bright, flashy indie-pop lens. It seems to be more of a song about missing a girl than it is about general frustration (which I thought it would have been due to its title.)

New songs for the first of June 2016

here they are:


"Let Me Get By" by The Tedeschi-Trucks Band: Once again, we find Susan and Derek experimenting with retro sounds during a modern time. Janis Joplin-esque vocals collide with Allman Brothers-ish guitars and a distinctly early '70s sounding organ to buoy The TTB's latest song, "Let Me Get By" in just the right direction. As the second single from their latest album, "Let Me Get By" bears noticeable distinction from the album's first single, "Anyhow". "Anyhow" was a slow jam that totaled to 6 and a half minutes. "Let Me Get By", on the other hand, is a fast jam that only goes to 4 and a half minutes, about the average length of a rock or alternative song these days. "Anyhow" also seemed like a bittersweet love song, where "Let Me Get By" seems to have the opposite sentiment in mind, as Susan repeatedly states, "get out of my way" during the chorus of "Let Me Get By".


"Oblivius" by The Strokes: Yess, the misspeling uv this songs tidle iz intenshunal. As for the song itself? It appears to be unlike anything The Strokes have ever done before. It sounds a bit like Blondie attempting to cover the funk/disco classic, "Pick Up the Pieces". The Strokes have had danceable songs before, but this seems like it's SPECIFICALLY meant for dancing to at clubs and the like. An interesting move for The Strokes, who started out sounding like how punk rock did before it had a name, with their Velvet Underground and Television influences worn on their sleeve. It appears as though they are now trying to sound more like Talking Heads or Blondie, both of whom were influenced by The Velvets and Television, but took their sound in a new direction.


"White Flag" by Joseph: Joseph?! Joseph who?! Is this a band who omitted the "and the Technicolor Dreamcoat" part out of their name?! No, and it is not a guy named Joseph either. As a matter of fact, it isn't even a guy AT ALL, but a trio of women!! Mixing the icy techno-pop beats of Lorde with the lush harmonies of First Aid Kit, Joseph's debut song, "White Flag", is a very soothing and alluring song that also manages to be somewhat catchy. As you probably expected, this song, like Dido's song of the same title, is about having the willingness to surrender, as that is what a "white flag" is symbolic of in lyric and prose. As Paul Weller from British punk group, The Jam, once said, this song will have you "succumb(ing) to the beat surrender!"

There will be no blog this time...

....APRIL FOOLS!! Yeah, I had to throw one in there a day late! Anyway, here is today's blog:


"Dark Sunglasses" by Chrissie Hynde: Just from the title of this song, I guessed that this song would be one of the "tougher" sounding songs of the Pretenders frontwoman's catalog. Boy, was I right! Not necessarily hard rock here, but certainly rock!! Opening with a cowbell driven percussion section, "Dark Sunglasses" is full of both attitude and mystique. This is my first taste of Chrissie minus The Pretenders, yet it still sounds like The Pretenders! It doesn't quite sound like a solo effort with its full band instrumentation keeping it together. However, it's still great to know that even into her 60's, Chrissie can still rock it, and sound as young as ever!!


"Fall In Love" by Phantogram: One woman, one man, yet tons of sound!! This is a good way to describe the New York duo known as Phantogram, whose debut song, "Fall In Love", takes electronica to new, more orchestrated heights! In fact, "Fall In Love" doesn't even open with electronic instruments, but instead with a string section. The synthesizer in the song comes in at about 30 seconds into the song. Sarah Barthels' soothing vocals contrast with the scathing lyrics of the song (i.e. "I was the reason you feel sick inside", "The lines on my face that ate away my smile", etc.) In spite of all this, "Fall In Love" still lives up to its title, and makes you want to do exactly as it says, with its sultry, seductive sound!


"Lanterns" by Birds of Tokyo: For any anime/Japanese culture fans who may be reading this, I hate to burst your bubble, but no, Birds of Tokyo aren't actually from Tokyo. They are an Australian band who named themselves after a newspaper headline that talked about the increasing endangering of birds in Tokyo. Their song "Lanterns" is a rather dreamy, wistful sounding one, set to sparkly synthesizers, tranquil vocals, and poetic sounding lyrics like, "On we march to the midnight sun, we will light our way with our lanterns on". Midnight is definitely a good time to be listening to "Lanterns", but preferably when envisioned as a still, starlit midnight, as opposed to one bustling with nightlife.


"Mr. Tembo" by Damon Albarn: Damon is one hard working British musician! He started out in the Brit-pop group, Blur (whose biggest hit, the "woo-hoo" dominated "Song 2", didn't sound a THING like most of their songs), and then went onto unlikely success as a band of wild, hip-hop/techno loving cartoon primates in The Gorillaz. A lot of his material can be described as "quirky, but edgy". His latest song, "Mr. Tembo", is certainly quirky (just look at the title of the song!) Edgy?! Not really. In fact, I'd even venture to say that it sounds like a Latin tinged version of a Raffi song! It's certainly repetitive and (insanely) catchy enough to be compared to Raffi! The subject of the song is in the chorus, about "Mr. Tembo, and what he's going to do". So who IS "Mr. Tembo"?! I haven't the slightest idea! Sure is a fun song, though!


"Take Me to Church" by Hozier: The funny thing about most successful Irish musicians is that you can't really tell they're Irish at first when you hear them sing!! Just ask Bono, or Van Morrison, both of whom have that soulful sound that fellow Irishman Hozier has now adopted with his debut song, "Take Me to Church". The "church" in the title of the song is not your grandma's church, though, make no mistake! "Take Me to Church" is not meant to sound like uplifting gospel music, but rather like a slow, aching dirge, exposing the dark side of religion and spirituality. The chorus opens with the title of the song, followed by lyrics like, "I'll worship like a dog in the shrine of your life", and "I'll tell you my sins while you sharpen your knife". Chilling words, but sometimes it can be just as enlightening to explore the dark side of life as it is to explore the light side!