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 September 15th 2021

 here they are:


"Certainty" by Big Thief: I don't know Big Thief's music too well yet, but of the few songs I know of theirs so far, "Certainty" seems like the gentlest and the sweetest of their already mellow catalog. The song is an unabashed declaration of love delivered in a quaint, folksy manner that brings to mind musicians like Lucinda Williams and Iris DeMent. "My certainty is wild, weaving/For you I am a child believing," lead singer Adrianne Lenker softly croons in a charming Southern drawl (despite actually being a New Yorker) during the song's chorus. The "child believing" part of the song seems to serve as a focal point for the song's video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1eypolupH0), which is little more than an uncolored, pencil-sketched drawing of a bear, dinosaur, and two other animals gathered around a campfire with very little movement. This is an indie-folk song whose lyrics are as charming as the tune itself!

"I Can't Remember the Dream" by They Might Be Giants: Perhaps the only alternative group besides Barenaked Ladies who fit the energetic, silly aesthetic of Nickelodeon more than the trendy aspect of MTV, They Might Be Giants have been making their charmingly offbeat brand of music since the mid 1980's, and they show no signs even now of slowing down! Their latest song, "I Can't Remember the Dream," is another of many goofy songs in their catalog. It opens with a guitar riff similar to "Louie Louie" if a band like Fountains of Wayne were covering the song. "Dream," in this case, does not refer to an aspiration, but to an actual dream - the kind you have at night. The song is literally about the speaker not remembering the dream they had. TMBG typically don't have themes that are too morose or weighty (though they sometimes surprise us, like with "Don't Let's Start"). Heck, sometimes their songs are about subjects as seemingly juvenile and obscure as nightlights ("Birdhouse in Your Soul")! This odd song is accompanied by an equally odd video with a faceless man in a costume doing mundane activities like laundry and dishes, before proceeding to destroy a rock music video award towards the end of it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Zj8ZSz6dE)

"If You Say the Word" by Radiohead: This song is actually a Radiohead B-side, released 20 years after the album it was originally set to be included in! Given that it's a "Kid A" bonus track, it serves as one of Radiohead's trippier, less explainable songs. Amidst its weirdness, though, it is also an incredibly soothing song, combining electronica, trip-hop, and post-psychedelic rock all in one. Lyrically, it seems like one of many Thom Yorke songs that concerns the topic of isolation (or possibly drugs), opening with lyrics like "If you're in a forest out of your mind," and, "If you're stuck in the rainfall of shattering glass. The song is definitely a mind trip, but it is also one meant to ease your pain.


"Long Way" by Eddie Vedder: In 2016, both Sting and his daughter were each releasing songs to adult alt radio stations. This year, Eddie Vedder and HIS daughter, Olivia, are competing with one another on the format, though her dad has been more successful so far this year. Perhaps part of the reason for this, apart from Pearl Jam being a super successful band that has been around for nearly 30 years, is how Eddie's latest song, "Long Way," is a road-weary tune that evokes the sounds of Tom Petty circa Full Moon Fever. The song's Petty-esque sound is no mere coincidence either, as Eddie did enlist help from The Heartbreakers' organ player, Benmont Tench, on his latest album. The lyrics of the song have an almost Springsteen-ian vibe about two lovers who initially seem destined to be together but end up going their separate ways to explore both love and life a little more.

"The Sun Hasn't Left" by Modest Mouse: A fun, quirky little song that opens with a xylophone riff before adding in some synths and vocals shortly afterward, Modest Mouse's "The Sun Hasn't Left" is a song that attempts to dispense good advice to its listeners while still acknowledging the negativity of the world, with messages like "Relax your breath, lean into yourself" and "Not everything is gonna be the best, but there's still something left." While the song seems to criticize technology for taking over flesh-and-blood friendships and relationships during its later verses, "The Sun Hasn't Left" is not a completely bitter song. It seems to mostly serve as a way to comfort us as our world descends into chaos around us, while not completely ignoring that fact either. The song also has a very summery sound, which is funny considering we're on our last gasp of summer right now. 

New songs for June 16th, 2021

 here they are:


"Brando" by Lucy Dacus: As many of you have probably guessed, the "Brando" being referred to in the title of the song is none other than Marlon! This is a song from recent indie-folk/pop sensation, Lucy Dacus, that is littered with movie references! Movies ranging from "It's a Wonderful Life" to "Casablanca" to "A Streetcar Named Desire" are all referenced here. However, the song is not about Marlon Brando. Instead, it is about a lover, presumably now an ex, of Lucy's who makes constant movie references and "thinks he's Brando," when he doesn't even come close to that in reality. There's hints throughout the song that Lucy's former flame might just be a social outcast of sorts. He "knows he's uncool," prefers advanced vocabulary like "cerebral" to ordinary words like "pretty," and his constant cinematic references are not unlike what I encounter in my own social circle, which is full of outcasts. How long is it before someone writes a song about me and calls it "Stipe" (as in Michael from R.E.M.)?!

"Cloud 9" by Beach Bunny: A breezy mix of punk, surf, pop, and rock, not unlike what fellow indie group, Best Coast, was doing a decade before, Beach Bunny's "Cloud 9" is a unique and catchy little tune whose title matches its sunny mood. Lyrically, "Cloud 9" is a quirky yet somewhat slice-of-life point of view on what love is like. But neither the music nor the lyrics are the highlight of this piece. Instead, it's the charming, sweetly silly animated music video for the song, done by animator Margaret Bialis, best known currently for her work on children's entertainment outlet, Nick Jr. Though "Cloud 9" is not a children's song, kids can watch the video without their parents objecting to it, and they might even like it! The animation is somewhat reminiscent of cartoons like Bee and Puppycat, albeit without the anime influence that one has, if you mixed it with the purposely childlike illustrations of left-of-center author and blogger, Allie Brosh. A girl, her surprisingly cute pet snail, and the guy she has a crush on are in "Cloud 9"'s video...and that's pretty much all you need to know about it! Should hold equal appeal to Juno fans AND My Little Pony fans! The video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3vTWUeS80Y

"Know That I Know" by Lake Street Dive: This slinky R & B styled track is notable for all the neat little pop culture references it packs in!! Where to begin? Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Ross, The Ramones, and Star Trek are ALL mentioned within the first two verses of the song! Why, you may ask? It's because lead singer Rachael Price thinks these would all be great references to include in a love song! The song has a "you're my (x) and I'm your (y)" lyrical pattern where all those references seep their way in to this sultry, sensational song! Also, I've gotta say, pretty much all those references are pretty cool (though I've never been big on Star Trek...sorry). Rachael, if you ever wanna date another pop culture savvy musician...I'll be waiting for ya!

"Solar Power" by Lorde: Here is a first for pop sensation, Lorde. A Lorde song with guitar! GASP!! Acoustic guitar, specifically...but that's still a shocker (albeit a good one) for the material of an artist who relies mainly on synthetic instrumentation. The song is also a lyrical first for Lorde. Instead of delving into heavier subject matter as she had been known to do on previous material, in this song, New Zealand's most famous millennial adolescent sings a song that sounds like it came from...an adolescent! It's not a song attempting to diss the media or pop culture, but instead, it's one that just embraces a carefree lifestyle on the beach in the summertime! I don't think Lorde is trying to fool us here. I think she might just be growing up backward somehow! And if she's ok with that, then so am I!

New songs for St. Patrick's Day 2021!

 Today's songs are the same amount of leaves you would count on a four-leaf clover (plus one!) Enjoy! Here they are:


"Be Sweet" by Japanese Breakfast: No, "Japanese Breakfast" is not the name of some obscure anime, and nor was it just a completely random name. The lead singer of the band IS Asian. However, she is from Korea, not Japan. She had chosen "Japanese" as the nationality for her band name since Japan is a better-known country to the Western world than Korea is. Their latest song, "Be Sweet," is exactly what its title suggests it is. It's a sweet song, with funky guitar riffs and a synthpop sound that sounds like it time traveled from "Back to the Future" into the actual future. More specifically, it is a very yearning song, in which lead singer, Michelle Zauner, states in a bubbly, irresistible singing voice that she "wants to believe" in the subject of the song after telling them to "be sweet." 

"Follow You" by Imagine Dragons: You should know by now that if Imagine Dragons come out with a new song, it's going to explode into popularity at some point or another. The sweet, chill sound of their latest song, "Follow You," is probably no exception to this category. Dan Reynolds and co also seem to know that not everyone who knows them likes them, the aspect of which is highlighted in the intro to "Follow You"'s self-deprecating music video, in which a young adult male is excited that his girlfriend has gotten The Killers to perform on his birthday...except, oops! She actually got Imagine Dragons, HER favorite band, to perform on his birthday instead. "I don't wanna hear these guys," her boyfriend states unenthusiastically, before Imagine Dragons launch into their latest hit song. While the song may be a bit lackluster to those who want "alternative rock" to actually sound alternative and rockin' again, at least those who aren't fans of the band's music can enjoy their humor! The video can be viewed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3zimSRKqNw

"Open Up the Heavens" by Jade Bird: Probably the hardest-rockin' Jade Bird song so far, but certainly not her longest (ALL of her songs seem to clock in under three minutes). Many of the best-known and best loved women in rock, such as Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde, and Patti Smith, seem to have inspired Jade in her latest song, "Open Up the Heavens," perhaps her first song not to have a hint of acoustic guitar at the forefront. Despite briefly resolving to major key and bright instrumentation during the chorus, "Open Up the Heavens" is a pretty angst-ridden song overall, typical of Jade's material. It's a bit more direct than most of her songs, though, confronting the subject of the song and asking them how it feels to be stood up by someone. The title of the song is only mentioned once, during the middle part of it, as a plea requesting the subject of the song to change their mind, while Jade is also fully aware that she will probably not get what she wants. 

"The Last Man on Earth" by Wolf Alice: The latest song from British alt-pop quartet, Wolf Alice, finds lead singer Ellie Roswell contemplating the selfish side of human nature, and why we feel this need to project our own experiences onto everything we see, feel, think, etc. Initially inspired by the Kurt Vonnegut quote, "Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God," Roswell alludes to the quote in the first verse of "The Last Man on Earth," and uses it as a springboard for the rest of the song to suggest that not everything is a "lesson from God" or whatever else you might think sounds profound or meaningful. Over a bittersweet piano ballad, Ellie achingly croons a brokenhearted melody which is actually trying to warn us NOT to see ourselves in her song, or to try to identify everything with our own experiences. Sounds challenging, doesn't it?!

"You Saw Me Coming" by Tom Petty: Petty's posthumously released "Leave Virginia Alone" from last fall was only a taste of the outtakes from his 1994 album, "Wildflowers." Where "Leave Virginia Alone" could be described as a laid back rocker, "You Saw Me Coming" is a more poignant song. Ex-Heartbreaker Benmont Tench even thought it was the perfect song to close out Wildflowers, with its sense of wistful longing. The original release of Wildflowers did close with a similarly bittersweet song called "Wake Up Time," but it hasn't been until now, almost half a decade after Tom Petty's departure from Earth, that we've been able to hear his underrated '94 masterpiece of an album the way it was supposed to. Better late than never, Tom!

New songs for September 9th, 2020

 here they are:

"I'm Ready" by Black Pumas: On the strength of three hugely successful and hugely soulful songs on adult alt radio, Black Pumas are now ready for a fourth song to hit the adult alt airwaves. Their latest song, "I'm Ready", is actually a bonus track from their debut album (another of which is a lovely cover of the classic Tracy Chapman song, "Fast Car.") "I'm Ready" is a more upbeat song from Black Pumas' catalog, like most of their material so far has been. Lead singer Eric Burton talks a few times about being born in California in the song, though his band is based in Texas (another state he makes reference to later on in the song.) Like most Black Pumas songs, "I'm Ready" is essentially a love song, but the title of the song could mean other things, like how Eric is ready to make his music known to the world!

"Impossible Weight" by Deep Sea Diver (featuring Sharon Van Etten): You might not know Deep Sea Diver offhand, but if you're a fan of contemporary indie/alt music, chances are you've heard lead singer Jessica Dobson providing backing guitar for major acts of the genre like The Shins and Beck. It's taken us almost a decade to hear Jessica strike out with her own band to score an adult alt radio hit, but with "Impossible Weight", it looks like she's finally achieved her goal! The song, not surprisingly, bears resemblance to groups like The Shins, if St. Vincent somehow got involved with them. Providing additional support to Deep Sea Diver in "Impossible Weight" is indie-folk cult fave, Sharon Van Etten, who has scored a few adult alt radio hits of her own within nearly the last decade. For those are fond of hearing women in the indie scene rock out, "Impossible Weight" might just be the song for you!

"Lonely Heather" by The Nude Party: The revitalized, Stones-esque rock and roll flavor of this song is only one aspect that makes this song worth reviewing. The other is its stunning music video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FteAfB5Sw9A&ab_channel=TheNudeParty)!! It seems almost "BoJack Horseman" influenced, albeit with more actual humans than human-animal hybrids (a few wolf-people are featured at the beginning of the video, though.) There's something that just screams "adult animation" about this video, but not in a gross way, more in a subtle way, as BoJack has been known to have. The animator for this video, however, was never involved in that show. "Lonely Heather"s animator is a man named Parker Worthington, and not much else is known about him. The song itself is a mere two-and-a-half minutes of joyously fun rock music, capped off by the rebel yell (or should I say "rebel L") of "Luh-luh-luh-Lonely Heather" during the chorus!

"Mind Eraser" by Nicole Atkins: The unexpected darkness of 2020 has certainly impacted Nicole Atkins! As the pandemic was just beginning to rage earlier this year, she gave us "Domino", a deceptively catchy song that was actually about the end of the world. Now, we have the even darker "Mind Eraser", a seductive, bass driven, funky song (with a surprisingly blues-y guitar solo midway through) that seems to be about questioning the very nature of reality! Nicole talks throughout the song about how "it seems (her) mind's erased", as well as how, if that's the case, she "never wants to leave again." Wow! Chilling lyrics! However, they are strangely befitting for the time being!

"The World" by Pete Yorn: A short but sweet folk-rock tune, Pete Yorn's "The World" is about...well...the world! More specifically, though, it's about how unpredictable Pete feels the world is. It seems to let him down. Having had nearly 20 years in the music biz, one might expect Pete to feel a little world weary right now, but this song almost feels like a reflection on just what a sad state the world is in right now. There are many songs in Pete Yorn's catalog that can be called "bittersweet", but this one probably tops 'em all so far in that regard!

"Time Is Wasting" by Josh Ritter: This upbeat folk-rock tune, which has a similar beat and sound to Paul Simon's "Graceland" (albeit without the rhythmic African influence the song was known for), was supposedly a song Josh Ritter originally wrote for a movie, although what movie that was is currently unknown. Upon actually releasing the song, Josh found it to be strangely fitting for our present coronavirus pandemic, and then decided to write other songs with a similar theme for his latest album. However, "Time Is Wasting" is the song that got the ball rolling for Josh in 2020. Underneath the song's happy sound, there is a rather disquieting sense of desperation in the lyrics. How will the other songs on Josh's new album pan out? Well, we'll just have to wait and see!

"Under the Table" by Fiona Apple: There hasn't been a Fiona Apple album as heavily anticipated as her latest one has been since...well...since her debut in 1996! Quite a bit of time has passed by between her debut album and our current year, but Fiona's sense of confessional, wounded angst has remained all these years! Songs like "Under the Table" are like the opposite of the cliche about fine wines. Instead of tasting sweeter over time, Fiona's songs seemed to have grown more sour with each passing year. On the subject of wine, apparently "Under the Table" was inspired by an actual dinner, not a metaphorical one like one might expect, that Fiona had where a lot of expensive wine was involved. It's not the food and drink that's important here, though. What is important in the subject of this song is how Fiona felt used by the guy who hosted the dinner. To put it in more polite-ish terms, this song is basically a "screw-you" to the guy who used her. Ah, the beauty of songs! They can mean so many things...and yes, that includes how songs can be a kiss-off to someone you really don't like! 

New songs for April 22nd, 2020

here they are:


"Hollywood" by Car Seat Headrest: Make no mistake. This is not a song glamorizing the famed city of movie stars. It is actually a song attacking Hollywood and the very concept of people taking advantage of aspiring actors and actresses just to make big bucks. You can tell this song is lyrically on the more sour side right from the very beginning, during which point the lead singer lists things he's "sick of", which include violence, money, drinking, drugs, and yes, even that thing that begins with the letter F that rhymes with "ducking". In other words, he's sick of the way people use their vices as a means to manipulate others. Musically, this song sounds like a very early Beck song (his not-so-well-known grunge spoof, "Fume", comes to mind here, specifically). It also comes with a trippy music video that looks like a sort of chalky graffiti come to life! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka9l8X8W03Y) As the world descends further and further into madness, it only figures we'd get a lyrical assault like this one, doesn't it?! Well, at least its trippy yet catchy sound makes up for its lyrical cynicism. I also wanted to give a shoutout to a friend of mine I met earlier this year for enlightening me to this band. I think I'll have to give them more of a listen now!


"Kyoto" by Phoebe Bridgers: So far, we have two song titles that are also city names (though that pattern will be broken with our third and final song of the week). Both songs seem to reflect stereotypes of the cities as well. "Hollywood" was loud and cynical, a bit like how some people picture Hollywood executives to be, and "Kyoto" sounds like the way some people, especially the nerds of the world, view Japan: a place that is both exciting and soothing. That is how Phoebe Bridgers' "Kyoto" sounds, happy and billowy. The song is told from the point of view of a naive explorer going to Japan for the first time. Underneath the wild eyed idealism, though, there is a bit of darkness, as she also addresses the feeling of what it might be like to live someone else's life, also known as "impostor syndrome". There is both city imagery and nature imagery in the video for the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw0zYd0eIlk). The nature-y images are simultaneously psychedelic and innocent. Combine that with Phoebe looking ever so cute in her skeleton suit, and you've basically got what anime would probably be like if it happened in real life! The Miyazaki kind, not the giant fighting robot kind!


"Shameika" by Fiona Apple: And now we come to the song that breaks the pattern of city names as song titles, although it still fits the one-word-only category the other songs had. Alt-pop piano chanteuse, Fiona Apple, gives us the most anticipated song of the week with "Shameika" (pronounced "Shuh-MEE-kuh"). "Shameika" drifts away from the sweet piano pop she gave us during most of the 21st century and back into the more frenzied flurry of piano based alt-rock she started with in the '90s. It might surprise you, then, to know that this song is actually about one of Fiona's childhood memories, although not necessarily a pleasant one. Shameika is the name of a childhood friend of Fiona's who really did tell her, as the chorus states, that Fiona "had potential" during a time she was an unfortunate target for school bullies. At least she WAS a friend until another girl at her school convinced her not to hang around with her. Sadly, I've been through times like that too. Thank goodness they're over now!

In celebration of Women's Day

Three days after International Women's Day, we have three songs that are all done BY women! So here goes:


"Garden Song" by Phoebe Bridgers: Phoebe Bridgers' vocals are naturally soothing. They still are in her latest tune, the Nico-esque "Garden Song", but here she trips things up a bit in a few different ways. First, it seems like the song skips a bit throughout, although this is intentional. Phoebe's breathy vocals and calming music contrast with the skipping of the rhythm here. The weirdest part, though, is the video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u8rIx65QgA). Phoebe warns those with epilepsy not to watch it. I did not watch the whole thing since this is a potential problem with me, but I saw parts of it and couldn't help but notice that in some of the video, it looks like she's being snuggled by what look like cheap, store bought versions of "Sesame Street"s Mr. Snuffleupagus! Ummmm....WHAT?! As Snuffy himself has been known to say, "Ohhhh...dear!!"


"Stay With Me" by Margaret Glaspy: Margaret Glaspy debuted during the rather tumultuous year of 2016, and her cynical, world weary views and raspy vocals fit right in with the attitude of the time! Four years later, things haven't gotten much better, so we could use Margaret's cynicalness once again. Though her pessimistic attitude and sarcastic lyrics remain in her latest song, "Stay With Me", her sound is a little different this time. The grunge-meets-blues-rock electric guitars of her 2016 songs have been replaced here by synths and acoustic guitars, which tend to offset her caustic, timely lyrics, like, "Who's the clown and who's the savior?" This lyrical refrain could refer to a strained relationship, but it's possible that it could also refer to the condition of how things have been in the United States, where people just can't seem to tell if their "leader" truly is one anymore.


"The Steps" by Haim: Sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim, known all together by their last name, had one of the most deceptively catchy tunes of last summer with "Summer Girl", which sounded sweet on the surface but was actually inspired by the cancer diagnosis that Danielle Haim's boyfriend received a few years prior. The fact that the trio showed off their bathing suits in a way that was both silly and sexy in the song's video only further distanced itself from what the song was really about. In "The Steps", Haim make their subject matter clearer. Though the song features sunny, Lindsey Buckingham inspired guitar playing on the surface, there is now an obvious undercurrent of angst in the lead vocals of the song. "The Steps" centers its lyrics around domestic strife within relationships and its video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2O_xa8cems) also depicts the difficulties they experience in their day-to-day lives. As in the "Summer Girl" video, all three members of Haim are in states of undress on the video for "The Steps", but it is not necessarily meant to be sexy here, and it certainly isn't meant to be silly. Instead, it's meant to tell what it's like for them to wake up in the morning, only to deal with frustration even from the moment the day begins. Relationships can be such a chore sometimes! Both the video and the song for "The Steps" exemplify how this can be so!

First blog of the new year AND new decade, 2020!!

Happy New Year/Decade, folks!! I can't believe I've been doing this blog for (almost) 10 years now! It's been a wild ride, ain't it?! As the day draws closer to my actual blog-iversary (February 11th - 12th this year, since that's a Wednesday), I'll have something very special planned!! Though I don't know what that is yet. In the meantime, four brand new songs for a brand new year AND decade! Here goes:


"Dawn" by Fruition: What's been one of the most popular things to grace the internet during the past 15 years? Did you say "cute animals"?! Perfect! Because that's what the music video for Fruition's latest song, "Dawn", is all about! You can view the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OStNjwHRjh4. Much to the dismay of cat fans like myself, the video focuses more on dogs, but it's still a cute video that's well worth the watch. As for the song itself? Musically, it's almost as sweet as its video with its peppy folk-rock sound. Lyrically, it's a therapeutic song that tries to deal with negative emotions and thoughts. The title, "Dawn", represents a beacon of hope amidst all the darkness that is talked about during the rest of the song. What a fitting way to start out the first new blog of both the new year and the 2020's! Here's to the "Dawn" of a new era! May it bring us plenty of sweet music and cute animals!


"Go Easy" by Matt Maeson: And now, for more positive sentiments and comfort for this new year/decade. Matt Maeson was previously known for his lyrically quirky and musically smooth song, "Cringe", which made waves on both alt and adult charts in late 2018/early 2019. Matt returns for late 2019/early 2020 with "Go Easy", a fun and somewhat spiritually cleansing indie-folk-pop tune about trying to learn from your mistakes and improve on how your life is. "Please just go easy on me, baby", Matt sings during the chorus, in which he also claims that you "can't change" and "can't blame" him. Perhaps it's a bit of a stretch to compare the sentiments of a contemporary alt musician to someone like Mr. Rogers, but this song shares Rogers' famously warm point of view that we all have someone out there who loves us just the way we are!


"Happy Birthday, Baby" by Hiss Golden Messenger: They say it's your birthday?! It's my birthday, too! Well, at least it WAS 10 days ago. Coincidentally, many of the gifts I got that day were related to either cats (see entry # 1 for this week) or Mr. Rogers (see entry # 2 of this week). On the subject of Rogers and other old PBS children's shows, if there's any show I loved in childhood on PBS other than his, it would undoubtedly be Sesame Street, which taught about numbers, just as this song does during its chorus. Specifically, the song counts up to 5, starting with a clever allusion to Three Dog Night's "One (Is the Loneliest Number)" and working its way through the rest of the numbers up to 5. With 2, we hear how the subject of the song was "born in thunder", on 3, they were "lightning quick", and finally, with 4 and 5, we hear how the subject of the song is "a wonder" and how the singer wants to tell that person he loves them. Not sure if this is directed to a girlfriend or a child, but either way, it's a cute song with a pleasant sound, as pretty much all the entries have been so far this week/year/decade. I remember hearing the Three Dog Night song I mentioned earlier in this entry back when I was a kid, disappointed that there were no mentions of numbers higher than one except on the "two can be as bad as one" line. Thankfully, this song mentions all the numbers from 1 through 5 during its chorus. Where was this song when I was a kid?! I probably would have loved it!


"Shine A Little Light" by The Black Keys: As usual, The Keys have had quite an album where their latest one is concerned! I've heard five songs off of it so far, this being the fifth, and their impressive streak of being the last great rock and roll band continues to be proven here! Their latest song, "Shine A Little Light", is a bit like The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" with a slower beat and slightly less intense sound. With its rather apocalyptic lyrics, "Shine A Little Light" could have easily fit in the Stones' catalog during their heyday, although Dan Auerbach offers a beacon of hope with the title of the song in a tune that otherwise seems lyrically bleak. The song itself, thankfully, is not a downer, although then again, I have not known a single Black Keys song to be one!

New songs for November 6th 2019

here they are:


"Come On" by Mondo Cozmo: As cool and edgy as "Black Cadillac" was, there's probably a reason its success crashed. Mondo Cozmo's latest song, "Come On", has two important words that "Black Cadillac" didn't: Anna Faris! No, she doesn't sing on the track, but she is in its video, which seems to have gotten a lot of attention specifically for that reason (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2FImefxs9s). The song is otherwise kinda cool, but doesn't have much to offer other than a Pennsylvania native pretending to sound like a Brit.


"Go Crazy" by G. Love (featuring Keb' Mo'): G. Love has a rather eccentric approach to the blues, while Keb' Mo's is more on the "traditional" side, but anyone who knows either musician knows how much they love the blues! The song has more of the laid back vibes that Mo' has been known for, but the "Looney Tunes"-ish music video for the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2Licd-XbHc) seems like it's more suited to G. Love's kookier style. Both musicians look like "Merrie Melodies" cartoons from the 1930's in the song's video. Why? Darned if I know! But it's still pretty entertaining both to watch and to hear!


"Trouble In Paradise" by Rufus Wainwright: Rufus was pretty active in the music biz in the '00s, but until this point, he had only released one record during the 2010's, so I thought he had called it quits for awhile. After 7 years of absence, Rufus is back! Mixing the twang of George Harrison with the elegant piano-pop of Elton John, "Trouble In Paradise" seems like the sort of song Elton could write AND perform! The song reflects on the fashion industry, and how critical Rufus feels towards it. While most of the big reunions being poised for the 2020's tend to focus on hard rock, Rufus offers us some musical calm amidst the brewing storm (though perhaps "reunion" is the wrong word to use for Rufus, since he's only one person). Hopefully, more folks on the fluffier, prettier side of the rock spectrum will take his lead pretty soon. In the meantime, at least Rufus is there to offer us paradise amongst a sea of troubled bands with "Trouble In Paradise".

New songs for September 25th 2019

here they are:


"Everyone Hides" by Wilco: Did you think that Imogen Heap was the only indie musician who enjoyed playing "hide and seek"?! Well, think again! Wilco enjoy it just as much, and not in the romantic way that Imogen did in her song. The video for "Everyone Hides" is quite literally a fun, harmless game of hide and seek between the band members! It can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Gbbd6pVMg Jeff Tweedy and co are quite the clever punsters in this song and video! The title of the song itself, when used in combination with the video, could be taken as one, using the word "hide" in the sense of both concealing one's inner emotions in the song and literally finding a place to hide in the video. Visual puns that reference Wilco albums like "Being There" (depicted here as a movie starring Peter Sellers) and "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" (the tower on the album cover is one place they hide) can be found throughout the video. Happy hunting!


"Missing Home" by Flora Cash: The third song so far to become a hit in the catalog of Swedish indie-folk duo, Flora Cash, "Missing Home" recalls many of the elements that made their first and biggest hit (so far), "You're Somebody Else", so successful on alt and adult alt radio stations. For one, acoustic guitar makes a return to Flora Cash's music (guitar was largely absent on "They Own This Town"). Flora Cash also turn back from the bitter vibes of "They Own This Town" and go back to bittersweet, which suits them better, on "Missing Home". The title alone indicates a sense of yearning, and the moody yet longing vibe of the song and its lovelorn lyrics confirm this. Midway through, the song uses the old adage that "home is where the heart is", but it doesn't feel corny or forced here. Instead, it feels like it plucks at the ol' heartstrings. Here's hoping this song will become one of the smash hits for the final season of both 2019 and the 2010's!


"The Game" by Milky Chance: Often written off as a "one-hit wonder" for the sensually funky alt-folk song, "Stolen Dance", Milky Chance have had a few more songs that their fanbase knows them for, most notably "Flashed Junk Mind" and "Cocoon". Joining the ranks of those songs is the German indie-folk trio's latest tune, "The Game". Once again mixing folk guitars with world music rhythms, "The Game", which has a reggae rhythm that recalls Magic!, another mid 2010's one-hit wonder for their song, "Rude". The lyrics are basically about a relationship gone wrong, where lead singer Clemens Rehbein claims that he doesn't care about what rumors have been spread about him and that he just wants to learn "the rules of the game". The game, of course, is the game of love. I hate to burst anyone's bubble here, but no, it is not about that silly meme that claims, "You just lost the game"!


"The Runner" by Foals: Foals are one of the few indie/alt bands left that can shift between typical indie-pop and the alt-rock music in days of yore that had more guitars. They boasted some mighty fine guitar playing skills on their 2015 hit, "Mountain At My Gates". On their latest song, "The Runner", their guitar skills are once again evident! Where their song "Exits" from earlier this year seemed to evoke feelings of despair and hopelessness, "The Runner" seems to be all about determination! Nothing can get in the way of Foals' success after such a tumultuous, unpredictable decade. Hopefully they'll soldier on into the next one unscathed!

New songs for February 6th 2019

here they are:


"Exits" by Foals: The fusion of electronica and rock in Foals latest song, "Exits", is nothing new. However, its length of nearly 6 minutes IS something new! Why did they decide to go for such a long song this time around?! Perhaps they wanted the "epic" feel of the song to go along with their video for it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6YMCjpfH0c), which was inspired by "Game of Thrones". This the second GOT inspired music video we've had so far in 2019, the first of which was Beirut's "Landslide". However, unlike that video, there is nothing silly or "Monty Python"-esque about the video for "Exits". Both the song and the video are meant to serve as a reflection of just how backwards and scary society has become for humanity today. How apt, also, that the song is called "Exits", as it will be one of many songs that the 2010's itself will exit with! Not exactly the exit I was hoping for, though. Oh well. There's always next decade to set things right again, right?!


"Old Black Magic" by Josh Ritter: Josh Ritter is normally more mystical and folk-y than he is on his latest song, "Old Black Magic". This song sounds more like an angst-ridden country-rock song, and there's a good reason for that. This is because of country-rocker Jason Isbell's production of the song. Isbell had a politically angry song back in 2017 with "Hope the High Road", and the mood (though not necessarily the lyrics) of "Old Black Magic" is meant to evoke the disaster in the air that many Americans are continuing to experience day after day. Isbell's influence is especially apparent on "Old Black Magic"'s guitar solo, which sounds like a Lynyrd Skynyrd song if it was suddenly induced with paranoia. Yet another dark song to end the decade with! Keeping my fingers crossed that the coming years and coming decade won't be as fraught with turmoil as this one has turned out to be.


"Ready to Let Go" by Cage the Elephant: Our last song of the week is yet another dark entry, but not one of a political nature. "Ready to Let Go" does tackle another subject of a controversial nature, though, and that is the subject of divorce. The divorce happened for CTE's lead singer Matt Shultz within a matter of just 5 years. Since their separation happened in Pompeii, the song is filled with metaphors relating to volcanic activity, such as "At times I wonder, are we just a puff of smoke?" and "Underneath this bed of ashes". Explosion in both the literal AND metaphorical sense?! I can see why the song is called "Ready to Let Go", because if that happened to me, that's exactly what I'd wanna do!

New songs for January 16th 2019

What a whopper lineup of new songs we have today!! 8 fresh new ones! Here they are:


"Fast Talk" by Houses: Just when you thought indie pop covered everything it needed to cover, along come Houses, a band who might just be trendsetters for the 2020's. Jazz and vocal standards meet electronic music and folk music with just a dash of rock in Houses' debut song, "Fast Talk". The song is a nostalgic look back at the life that Dexter Tortoriello (who, himself, is Houses - a one man band) during his late adolescent years hanging out with his friends and trying to figure out who he was and what he wanted to do with his life. It's also about facing the likely prospect of how once you get older, the people you knew aren't who they used to be, and so you often face disconnection from them as a result. A track that calms you down AND makes you think?! Not often you come across one of those, is it?!


"Friend Better" by Joe Jackson: Like fellow new wave elder statesman, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson has managed to stick around longer than most from his era. Where Elvis has continued to reinvent himself at every turn, Joe Jackson...well...only does that sometimes. Joe's latest song, "Friend Better", is a throwback sort of a tune that sounds like it could have been on Steely Dan's "Aja". Both its ersatz smooth jazz sound and its clever, scathing lyrics wouldn't be out of place in the Dan catalog. The central point of the song seems to be about how complicated love can be. In just four simple words, "Lover good, friend better", Joe conveys a situation many of us are familiar with that frustrates us nonetheless. Sometimes it's nice to know that you're not the only one who goes through the struggles that you do!


"Hard Case" by The Tedeschi-Trucks Band: For their fourth and final album of the 2010's, Susan and Derek have released a song that showcases what they do best. "Hard Case" is yet another example of the catchy blues-rock The Tedeschi-Trucks Band have been known for, with some roots-y country-rock and New Orleans jazz type influences thrown in there for good measure as well. During the chorus of the song, Tedeschi and Trucks sing to each other that they are a "hard case to refuse". If they're trying to say that they love each other in the chorus, that's an interesting way to do so, but it seems pretty clear to me that it's the sentiment they are trying to express in this high spirited, freewheeling, shuffle of a song!


"Landslide" by Beirut: No, this is not a cover of the Fleetwood Mac song of the same name, in case you were wondering. In spite of the lack of guitars on most of this track, Beirut's "Landslide" could still be said to be the closest that Beirut has come to prog-rock with its soaring, epic organs evoking imagery of grandeur that could fit easily into a Yes or Emerson, Lake, & Palmer song. Perhaps this was intentional on their part, as "Landslide"'s prog-rock sound is every bit as geeky as its video (in a good way, I promise). The accompanying video for the song brings together two nerdy favorites, "Monty Python" and "Game of Thrones", into a single territory. Expect mysterious, mythical beings to join the Ministry of Silly Walks after you watch this music video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCVB5zjwdzE


"Longshot" by Catfish and The Bottlemen: With garage rock ravers like "Kathleen" and the almost Foo Fighters-esque "Soundcheck", the Welsh quartet, Catfish and The Bottlemen, have graced us with some of the most rockin' tracks of the 2010's so far. So how do they plan to exit the decade?! Well, by rockin' out, but in more of an indie-pop fashion than their fans might be used to. Their latest song, "Longshot", seems to lack the fiery passion that their previous two adult alt radio hits had, but it still manages to sound like a rock anthem nonetheless. Another thing "Longshot" seems to lack that CATB's previous songs had is angst. This factor is replaced in the song with a never-give-up, can-do spirit to keep chugging along through tough times. As the state of the world becomes increasingly more chaotic, I guess that's all we can do sometimes!


"Overexcited" by Guster: Overexcited is exactly what adult alt stations have become for Guster's latest song! It's been hard for me to find a copy of this much anticipated song. I only just found one today! I honestly thought Guster would have called it quits with their 2014 song, "Simple Machine", since it didn't seem near as well received as most of their songs from before that, but instead, the now nearly three-decade old indie-pop quintet from Boston has kept on chuggin' along with their goofiest song yet! Guster have always been pretty quirky, but "Overexcited" turns the quirky factor up to 11! From its "Yo Gabba Gabba"-ish energetic kid friendly sound to its odd choice of instrumentation and silly lyrics ("We had a dog once, we all just called it 'Cat'"), "Overexcited" is a song that will have you feeling...well...overexcited!!


"Seventeen" by Sharon Van Etten: 17 is a coming of age number for many well known musicians in rock and pop. Be it Stevie Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen" or Janis Ian's "At Seventeen", they all seem to tell a poignant story of bittersweet realization. Sharon Van Etten's "Seventeen" follows in the footsteps of Stevie and Janis as Sharon weaves a tale about how life just hasn't been the same since she's grown up. She looks back wistfully on her mid teens while lamenting who she's become. In spite of the major key this song is in, it still manages to be just as sad. Perhaps she learned a thing or two from Janis Ian, whose "At Seventeen" was also a sad song in a major key.


"This Land" by Gary Clark Jr.: Last, but certainly not least, blues rocker Gary Clark Jr. delivers one of the most potent protest songs of the decade! Fusing reggae, jazz, rock, and blues into a furious gumbo, his song "This Land" is the sort of song that could be a Rage Against the Machine song if a few notches were turned up on the amp, though it still manages to be righteously loud enough with Gary performing it. As you might have guessed by the title of the song, "This Land" is a political song about how it feels to be an African American citizen in what is currently a racist nation. The song even name checks Donald Trump, and is the first Gary Clark Jr. song (to my knowledge) to use the phrase "p*ssed off", and rightfully so, might I add! Though I am not of the same racial background as Gary, I do feel his pain and sympathize with it. Just about anyone who thinks that judging someone simply because of their ethnic background is wrong would probably identify with this song too!

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 October 10th, 2018

here they are:


"Comeback Kid" by Sharon Van Etten: Sharon Van Etten might be coming back to adult alt radio for the first time since 2015, but meanwhile, I'm starting to notice that guitars might NOT be making a comeback anytime soon. The once folk-rock oriented Sharon Van Etten has now opted for the use of synthesizers in her latest song, "Comeback Kid". I must admit, as a longtime guitar player myself, I'm a little disappointed by this. What starts out sounding like a glimmer of the sweeping, orchestral intro to The Cranberries' "Linger" ends up sounding instead like one of the many dance-pop oriented songs dominating the "alternative" charts. The song is also a bit more repetitive than most SVE songs are, with the title of the song sung a total of 10 times without a whole lot of substance in the lyrics. I suppose this is a song I could grow used to, though.


"If You Really Love Nothing" by Interpol: This is a song that will break your heart...as well as your spleen! While this song is basically a breakup song, lead vocalist Paul Banks slips in lyrics like, "Whenever I find home, the next artery, splendid, I bled my whole life", making it a bit more of a bloody (anti) valentine song than most breakup songs are. Some might be wondering what Kristen Stewart is doing in the video for this song. Though she's become known for the notoriously over-the-top emotional "Twilight" movies, it seems like that's not what she wants to be known for. After all, she's a fan of The Replacements, an actress in a movie about rocker, Joan Jett, and characters in indie movie faves like "Adventureland" and "Into the Wild". Perhaps now it'll make a little more sense why she's in an Interpol video. The video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLk8i2zw2jU

New songs for April 4th 2018

here they are:


"A Little Honey" by Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats: A soulful, spirited song, as usual, from Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, "A Little Honey" is more spicy than it is sweet. It has an interesting sound, as though The Band was attempting to cover Elton John's "Bennie and The Jets". As you can imagine, "A Little Honey" is a love song, but an energetic, impassioned one as only Nathaniel can deliver it. Nathaniel manages to pour more than just a little honey onto this song. Instead, he pours out all his heart and soul, and how!


"Alfie's Song (Not So Typical Love Song)" by Bleachers: What's it all about, Alfie? Well, here's what it's about. "Alfie's Song" is a song from the movie "Love, Simon" that encapsulates what it's like when a romance first blossoms in someone's life. If it's a song accompanying a movie where the character's name is Simon, then why did Jack Antonoff choose the name "Alfie"? Jack did so because "Alfie" is the name of his godson and he wanted to dedicate this song to him. Unlike what the title might lead you to believe, it's a pretty typical love song as far as its sound goes. It's a happy, optimistic song with pop music influenced instrumentation. Jack explains why it's a "not so typical love song" in the lyrics, since the romance he's singing about "hurt him again and again". Jack Antonoff believes in love, Alfie, although it's not a typical kind of love, apparently!


"Colors" by Beck: Is Beck a synesthete? Well, I don't know the answer to that question, but between the aptly colorful video for this song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I1B4n_8Cto) and its message, urging people to "feel the colors" (as opposed to just seeing them), I'm willing to bet he just might be one! "Sesame Street" nostalgics might even compare the wild, vibrant display of color (as well as the new wave-y music) to the "Wet Paint" video they had in the '80s! Watch and be amazed as a hand (Beck's, presumably) plays with colorful clay throughout the video of "Colors". Perhaps Beck should change his name to "Roy"...as in "Roy G. Biv", the acronym people use to teach the colors of the rainbow!


"Glory" by Dermot Kennedy: Dermot Kennedy is an Irish folk-rock musician, so naturally (being of Irish heritage myself), I wanted to know more about him upon finding this out! I have mixed feelings about this song, though, as it seems like Dermot doesn't know whether he wants to go for a bittersweet sound like Bon Iver or a more pop-y sound like Ed Sheeran. Dermot's debut single, "Glory", mixes moody acoustic guitars and impassioned vocals with pop music beats and production. Still, the way Dermot sings the title of the song is worth something, as he does so with a yearning passion that sticks in your head after you hear it!


"Into the Wild" by Phillip Phillips: The redundantly named 21st century folk-rocker continues to wow his audience with "Into the Wild", perhaps his most rocking song to date. This is the first Phillip Phillips song I can recall that really uses electric guitar the way it does, in a way that almost recalls the work of The Edge from U2. The song also uses interesting meter, in a similar manner to songs like Jethro Tull's "Thick As A Brick" (bet you weren't expecting THAT comparison, were you?!) As usual, Phillips' earnestness grips the listener from the moment the song is heard for the first time. The nature based imagery ("roll me like thunder", "I can be your landslide"), is also quite charming and adds to the appeal of this song.


"Over And Over And Over" by Jack White: Jack treated us to a blues and gospel influenced number earlier this year with "Connected By Love". "Over And Over And Over" is rock and roll, though, at its finest! Opening with a chunky riff that could easily be used in a Red Hot Chili Peppers song, Jack White plays a mean electric guitar pattern in E major that he, fittingly, uses over and over and over during this song! This is a song defined more by its musical power than it is by its lyrics. For people looking to resurrect the classic rock sound, look no further!


"Plastic Hamburgers" by Fantastic Negrito: "Fantastic Negrito" was not just some random indie band name that Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz chose for his band. He is, in fact, black (he didn't choose the "Negrito" part just to sound cool), and Xavier himself IS "Fantastic Negrito". His breakthrough song, "Plastic Hamburgers", can easily be described as Led Zeppelin meets Funkadelic. Melding chunky, blues-rock guitar riffs with neo-psychedelic organ sounds, "Plastic Hamburgers" is about Xavier's identity as a black man, and how he fears it will impact the identities of his children, and this is the fire that fuels the musical grills of "Plastic Hamburgers". His aim in the song is to destroy the walls that separate different sections of the human race from one another and to come to terms with the reality that ethnic minorities are facing. Here's hoping the message of songs like this one create a brighter future for our species!

New songs for November 1st 2017

here they are:


"Do I Have to Talk You Into It?" by Spoon: The third single so far from Spoon's latest album, "Do I Have to Talk You Into It?" is an interesting song. Musically, it comes off as a happier, major key version of Nine Inch Nails' "Closer". The song is accompanied by a weird music video with the lead singer's face being photoshopped and then being taken apart as though melting. You probably won't be able to sleep tonight if you see it, but for the truly daring, the link to the video is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt0QFoqNlBk. You just never know what you're gonna get with these guys!


"Heartstruck (Wild Hunger)" by Hamilton Leithauser and Angel Olsen: The Walkmen's Hamilton Leithauser, in some ways, is like a scratchier voiced Alex Ebert from Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros. Musically, Hamilton has something in common with Alex as well in his new song, "Heartstruck", which straddles the line between orchestral doo-wop and indie-folk (a bit like Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros' "40 Day Dream"). The song's chorus of, "Wild hunger, rise up with the currency", is a bit hard to figure out the meaning of, but the song itself is a pleasant, billowy waltz that will probably appeal to fans of both Hamilton and Angel.


"Wild And Reckless" by Blitzen Trapper: The song itself isn't exactly wild and reckless. In fact, it actually starts out as a slow, sorrowful country-rock song. However, about a minute into it, it starts to speed up a little more. Though not quite as much a rocker as some of Blitzen Trapper's other songs, it's still fun to listen to. Musically, it seems like the alt-country version of either Bruce Springsteen's "The River" or The Eagles' "Take It Easy". Not a remarkable song, but still a good one for traveling down the freeway.

New songs for September 28th, 2016

here they are:


"Breath And Burning" by Phish: Who knew that one of the catchiest and most anticipated songs of the week would come from a band who has become known for being a Grateful Dead soundalike band?! Perhaps that's because there's not a lot of folk and bluegrass influence to be found on "Breath And Burning" as much as there is Stax R & B influence, with more than a passing resemblance to Van Morrison's jazz-rock ditty, "Domino". The lyrics of "Breath And Burning" are typical Phish, containing quasi-philosophical musings on how we come in and out of existence, but it's the musical delivery of "Breath And Burning" that truly makes it worth listening to. It is a soulful rock 'n' roll party unlike any other you may experience this year!


"Go Robot" by Red Hot Chili Peppers: Though "Dark Necessities" was a rather reflective and dialed back song for RHCP, it became one of the biggest hits of 2016. Can "Go Robot" manage to top the success of that song?! Knowing how loudly Flea turns up his bass on this track and how catchy the rhythm of the song is, there's every chance that it might! Aside from how funky the music of "Go Robot" is, its music video is funky as well! As a matter of fact, the video appears to be a spoof of "Saturday Night Fever". The video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI-8CVixZ5o


"True Sadness" by The Avett Brothers: For a song with the word "sadness" in the title, "True Sadness" sure is upbeat! What is wrong with Scott and Seth that has made them release a happy song with a sad title?! Well, nothing really. It's been done before. This is one of those songs where you just wouldn't know the real nature of it unless you listened closely enough to the lyrics of the song. "True Sadness" seems to mark the leap for The Avett Brothers from being alt-country to being more of a Southern rock group, which is interesting considering that other previously alt-country groups like Jamestown Revival and Shovels & Rope have taken the same route. Perhaps The Avetts are trendsetters of sorts in that regard.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Radiohead!! (and three other good ones)

I can't help myself. I'm a goofball sometimes. The video for Radiohead's "Burn the Witch" looks so much like those stop-motion Christmas specials from Rankin-Bass that I just had to reference that somewhere in the title of this week's blog! Anyway, on we go!!


"Burn the Witch" by Radiohead: What happens when you put Rankin Bass Christmas specials, persecution of women based on false accusation, a classical orchestra, and electronic beats into the same setting?! You probably were going to say either "a bad dream" or "an acid trip", but the answer is Radiohead, whom I guess kinda resemble those two things sometimes! The song that combines all these factors, "Burn the Witch", is calming and edgy all at once, like a lot of Radiohead's songs tend to be. Both the lyrics of "Burn the Witch" and its accompanying Rankin-Bass-goes-to-the-dark-side music video are Thom Yorke's way of expressing criticism towards many facets of contemporary society. For instance, the song's chorus of "Abandon all reason/Avoid all eye contact/Do not react/Shoot the messenger/Burn the witch" could be interpreted as a "madness mantra" against how foolishly people tend to react to political events (just about any events, really). The jarring yet brilliantly hilarious juxtaposition between innocent children's show imagery and people causing chaos amongst themselves also lends itself to many interpretations, one of which is the dissonance between the idea of "family values" and how grim some think the reality of such "values" can be as a result of impinging them upon society. After seeing the music video for "Burn the Witch" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI2oS2hoL0k), you might never look at "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" the same way again!!


"Casual Party" by Band of Horses: Band of Horses have experimented with quite a few sounds on the rock spectrum during the 2010's. "Laredo" found BOH trying out a sound that mixed CCR with Gram Parsons, "Knock Knock" was BOH at their most rock 'n' roll sounding, and their latest tune, "Casual Party", is BOH at their most alt-pop-y. What do I mean by that?! Well, think along the lines of groups like Walk the Moon or Neon Trees, but with a slightly quirkier direction in sound and not as much synth reliance. It's a long way off from sensitive power pop ballads like "No One's Gonna Love You" and "The Funeral", but it still manages to work relatively well for the band. The vibe of "Casual Party" makes it sound like it belongs at a nightclub on the beach (or perhaps a beach turned into a nightclub) that exists solely in the listener's imagination. The keyword to "Casual Party" seems to be "party", as there appears to be more emphasis placed on the instruments and the energy they give off than on the lyrics of the song.


"Dark Necessities" by Red Hot Chili Peppers: Hard to believe RHCP have been popular for 25 years, and around for just a little over 30, isn't it?! Well, it seems like Anthony, Flea, and the boys have taken to being an aging rock group rather well. Their latest song, "Dark Necessities" even sounds a little like The Who's "Eminence Front", albeit a notch or two softer. It's notable for being one of the first (if not THE first) RHCP song with a piano as one of its leading instruments. The band who once prided themselves on being relentlessly wild funk-rockers who frequently performed half-naked onstage are growing up, it seems, with this song. It's not as though they haven't had mature songs before. After all, their biggest hit, "Under the Bridge", is probably one of the saddest songs I have known, especially towards the end. "Dark Necessities" seems to really solidify the "mature" aspect of The Chili Peppers, though, like hardly any other songs I have known by them, as if they are responding to the induction they got into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 4 years ago.


"Need You Tonight" by Bonnie Raitt: Bonnie sure has eclectic taste in cover songs, and she does them rather well, too! 2012 saw the release of her spiced-up reggae inflected version of soft rocker Gerry Rafferty's "Right Down the Line". Neither Rafferty nor Raitt have much of anything in common with Australian rock group, INXS, yet that is who Raitt is choosing to cover this time around! INXS seem to be unsung heroes when it comes to influencing the indie rock scene, influencing at least in part a number of popular indie groups like Phoenix, TV on the Radio, The 1975, and Walk the Moon, among others, yet rarely talked about as an influence on such groups. I thought one of them would have covered "Need You Tonight" before Bonnie did, but lo and behold, I was wrong!! "Need You Tonight" is a funk-rock classic that came out about a decade after funk had its day in the limelight, and many a rock historian knows that funk has its roots in the blues, which Bonnie Raitt is excellent at playing, so perhaps it should have come as such a huge shock to me that she chose to cover this one, but it did. Nonetheless, Raitt's spin on this song manages to pack in both more funk and more riffs than the original version did! If only Michael Hutchence could have heard this version, I think he would have loved it!

MY TWO HUNDREDTH POST!!!! :D :D :D

This deserves some sorta celebration!! Ummmmmm....I dunno what, though. Anyway, here are this week's songs:


"Bad Habit" by The Kooks: At first, Luke Pritchard's voice appears to be surrounded only by various forms of percussion, a la Adele's "Rumour Has It", on the latest Kooks song, "Bad Habit". This made me a bit skeptical as to how I would like "Bad Habit". However, about a minute into the song, the faux-retro garage rock sound of Hugh Harris' guitar shows up, and makes it sound more like a typical Kooks song. It's definitely a catchy song (although what Kooks song isn't, really?!) However, it just doesn't measure up to that '60s folk-rock style charm of songs like "She Moves In Her Own Way" and "Junk of the Heart (Happy)". It sure is great to hear Luke and the boys back in action, though, nonetheless!


"Don't Know What It Means" by Puss N Boots: Norah Jones (yes, THAT Norah Jones) has attempted to assert herself as the lead singer of bands before, such as The Little Willies, but that didn't quite do the trick for me. Norah's new group, Puss N Boots, however, has actually gotten me to like her music. Initially, I didn't even realize she was in the band, when in fact she is the lead vocalist and guitarist! Their sound is country-rock, but a rather enjoyable, catchy sort of country-rock (think what a less rowdy Old '97s might sound like). "Don't Know What It Means" is only a little over two and a half minutes long, and Norah repeats the title phrase quite a few times, but there is still something quite likable about it. It is also worth mentioning that Puss N Boots is a trio of women (unlike The Little Willies, in which Norah was the only female in the group).


"Hayloft" by Nickel Creek: We've heard Nickel Creek attempt to blend bluegrass and rock before, and they're quite good at it. What about mixing bluegrass and pop, though?! Well, the answer to that comes to us in the form of Nickel Creek's latest song, "Hayloft", which combines the plucked strings of bluegrass with the synthesized beats of a typical 21st century pop song. Don't mistake this for a sugar-sweet pop song, though, as Sara Watkins' repeated mantra of "my daddy's got a gun, so you better run", as well as the rather menacing tone of the song overall, give "Hayloft" a bit of an edge that previous Nickel Creek songs haven't had. Sure is a sharp turnaround from the bittersweet, yearning sounds of "Destination"!! Makes me wonder what the rest of Nickel Creek's latest album, "A Dotted Line", sounds like.


"Heart Is A Drum" by Beck: Beck once covered the song "Pink Moon" by folk-rock cult hero, Nick Drake. Perhaps that rubbed off on him somehow, as Beck's latest song, "Heart Is A Drum", sounds a lot like a Nick Drake song. Its tuning even sounds similar to songs like Nick's "From the Morning", and the piano sounds awfully similar to a couple of Nick Drake's songs (most notably the songs from "Bryter Layter"). The electronic echo and drums in "Heart Is A Drum" make the song into more of a Beck song. With its continuously aching yet soothing melody, "Heart Is A Drum" is pure autumnal melancholia at its finest!


"Left Hand Free" by alt-J: Alt-J (who named themselves for how the ∆ symbol appears on computers) are pretty much as eclectic as their name would suggest they are! They've gone through quirky goofball rock with the Adam Sandler-esque "Fitzpleasure", as well as psychedelic pop with their "Where the Wild Things Are" homage, "Breezeblocks". Now it appears that alt-J are going for more of a blues-y garage rock based sound with their latest song, "Left Hand Free". If "Left Hand Free" sounds more simplistic than alt-J's previous work, there's a reason for that. Apparently, they were trying their hand (no pun intended) at creating a song that was more fit for American audiences (alt-J themselves are British) since their latest record was recorded on an American label, so they intentionally did a sloppy, haphazard sounding song. Perhaps they don't view American culture in the highest regard, but they were still able to come up with a good song in the process.


"Long Time Coming" by Saints of Valory: Saints of Valory are one of those bands who just seem to have a sound that's riding hot on the wave of what has become popular in alt-pop/rock of the 2010's. Their previous hit, "Neon Eyes" (from only one summer ago), was an excellent U2 homage, and SOV's follow-up song, "Long Time Coming", sounds a lot like Imagine Dragons, only with more emphasis on the electric guitar. While the sound of this song might not be terribly original, there is one thing that is, and that's the video, which boasts an electric neon glow (and talented dancers) throughout! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WR5GQNDQYY


"My Hurricane" by Jamie Scott (from Graffiti6): And the hit(makers) just keep on coming! "Free" and "Stare Into the Sun" might not be titles that are immediately recognizable (and a lot of people don't seem to know the name Graffiti6, either), but whistle a few bars (if you're good at it) to either song, and a lot of people will probably know what you're talking about! Now Jamie Scott, the lead singer of the wildly successful alt-pop/soul group, Graffiti6, has struck out on his own for the first time, with his song, "My Hurricane". "My Hurricane" doesn't seem like it'll fare as well on the charts as "Free" and "Stare Into the Sun", but the song does have a style all its own. Instead of being influenced by early '70s soul like his previous hits were, it seems to be influenced by more contemporary folk-pop (and legendary folk-rock like Bob Dylan - check out that harmonica solo at the beginning!) Another thing about "My Hurricane" that sticks out is its shifting from E major verses to C major choruses. I don't know too many songs that have verse to chorus changes quite like that!


"Navigate Below" by The Revivalists: "The Revivalists", indeed! What these guys are reviving is the sound of blues and jazz, wrapped up neatly in a pop/rock package! Though there have been a small number of musicians (i.e. Gary Clark Jr., Trombone Shorty, Alabama Shakes, etc.) who have attempted to keep the blues alive and well, there still have not been many, so a band like The Revivalists are a welcome addition to my blog, and hopefully, to your music collection. The hopeful lyrics ("we can work it out") and bright, shiny tone of "Navigate Below" set it apart from the mostly either world-weary or lovelorn blues/jazz-rock of the 2010's. Oh, did I mention they're from New Orleans?! No wonder they sound so good!


"White Lies" by Max Frost: As the title indicates, this song is basically about the lack of trust in a relationship that the lead singer (probably) experienced. Nothing new here. As for the sound of the song, it's been done, but it definitely has a way of creeping into your head! It mixes folk guitars with electronic beats (Avicii, anyone?!), but there's actually a very good reason for this. Apparently one of the first people Max Frost collaborated with was indie-folk-rocker Bob Schneider, and he first heard the music of contemporary R & B musicians like D'Angelo and Erykah Badu shortly afterward, which ultimately led to his combining of folk and hip-hop. Also, if this song sounds familiar, it might just be because you watched a commercial for Beats Electronics!

New songs for April 9th, 2014

here they are:


"High Ball Stepper" by Jack White: If you thought the experimental days of rock music were over, think again!! "High Ball Stepper" has a crackly blues sound like most Jack White songs, but it also repeatedly fades in and out, has a minimalist one chord vamp throughout, has a random piano solo during certain points of the song, and (get this) NO LYRICS!! I believe this is the very first instrumental track I've ever reviewed on this blog!! The video for the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRbnAxrS3EM) is also rather avant-garde! I guess you could say that this is more white noise than it is White Stripes!!


"Red Eyes" by The War on Drugs: Considering that The War On Drugs' first big song, "Brothers", was basically a Bob Dylan soundalike, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that their next musical emulation is towards Bruce Springsteen, a musician who was initially hailed as the "new Dylan" when he debuted! However, this suggests more of the "gothic Springsteen" sound that groups like The Killers, The National, and Arcade Fire have attempted. Even the lyrics here are somewhat Springsteen-ian, such as "come and ride away" and "surrounded by the night and you don't grow old", both of which are reminiscent of The Boss's romanticism of city life. I guess it's only a matter of time until The War on Drugs do a musical ode to Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits!!


"You Move Me" by Robert Cray: It's hard to believe that a man who revived the blues-rock sound in the mid-'80s is still making music today, but he is, and he's pretty good at it too! Using mainly an F sharp minor chord vamp, briefly accompanied by some blues-y 7 chords, "You Move Me" doesn't need to do much to prove its point. Blues-y subject matter here, too, about Robert basically being a fool who is helplessly in love with someone. Plenty of blazing hot guitar licks over the main chord to keep you on your toes!