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!
