New songs for June 30th 2021

 here they are:


"Hardlytown" by Hiss Golden Messenger: I'm pretty sure there's no such actual place as "Hardlytown," but if there was, the music there would sound like a cross between Bob Dylan and 1960's soul music, and going by the lyrics, it probably wouldn't be easy to live there! In HGM's latest song, the country-rock ensemble attempt to bring people together and lure them out of their darkness, while still acknowledging that such a task is easier said than done. The likelihood of achieving peace and unity amongst one another seems close to nil right now, but Hiss Golden Messenger still seem to think it could be worth the effort in "Hardlytown." 


"Rocky Trail" by Kings of Convenience: In the early to mid 2000's, Norwegian folk-rock duo Kings of Convenience were seen as being the millennial equivalent to Simon and Garfunkel. Unlike S & G, however, KOC are only known by select few, achieving their fame in a way that was as quiet as their music is. On "Rocky Trail," the first KOC track in 12 years, the duo capture the essence of their quaint, wistful, folksy charm that won over the small but significant fan base they had. Using nothing but their voices, acoustic guitar, and a beautiful but stark orchestral arrangement in the background, Kings of Convenience invite us into their whispery, cozy world with "Rocky Trail." The word "rocky" in the title of the song, however, could be indicative of a broken relationship, judging by what the rest of the lyrics of the song have to say. 

New songs for June 23rd, 2021

 here they are: 


"Colorado" by Milky Chance: German alt-pop duo, Milky Chance, are like the 21st century indie equivalent to Jimmy Buffett in some ways. Where Buffett was big on booze, Milky Chance prefer pot, but both bring tropical, breezy, summertime vibes to their respective drugs of choice. References to weed can be spotted in more than one Milky Chance song, perhaps most notably the "stoned in paradise" line from their first and biggest hit, "Stolen Dance." This time around, Milky Chance are "getting high like Colorado." What does that mean exactly?! Well, obviously, it means getting into a drug-induced state that (supposedly) mellows you out while impairing your sense of judgment...but why Colorado?! More than likely, they chose to sing about the state since it was one of the first states to legalize recreational use of marijuana. Sex, drugs, and not-quite-rock-and-roll strikes again, folks!

"Dustland" by The Killers (featuring Bruce Springsteen): Two years before I even did this blog on a regular basis is when the following song originally came out. However, this version is a new spin on what is now an old song, featuring a guest appearance from one of Brandon Flowers' biggest idols, Bruce Springsteen! Going a half-step lower than the original track, but maintaining its sense of urban melodrama a la Bruce, "Dustland" might not be everyone's taste, but it must have been a dream-come-true for Brandon Flowers! Bruce makes various appearances both on lead vocals and backing vocals during the song. It makes sense, then, that the original "A Dustland Fairytale," as it was known when it initially came out, was written during Brandon's "Bruce phase," which was most prominent on the Killers' second and third albums. Lines like "saw Cinderella in a party dress/she was looking for her nightgown," "straight to the Valley of the Great Divide," and "in the cadence of a young man's eyes" are just some of the many Springsteen-ian lines from the song. Other than Bruce's vocal appearances and the choice to play the song a half-step down from the original, there's really no difference between "Dustland" and "A Dustland Fairytale," but for anyone who enjoys bittersweet, earnest roots-rock with a slight U2-ish tinge to it, "Dustland" is still worth checking out!

"Hush" by The Marias: There is actually only ONE person named Maria (and only one woman out of the four members of group) in The Marias. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, "Hush," the breakthrough song for electro-pop quartet, The Marias, is an icy yet catchy song that basically serves as a "screw-you" to Maria's ex. Appropriately, the word "hush" is spoken in a hushed tone, but make no mistake. She's not saying that word to soothe anyone. Instead, it's basically a code word for, "Forget you!" Amidst grinding, slightly disquieting mechanical yet mellifluous instrumentation, Maria Zardoya seductively whisper-sings a tale of love gone wrong, attempting to lure the listener in right as she's about to tell them off!


"The Angel of 8th Avenue" by Gang of Youths: Fitting to their name, Gang of Youths are a very youthful group! At least, that's the vibe I get from listening to their latest song, "The Angel of 8th Avenue." The song sounds a bit like New Order's "Age of Consent" if it had more acoustic guitars as backing instruments, though its topic is nowhere near as controversial. Quite the opposite of New Order's icy cold, starkness, actually, and is instead about the simpler yet warmer theme of falling in love and moving to another city. GOY's lead singer David Le'aupepe also has a lot more energy and passion in his voice than the more monotone, deadpan vocals of New Order's Bernard Sumner. 

"What You Say" by Cold War Kids: Musically, this song is nothing new for Cold War Kids. It's an upbeat indie-pop song that relies mostly on electronic instrumentation with electric guitar as its main backing instrument. What makes this song stand out from other CWK songs is its message. The song is about the desire some of us have to be accepted just as we are. CWK have covered a lot of topics in their material, but I don't recall that being one of their subjects. Anyway, everyone wants someone who loves them, flaws and all, and this is the perfect song for that, as far as songs from 2021 are concerned so far!

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 June 9th, 2021

 here they are:


"Making a Fire" by Foo Fighters: If "Shame Shame" and "Waiting on a War" felt too lightweight for you, then "Making a Fire" might be more up your alley! The song rocks pretty hard from the start, although not without enough melodic vocals to buoy it over and prevent it from becoming too edgy for adult alt radio stations to consider playing. True to its title, "Making a Fire" is a pretty explosive song about wanting to live life to the fullest no matter what obstacles might be in the way! Quite a far cry from the plaintive melancholia of their last single, "Waiting on a War," but after a particularly harsh winter and questionable spring, perhaps this song is just what we need to have a rockin' summer this year! 

"My Cleveland Heart" by Jackson Browne: 1970's rock fave, Jackson Browne, might be getting old, but his spirit still sounds as young as ever in his latest song, "My Cleveland Heart." Aside from the rootsy rock and roll guitar sound Jackson has on this song, another thing he has kept intact is his sense of humor. For instance, the word "heart" might sound like it's supposed to mean something sentimental, but it actually isn't, in this case. It refers to an actual human heart, or at least to a hospital in Cleveland that specializes in cardiology which is called (I kid you not) Cleveland Heart. Browne is aware of how his time is slipping away, so when him and a friend were driving by the place and he found out what it specialized in, he got the idea for his latest song, given the benefits that having an artificial heart from such a place could provide him! He is also very well aware of new talent on the horizon, which is why current indie-folk sensation, Phoebe Bridgers, appears in the video for the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_gWWzLph24) dressed as a nurse (for all you Phoebe fanboys - no, she is not a "sexy nurse" in this video), adding to the song's already tongue-in-cheek humor (or should I say "heart-in-cheek") by eating his "heart"! There's heartbreaking and there's...ummm...whatever this is! Jackson, when I said some of your songs were "heartbreakers," I didn't mean that literally, ya know!

"Wolves" by Garbage: Utilizing the same combo of goth-rock and grunge that made them so big in the '90s, Shirley Manson and co are at it again for the first time in almost a decade with "Wolves"! The lyrics to the song are just as venomous, if not more so, than the song itself! It's a song about inner conflict, about how chaotic the world has gotten lately, and about regrets Shirley has had about her past self. No wonder the song sounds so...well...angry! Probably more so than Garbage typically is already! In the parts between the verses and chorus of the song, chord changes are used that often sound too dissonant for most pop and rock stars to feel comfortable putting into their music. Even Shirley Manson herself has questioned the notion of whether she wants to put out another song like this one, but has also concluded that she is more adept at writing songs fit for the spooky underbelly of pop/rock music, and not more upbeat and happy material. The song could possibly serve as a reminder to some as to why Garbage were called "Garbage" in the first place. Apparently, someone heard them rehearsing in their garage and, as a response to how noisy they were, said their music sounded like...well...garbage! Hence the name of the group. This might just be the noisiest and darkest song yet in Garbage's catalog...but what would you expect from an already jaded band heading into what is shaping to be an even more doomed decade than the one they started out in?! 

New songs for May 26th 2021

 Here they are:


"Famous Son" by Belle Mt.: With a mix of a crisp, acoustic, folk-pop sound and staccato guitar riffs and pulsating synths forming a new wave influenced sound, Belle Mt's "Famous Son" doesn't really add anything new under the sun, but it's a pleasant song to kick back to nonetheless (we've been needing some of those lately). The real charm of this song, though, is probably more within its lyrics. The title of the song is not mentioned until towards the end, when the lead singer sums up the song's the theme, which is that his father warned him not to be "famous, son." Too bad! With this song being an up-and-comer on adult alt radio stations, Belle Mt. ARE getting famous to a degree.

"I Need Some of That" by Weezer: Weezer first hit the airwaves in the '90s, but in "I Need Some of That," they set the dials back one decade earlier. Recalling big '80s rock hits like Asia's "Heat of the Moment," and just about any early Bryan Adams or Cars song, "I Need Some of That" indulges unashamedly in nostalgia for a decade during which I was only a baby! The song itself is about nostalgia, not only in sound, but in lyric as well! Rivers Cuomo even opens the song with, "Summertime. I press rewind," and we are transported back to a past when Back to the Future ruled the movie theaters. As if the song didn't have enough of a hammy '80s classic rock sound, Rivers even mentions listening to Aerosmith as part of the lyrics. Party on, Weezer!

"Like I Used To" by Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen: Two of the most progressive female singer/songwriters of the 2010's come together for the first time with a song that is bound to please anyone who enjoys melancholy indie-folk music! Like our previous entry, "Like I Used To" has a jones for nostalgia, but not of the same type. This nostalgia does not take place in a specific decade, but just any time in someone's life when they might have felt like the past was a simpler time than the present. The title of the song already makes this apparent, but listening to both the words they use to accompany the title ("falling in love like I used to," "lighting one up like I used to," etc.) and the sultry yet sad way the lyrics are delivered really drives the point home. Judging from the things they miss doing in the context of the song, Sharon and Angel probably want to go back to when they were either teens or very young adults, pining away for when sex, drugs, and...folk 'n' roll...held a mysterious allure, as opposed to a harmful aftertaste.

"Missing Piece" by Vance Joy: Contemporary folk-rocker, Vance Joy, tends to be popular among both alternative and adult alt radio stations whenever he releases something, but the use of his latest song, "Missing Piece," on Grey's Anatomy seemed to contribute to his most recent wave of success within just a matter of days! Though I've never been a fan of medical dramas (or most dramas, for that matter), I must say that someone who works on the show must be pretty cool if they selected his music to be on the show! Onto the song itself, though, it's a very yearning one, as per usual for Vance, but in a way he hasn't really done so before. Instead of a "Woe is me. Where did my love go wrong?" song, we get a song about how he misses the one he loves. I suspect that part of this could have been in response to separation he might have experienced during the pandemic (if so, he released this song RIGHT in the nick of time). There's a hopeful side to this song as well, as Vance's "missing piece" is something he is positive will be FOUND once he rejoins his romantic partner. Thanks for getting us all through these hard times, Vance!

"Reverie" by Son Volt: '90s country-rock group, Son Volt, continued to soldier on into the new millennium with sparser and sparser appearances as the years went by. By the time the 2010's rolled around, they made only two memorable appearances, both of which had a bittersweet folk-rock sound in comparison to the more gritty stuff they originally became known for. With "Reverie," it seems as though Son Volt have found a comfortable middle ground. It has a more solid rock sound, veering slightly towards a light Southern rock variant, than most of their more recent material, but it retains the earthy, roots-y quality of their early stuff. This song also may serve as an answer as to why Son Volt retreated from the limelight in late 2016. The entire reign of terror of a certain person who shall not be named took place RIGHT at that time, climaxing in both physical and emotional separation as the current generation has never experienced before. With the recurring line, "We won't know where we stand 'till December," "Reverie" could be a way of summing up both last year AND this year. We didn't know where we would stand politically last year until about a month prior to December, and this year, it'll probably take until the end of it to find out where we are regarding if we can see each other again without fear of anyone we hang out with being contagious. A smart and timely song of both idealism and realism!

"Stop Making It Hurt" by Bleachers: In spite of the happy, bouncy sound of this song, there is most definitely a palpable undercurrent of hurt behind" Stop Making This Hurt." The song came about when the seemingly irrepressible Jack Antonoff came to the realization during the coronavirus pandemic that he wouldn't be able to perform face to face in front of his fans like he used to for a long time! The song details the angst, chaos, and disappointment of family life during the pandemic. The kids are complaining, Mom wants to break loose from the Garden State, and Dad has gotten to the point of not even recognizing where he is anymore. Nothing is fine. But sometimes, that's what we need to hear in a song! We need to KNOW that we're not the only ones going through what we are. "Stop Making This Hurt" might just be the spoonful of sugar we need to make the tiresome medicine of our vaccines go down!

"Witchoo" by Durand Jones and The Indications: Like fellow neo-soul-ster, Leon Bridges, Durand Jones and The Indications started off imitating '60s soul music and have now dipped their feet into '70s funk! "Witchoo" captures that moment in time when the R in R & B was getting stronger than the B, as the focus of this song is primarily rhythmic, lacking the bluesy pulse that was present in early R & B. We've had so many songs here that want to leave the present moment, and for understandable reasons, but this song seems very in-the-moment, at least lyrically speaking. Though its sound is an obvious throwback to soul music of the mid-1970's, "Witchoo"'s lyrics are basically about traveling on the road and spending time with that special someone. The simple pleasures of life. So what are you waiting for?! Get down with yo' bad self and melt into the auditory dance party that is "Witchoo"!

New songs for May 19th, 2021

 here they are:


"Down" by St. Vincent: After her success on adult alt radio stations with the Prince/Bowie-esque "Pay Your Way in Pain," Annie "St. Vincent" Clark continues with work influenced by the two aforementioned eclectic electro-funk-rock masters. "Down" also showcases a Prince/Bowie influence, albeit with one factor that distinguishes it from all other St. Vincent songs that have come out so far. "Down" makes distinctive use of the sitar, as well as the Vocoder (the voicebox thingy Peter Frampton is known for using, which has gained prominent use in funk-rock as well). With all these unique, flavorful elements combined, "Down" sounds anything BUT down, and puts St. Vincent in a place that is too outer space-y to be the past, but too retro to be the future! Far out!

"Motorbike" by Leon Bridges: And speaking of funk music, Leon Bridges is another contemporary musician who has explored the influence of funk in his own sweet way. He started with a record that was a throwback to soul masters like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, followed that up with a sophomore album exploring more sides of the R & B spectrum, including jazz, funk, and even folk-soul, and now, with a third album on the way, we get to hear Leon exploring...pop-reggae?! "Motorbike" seems to head in that direction, and it is also notable for being Leon's first guitar-less track (if there IS any guitar in it at all, it's barely audible). It's still soul music, as all of Leon's music has been so far, but something feels a little out of place about this one. For one thing, he has enlisted the help of fellow neo-soul musician, Anderson Paak, on this one, and I've never been particularly thrilled with Anderson's style the way I have with Leon's. 

"Worry With You" by Sleater-Kinney: It was only two years ago that the fiercely defiant alt-rock duo, Sleater-Kinney, last released an album. However, with the major changes that came afoot the year after, the sentiments expressed in some of their last songs, such as the passionate yet sexually desperate "Hurry on Home," already seem like the products of a bygone era! Their latest song, "Worry With You," could be thought of as a "sequel" of sorts to that song: still spiky, intense, and sexually driven, yet somewhat more subdued, both musically and lyrically, and with the acknowledgment that love life (and life in general) has become more difficult to manage within the space of just a few years. Here, they are not merely looking for someone to spend a naughty night in the nude with, but are instead seeking a more solid form of companionship with someone whom they can feel comfortable mulling over the future with while still trying to enjoy the sparse pleasures of the present. A slightly blues-y garage rock influence on this one, but as usual, this dynamic duo gives it their all! 

New songs for May 12th 2021

 here they are:


"Echoing" by Kings of Leon: Once again opting for the key of C major, like they did in their previous single from this year, "The Bandit," Kings of Leon storm the alt and adult alt radio charts again just in time for summer with "Echoing." "Echoing" has an almost U2-ish vibe to it, with its fittingly echoing chamber of guitars ringing loud and clear throughout while never quite climaxing to a hard rock sound. The song revels in and revolves around the thrill of adventure!

"We Are Between" by Modest Mouse: It's been 7 years since we last heard from Modest Mouse (and it was also 7 years since THEN that we had last heard a full Modest Mouse album). While Mouse seem to have embraced a Talking Heads-ish sound from about 2004 onwards, "We Are Between" hearkens back to MM's pre-fame years, during which time the band made more sweet, wistful, Shins-ish indie-pop songs like "Gravity Rides Everything." The central subject of "We Are Between" is the titular pronoun: "we." Isaac Brock is addressing our own species in the song, and the many observations he has made about us. "We are made up of rocks and salt." "We are the mirrors of our own faults." It's true. Humans are faulty creatures who, like all living things, are an improbable yet amazing combination of elements that fused together to create entities that survive on eating, breathing, and growing. In "We Are Between," Modest Mouse mull over life in a way that is anything but modest in a way that speaks to all of us!