Gentle simplicity works on Willow by Ella Rae Cole
An attractive strummed acoustic guitar pattern introduces “Willow” by Ella Rae Cole and her even more attractive singing soon follows. There is the addition of a cello part that comes in and out of the song at different intervals. This serves the delicacy of the delivery of this gentle song but due to its clever […]
R.E.M. Highlights Squandered Opportunity on “Sweetness Follows”
Listen here my sister and my brother What would you care if you lost the otherI always wonder why did we bother Distanced from one, blind to the other It’s often said that less is more. True across many facets of life, it’s perhaps nowhere more impactful than in R.E.M.’s minimalistic, tortured tale of lost […]
Laura Lang Writes a “Love Letter”
Like T. S. Eliot’s poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” and Pete Townshend’s album The White City: A Novel, Laura Lang’s “Love Letter” isn’t what the title says it is. In fact, she tells us in the chorus, “This isn’t a love letter, ’cause I can’t let it be.” So my question is, […]
The Roseline will get you swaying side to side with new single “Hot Dice”
The acoustic folk five-piece The Roseline closed off their relatively quiet 2022 with two singles, the first of which is the warm and merry cut “Hot Dice.” If you’re in need of a smile or a song to alleviate the feeling of loneliness, “Hot Dice” will be right up your street. The track starts with […]
Chanteclaire’s “Ripped Off the Covers” & the SNES
One of my favorite games of all time is Earthbound: Mother 2. The game was made for the SNES, coming out a few years before I was even alive. Fundamentally it’s about a kid leaving home and trying to heal the twisted, zany world around him – and, of course, making friends along the way. […]
The Apparent Calm of Shy Yearning in SOMOH’s “Anything”
Sophia Moran (SOMOH), 20-year-old London-based Indie artist, has a subtle intensity in delivering her song “Anything,” about the yearning inherent in a romance that is mutually understood and desired, but unspoken and not yet in motion. The song begins a bit jouncy. It’s not bubblegum energy, but kind of like how some folks, when they’re […]
Ryan Waczek’s “Broken” Is The Ultimate Earworm
When I was 16, I had a part-time job washing dishes at a local pub. During one shift, Kelis’ “Milkshake” popped into my head and nothing I did could get it out. 18 years later, the same thing happened. Though this time the song in question was “Broken” by Ryan Wackez (ft. Ruhde). And thankfully, […]
Wrap Up Warm with Straight White Teeth’s Indie Folk Track “Forever and a Day”
Winter is here, and that means people all around the world need something to keep themselves comfortable, warm and happy in the cold. While others would look to things such as heated blankets or hot chocolate, I’m going straight for “Forever and a Day” by Straight White Teeth. Straight White Teeth is the musical project […]
Radiohead’s “Spectre”: Hollywood’s Spectacular Blunder
It’s 2015. Radiohead have their plates spinning and their heads full. Positioned squarely in the deep end of recording what will be 2016’s A Moon Shaped Pool, a piece of attention-grabbing news comes down the barrel and stops them in their creative tracks. Sam Mendes, director of the new James Bond movie and, coincidentally, a […]
Caroline Culver’s “Maggie Told Me You Got a New Girl” is Our New Break-Up Anthem
We’ve all been there: you’ve been doing good for awhile, haven’t thought about them at all! Seriously. What was his name, Jeff? Jason? (You pretend to forget, even as you tap onto his instagram story) Oh, he’s back in town. Tap. Tap. Your heart drops. Surely… No, it can’t be. You stare, eyes close to […]
