Jenny Hval’s “Jupiter,” Disorientation, and the Prada Marfa
Somewhere in the endless desert of West Texas, there is a Prada store. Cream-colored awnings shade the entrance from the brutal heat, displaying the name of the Italian fashion house as though it was on any upscale high street and not in the middle of the Trans-Pecos. Handbags and shoes are on display, artfully lit, […]
“Fallen Star” by Laura Rafetseder: A Love Both Grounded Yet Cosmic
Singer-songwriter Laura Rafetseder describes herself on social media as a “Marxist musing ’bout the loneliness of our times and the oceans and fires below the surface.” This description hones in on one of Rafetseder’s greatest strengths as a songwriter: an unapologetic depth. Rafetseder is not afraid to plunge into the “oceans and fires” that live […]
Patrick Sylvester Goes Out of this World with “On The Earth”
Floridian singer-songwriter Patrick Sylvester has a new single on the horizon, “On The Earth.” If you’re a fan of his, be prepared for something totally different. Don’t worry, this is different in an exciting and refreshing way. To say this song is otherworldly is not only appropriate but an understatement. The melody drifts like an […]
Retrospective Review: Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen”
Some time in 1980, Stevie Nicks was talking to Jane Petty, the first wife of the late Tom Petty, about when she and Tom had met. Jane said they had met “at the age of seventeen,” but due to her thick Southern accent Nicks had misheard her. “No,” Jane corrected, “age.” But Nicks was undeterred; […]
“Little Consequence” by Hannah Ashcroft: A Sobering Reality Check
There are few things more ego-threatening than trying to succeed as a creative type. Whether you’re looking for someone to publish your manuscript or just seeking a full-time job, you are in competition with hundreds, if not thousands, of other people. You will measure yourself against them and find yourself lacking. You will be rejected, […]
“Calming Night Partner” by Land of Talk: An Unsettled Breakup Narrative, With Hints of Hope
When I saw the title of Land of Talk’s new song, “Calming Night Partner,” it was on a list of other new releases from indie rock artists. And yet as I scrolled on, the phrase kept bouncing around in my head, as odd yet evocative phrases often do. “Calming night partner.” Not a boyfriend, not […]
“I Lie In The Sun” by Eliza Lovise: Luscious and Mellow
Eliza Lovise’s debut song “I Lie in the Sun” may have been released on Halloween, but there is nothing spooky about this youthful track. “I Lie in the Sun” is three minutes of relaxed, crooning vocals, cushioned in laid-back instrumentals and a feel good soundscape. Lovise’s song is the child of Tonetic Records, a youth-led […]
“Double Rapture” by Sis: Pulsing, Poetic Sensuality
Poetry is not any one thing. It doesn’t have to rhyme, and it doesn’t have to be formatted in neat lines. It can be about anything, and it can evoke any emotion. Some people can be snobby about it, but that’s not poetry’s fault; other people can scorn it altogether, but that’s not poetry’s fault, […]
“Halloween” by Mark Schwaber: Warm Indie Rock Nostalgia
(Editor’s note: this review was written prior to Halloween.) As Halloween night approaches, I think about what songs I should add to my fall playlist. There aren’t many songs out there about Halloween, let alone capture the nostalgic emotion I always feel when remembering my time trick-or-treating. As Mark Schwaber displays in his most recent […]
MJ Cabra on “Meadow Hugs” and Accepting That You’re Not OK
“Meadow Hugs” is about trauma, but it doesn’t sound like it at first. A new song by the Atlanta-based singer-songwriter MJ Cabra, “Meadow Hugs” starts right out of the gate with an energetic breakbeat and some lush, lovely synth chords. I’ve always associated this sort of sound with a sort of optimism–vintage video games, joyous […]
