Grimson on “Chimney Sweeper” and its Ambitious Animated Music Video
The music video for Grimson’s new song, “Chimney Sweeper,” is as ambitious as the song itself. Rows of cute kids-drawing people sway cheerfully from side to side before morphing into Russian nesting dolls; footprints track playfully across the screen in time with a bass solo; streaks of primary colors flash across the screen during the […]
“Psycho” by small town sci-fi: Accepting What You Cannot Change
A little over a minute into “Psycho,” a short but impactful new song by the psych-folk duo small town sci-fi (all lowercase,) we hear the song’s title. “Psycho, they call us psycho, because we couldn’t talk the same,” vocalist Anthony sings. (The two members are referred to as only Kim and Anthony in supplemental material.) […]
“Shrine Song” by Joe Levi: Expertly Crafted by a Songsmith
Perhaps the easiest way to summarize Joe Levi’s unique dedication to craft is in how he self-identifies his career: not as a singer, but a “songsmith.” A singer vocalizes stories. A singer nimbly slides across notes and tones to communicate a message. A songsmith creates the message. A songsmith synthesizes many elements of music making, […]
“The House” by Triston James: Vulnerable, Hopeful, and Grateful
Being a psychology student, I learn a lot about mental health and its treatment. All of us deal with periods of bad mental health, and whether it be clinical or not, one of the most advantageous things for mental health is a social support system. Having the love of friends and family give us immeasurable […]
Mountain Mansion on “Fog Walker of Copton Ridge,” Being a Fire Watcher, and Suspiria
I’ve found myself increasingly attracted to stories of the paranormal these days: ghost stories, UFO sightings, mysterious disappearances. They don’t have to be scary–in fact, I’m something of a baby when it comes to horror–but the fantastical stories themselves are enough to draw me in. I don’t care if they’re true, because the truth is […]
“Grieve” by Elissa Margolin: The Destructive Power of Grief
“Let us grieve, grieve, grieve” Opening the song with a plea, Elissa Margolin sets the melancholy tone for her song “Grieve” right away. By repeating “grieve” and coming back to this line several times throughout the song, the theme of grief is perpetually present. The repetition is also representative of being stuck in a cycle […]
Joshua Powell on “Sad Boy at the Skeleton Party,” Guitar Solos, and NPR Ambitions
There are so many flavors of indie rock that it’s hard to say you “miss” any one kind of it, because there’s almost certainly a dozen Bandcamp pages that can scratch any itch you have. But as the dominant strains of indie rock have grown more dreamy (your Beach Houses, your Real Estates) and/or more […]
“A Lot To Ask” by Boy Scouts: An Honest Look at Low Self-Esteem
I’m afraid of conflict. I’m afraid of even the perception of conflict. I am always apologizing, always walking on tiptoes when I talk, always peppering my speech with “if it’s not any trouble”s and “so long as you’re OK with it”s. I don’t want to make anyone upset, and I especially don’t want to make […]
Constant Follower’s Stephen McAll on “The Merry Dancers on TV”
During the summer between my junior and senior years of college, I spent a month studying abroad at the University of Stirling in Scotland. It was the first time I had been in a foreign country by myself, and I fell in love the same way every student studying abroad falls in love. (I made […]
Christopher Paul Stelling on “Driving The Hearse” and Finding Comfort in the Gloaming
Death is the ultimate reminder of mankind’s limitations. We can get starry-eyed about endless possibilities and throw around bromides like “if you can dream it, you can do it,” but the fact is that there are some things we simply cannot do, and there are facts of existence that we can’t dream or invent or […]
