“Lucky Sue” by Men I Trust: Remembering Your Blessings
The easiest thing to do when your life starts to crumble around you is give up. That’s why when we hear stories of people around the world persevering in the toughest of situations, we tend to instinctively support them and rally behind their cause. This sort of message is pretty universal, and I believe something […]
Chloe Bodur on “Reasons”, Genre, and Aspirations
Immediately drawing you in with an ear-catching loop filled with instruments and sound effects, “Reasons” by Chloe Bodur shows little signs as to the genre of song it is trying to be. Of course, once the electronic drums join the mix, things start to become clearer. A mix of R&B, pop and hip-hop, the song’s […]
“Montana” by Slow Pulp: Warm, Emotional Dream Pop
So, I’m pretty much known to my friends as the emotional one. We all have at least one of these friends – the one who kinda just cries over everything. Happy, sad, shocking, horrifying – it all makes them a little weepy. It’s not so much that I enjoy being sad, or that I’m for […]
“Kodachrome” by Jealous of the Birds: Gorgeous, Lush Pop
Naomi Hamilton turned heads in 2016 with her debut album Parma Violets released under the name Jealous of the Birds. In her debut, she put on a show of minimalist grandeur, using just her voice, a guitar, and a few other instruments to craft a captivating sound, somehow both tiny and expansive that drew listeners […]
Helena Hallberg’s “Cause I Can”: Imagining Acceptance
In an era that limits escape and travel, save the fantastical journeys we can conjure inside of our heads, Helena Hallberg’s newest release, “Cause I Can,” is the perfect sonic accompaniment for imagined adventures. Hallberg, a Swiss/Swedish musician with an expansive linguistic and musical repertoire, described the song’s narrative to be “a dreamy story featuring […]
“Excuse Me” by Neev: Understanding Your Worth in a Relationship
It’s always important to know when to call it quits and take a step back from things. While it isn’t necessarily easy, it’s always going to benefit yourself in the long run if you are upfront and honest. While you could say it’s a given, sometimes these messages are the type that people need to […]
“Angels of Death” and Nam Wayne’s Apocalypse
The first thing you might notice about Nam Wayne’s “Angels of Death” is the absence of his signature amps and drums. In his other songs, the drums are prominently beating away, and the amps are turned up nice and loud for a strong guitar to bust through. Instead, in this song, Wayne takes on a […]
Confronting Colonialism with Animal Saint’ “City on a Hill”
If you’re a fan of the likes of Outlander or The Last Samurai strictly for the music, or the works of Simon & Garfunkel, imagine a creative mixture of the styles from all three…and you’ll get something like Animal Saint’s “City on a Hill.” It combines the kind of instruments commonly heard in traditional Scottish […]
“7 Seconds” by Porridge Radio: Hopeful, Synthy Indie Rock
You know that hopeful song that plays at the end of a film that’s ended happily? The one that assures you everything is going to be okay in the lives of those characters? It sounds like driving fast with the windows down through the night with friends in a well-lit city. It sounds like the […]
“Don’t Bother Mountain” by Lydia Loveless: Looking Down on a Relationship
Trying to escape a failing relationship is never a situation you’d want to find yourself in. Whether it be long or short term, blame is most likely going to fly in both directions, and it’s going to hurt. It’s not always easy trying to explain this in a way which people can relate to and […]
