Cal Maro’s “Bad”: Vulnerability is Sexy
“Bad”, a song by the New York-based alt-R&B artist Cal Maro, is Schrodinger’s Bedroom Jam: it is both sexy and non-sexy at the same time. Everything about its Vaseline-smeared sound and hungry come-ons suggests sensuality, but there’s a bleariness and a desperation to it that makes it more than a simple let’s-get-it-on playlist selection. It’s […]
“Cool Heart” by Robert Guess: The Power of the Saxophone
For an instrument that’s so heavily associated with certain genres, the saxophone is surprisingly versatile. It’s a jazz staple, of course, with players like Charlie Parker and John Coltrane having ascended into musical godhood. You’ll find it in soul and R&B, too, as well as all your favorite sophisti-pop gems. But the saxophone pops up […]
Chatting with The Woolverstones About “A Song for Harlequins”
In this age of instant gratification, intros are something of a lost art, which is why it’s heartening to see a song like “A Song for Harlequins”. Brought to us by a new prog-folk group called The Woolverstones (from England, as if you couldn’t tell from the name), “Harlequins” begins with an elegant duet between […]
Sincere Gifts’ “Ghost of America”: A Catchy Tune for Our Unreal Moment
When I think about the election of Donald Trump, I’m reminded of something an older friend of mine said about 9/11, which I was too young to remember clearly. She was shocked, horrified, and grief-stricken, as any reasonable person would be, but what she remembers most clearly was the creeping sense of unreality, the feeling […]
“Let Down” by HEIGHTS: Taking You High and Feeling Low
There was a time when music that expressed some sort of doubt about self or depression about one’s actions was relegated to the likes of Linkin Park or Three Days Grace. However, as the times have changed, we have gotten our new style of songs about self-examination and dissatisfaction about what one finds. This is […]
The Tiny’s “Dog Eat Dog” Will Not Be Pigeonholed
There are a few words that I think critics, musical or otherwise, should use more carefully. Chief among them is “pretentious”, a word that I’ve all but struck from my vocabulary. It has become a cudgel, a way to sneeringly dismiss genuine ambition or creative vision. The joy of art, and music in particular, is […]
“Meet Me in Seattle” by Josh Fudge: Tender, Aching Folk
There is something about peaceful, gentle, folksy acoustic music that seems to be a part of nature. It’s not something that I can readily explain, but oftentimes, there is nothing more appealing than a long walk through the woods, muddying your shoes and crunching through the undergrowth, all while listening to the gentle harmonies and […]
“Living Wage” by Will Overman: A Modern Country Love Story
“Living Wage” by Will Overman is the kind of subtle bluesy country song that hearkens back to the core elements that make country music so beloved. “Living Wage” is devoid of red pickup trucks and beer, and is thankfully lacking that obnoxious country twang that seems to exist in every mainstream country song. Its country […]
Slow Dakota’s “Burial of the Dead”: A Mystical Elegy in the Time of Climate Change
After the coronavirus pandemic brought society to a screeching halt, some people turned to nature for solace. A set of photographs went viral, showing the Venice canals with clear, healthy blue waters after quarantine forced humans to stay inside. Many people celebrated on social media, declaring nature’s triumph over human pollution: “Nature hit the reset […]
How to Get Your Songs on Spotify
How to get your songs on Spotify in three steps: Create an account with a music distributor (like CD Baby or Distrokid). Upload your song with the appropriate settings and credits. Create a Spotify for Artists profile to manage your music on the platform. Whether you’re a producer in your bedroom with headphones and files […]
