A Blend of Power and Simplicity in Isobel Campbell’s “Together”
Admittedly, I have significantly less of those nostalgic summer feelings than I usually do at this time of year. As someone who vehemently hates change, the feeling of something ending usually crashes down on me as September begins, leaving me to fondly look back on and re-imagine the days of summer leisure. With our sudden […]
“Water” by Charlotte Lansman Flows Beautifully
Nature is a prevalent theme in the arts: we love to write, sing, paint, and think about it. We often compare our emotions and experiences to natural phenomena in order to represent our ideas more poetically. And no idea is more often expressed in art than that of love lost or found. “Water”, a recent […]
“Crying In Your Sleep” by Iska Dhaaf Reminds Us To Let Go
I feel like one of my personal themes in the past few months has been self-improvement. One of the habits I’ve forced myself to pick up has been dream journaling. Admittedly, like most of the overly ambitious goals I dreamed up this summer, this one didn’t really take as much as I’d anticipated. But, I […]
Claire Frances’ “Rabbit Hole”: A Lush, Subtle Heartbreak Song
Claire Frances sings the titular words of this song only twice, saving them for the opening and closing verses: “At least we escaped the rabbit hole.” Book-ended in this way, the narrative is clear. “Rabbit Hole,” the latest single from the Irish singer-songwriter, who was born in the UK and raised in Switzerland, is a […]
Kelly Lee Owens and John Cale Tell a Surreal Story of Their Homeland in “Corner Of My Sky”
If there’s any musical hill I’m willing to die upon, it’s that songwriting is about far more than just lyrics. They are, of course, undeniably integral to the art of songwriting, which is why many of the reviews on this blog focus on thorough lyrical analysis. But if we wanted to focus solely on the […]
“Run Dry” by Juni Habel: A Classic Example of Folk Done Right
Despite changes in the country/folk genre over the decades, one thing that can be said is that it’s always been music with personality. Usually employing simple instrumentation so as not to draw attention away from the story being told, these songs have always been an interesting portal into the lives of the people who are […]
“Sayoko” by Skyler Skjelset: An Uncanny Love Song (with Added Anime!)
It’s important to continue pushing yourself through life, even once you are comfortable. Whether that be in a personal or professional way, it’s essential that you realize the second you become complacent. Many bands will find success and stick to their sound, eventually burning it out and becoming boring. However, those who realize their comfort […]
“I Thought I Was Alone” by Thin Lear: Looking Back with New Perspective
One of the greatest struggles I face, and I’m sure many others do as well, on a daily basis is remembering to live in the moment. It’s so easy to get caught up in your head and cast a shadow over everything going on around you, causing you to miss out on some of the […]
“Wrestling” by MAGUIRE: A Stark, Intimate Display of Strength
“Wrestling”, a new song by MAGUIRE (London-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gillian Maguire), doesn’t sound like it should be called “Wrestling”. After all, when we think of wrestling, we think of strength and machismo, whether we’re thinking about the WWE or the Olympic-style wrestling done by sweaty men in singlets. MAGUIRE’s “Wrestling”, on the other hand, […]
Celebrating Alternative Rock with The Diamond Star Halo’s “To the Sea”
The alternative rock genre holds a special place in my heart. But while I am loving the current scene spearheaded by bands like The Strokes, there’s a certain era of this genre’s storied history that shines the brightest: 90s alt-rock. An assortment of brooding lyrics, distorted guitars and a cacophony of rigid noise all drenched […]
