“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 […]
“Mycelium” by Mother Sun: Connection and Understanding Through Mushroom Colonies
Q: Why does everyone at the science fair want to hang out with the mycologist? A: Because he’s such a fungi! Hahaha! Do you get it? Fungi? Fun guy? Ah, we have fun here at Two Story Melody. Consider, my dear readers, the humble mushroom. What a whimsical bunch they are! An astonishingly diverse collection […]
Fruit from the Poison Tree: The Ten Best Songs by Grouper
In his review of Grouper’s new album Shade, Chris Richards of the Washington Post claimed that the songs were “easy to feel but hard to remember.” He didn’t mean it as an insult–earlier in the review, he called the album “magnetic”–but there’s a whiff of damning by faint praise in the way he finishes the […]
“Calle Easy” by Johnny Payne: Relaxed Tune with More Under The Surface
Johnny Payne seems to serve up a love song to laziness in his single “Calle Easy.” But don’t be fooled by its twinkling sheen and unbothered tone. Although the four minute track rivals even Jimmy Buffett in its cheerful soundscape, the lyrics allude to a loneliness that the speaker is desperate to escape–even while he […]
“Sun Outside My Window” by Strawberry Guy: Lush, Impressionist Indie Pop
Of all the art movements we learned about in elementary school, I responded to impressionism the most. It was the one kind of art I could do decently, for one thing: it allowed for less precision, which was helpful back when I could barely even manage stick figures. But it went beyond just what I […]
“The Time It Takes To Fall:” A Glorious Tribute to Rock’s Youth
“The Time It Takes To Fall” is one of three singles released by Irish singer-songwriter Ger Eaton in late 2021. A veteran of the music industry, Eaton launched his solo career at the start of the pandemic in 2020. His genre-bending style both in his music and dress makes him quite the interesting up-and-comer. Eaton’s […]
“Home, Home” by His His: Nice Enough to Name Twice
“Home, Home” is one of two singles released in mid-2021 by His His, the other being “Sweet Company.” The artist’s first LP Garden Songs, which included both tracks, released shortly after. His His, a project led by Canadian indie musician, Aidan Belo, saw its debut in 2020. “Home, Home” is a bit of an anomaly. […]
“Platypuseidon” by Flip Rushmore: Gleefully Surreal Indie Rock
For Minneapolis-based artists Flip Rushmore, “Platypuseidon” is the most recent addition to their catalog of high-speed Midwest anthems. At just around four and a half minutes, “Platypuseidon” never loses its momentum and only builds with intensity the further you listen. The intro begins with a high tempo beat from the drum sticks with a melodic […]
