Song of the Week: Leaves

Leaves - Cheers Elephant - Like Wind Blows Fire

I meant to publish this review a long time ago, but never got to it. This is also a nice little bit of pop music, although this time from around King of Prussia area rather than Southern Australia. I think the tagline from the promoters called it "furious" indie pop, which to me was kind of silly. But I understand the angle. The band, despite sometimes soft and dreamy vocals and xylophones, really does have great energy passion in their music, which I believe this song showcased best off of their album. So please, Enjoy. 

As a last note these guys also offer their album at "name your own price" at bandcamp. Give it a download, and if you like it, maybe share the love a little bit.

New Music: Symptoms

Symptoms  - Atlas Genius - When It Was Now

It's a good song. It's also definitely pop, which is a change on this blog. But the rhythm is quick and on point, and the switch of tone in guitar from verse to chorus to break is just delightful. It animates the lyrics, and gives life to what would otherwise be a love/death song with four chords behind it and a great voice in front. Also has shoots of spring in it, which is decidedly appropriate.

Enjoy.

Also as a neat bonus about four other songs are available for streaming or downloading on soundcloud from the same album as Symptoms. I got a chance to listen to the whole thing when it got to our radio station, and I would also recommend it.

Song of the Week: Hummingbird

Hummingbird - BB King -Indianola Mississippi Seeds

A great blues song that rises to an incredible finale. The ending is just perfect, with a wonderful chorus singing the poetic (in a distinctly bluesy fashion) "don't fly away" a phrase that draws me back to senior year reading "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison and the two seem to go together perfectly as both deal with images of flight. The rousing strings at the end is not overblown, but just add a great smooth texture to the piano, drums, and fantastic blues guitar of BB King. The song really does seem to fly and rise on it's own just as this plea of "Don't fly away" becomes most prominent. What a striking and incredible song.

Enjoy

Relevant Music: La Femme Fetal

Relevant Music: La Femme Fetal - Digable Planets

With a lot of talk going around about the abortion issue I thought it would be pretty relevant to look at this track from Digable Planets album Reachin'. It's an interesting perspective from way back (19 years actually) in '93 told with plenty of rhythm to a very funky jazzy beat. The presentation is from the perspective of a young man who is called to a friends house whose had an unexpected pregnancy where they discuss the motives for restricting abortion, the perspective of those trying to restrict it, and the justifications for having one. I don't think any argument about abortion is flawless and this is certainly flawed, or could be argued against as there really may not be a right and wrong answer to the question of abortion. What this song should be best taken for is a fairly light, and if not persuasive, then well told argument fro pro choice. What makes it so enjoyable, like much of the Digable Planets music, is it's laid back and collected tone. It's nice to not have something or someone screaming their opinions down your throat. This song give's you a little perspective and space to think it out for yourself too.

La Femme Fetal