Skip to main content

Discover Monthly

    Here are a few of my favorite tracks, artists and albums from the past month.

1. The Kiss of Venus by Paul McCartney and Dominic Fike
    This out-of-the-box collab shocked me at first; but after one listen, I was hooked. I personally like this version better than the original released on McCartney 111 in 2020. With the original version having only an acoustic guitar, the harpsicord, and McCartney's voice, Dominic Fike brought in a R&B style and modernized the smooth ballad for McCartney III Imagined. 

    The track is inspired by a book McCartney read on the movement of our solar system. The phrase The Kiss of Venus was used by the author and pulled into a song by McCartney. The Kiss of Venus explores the beauty of life and growing up, even when some tasks seem mundane. It reminds listeners to stop, see and understand the world around them with lyrics like "have you read the paper?"

2. Eat Your Young by Hozier

    Inspired by Dante's Inferno, Eat Your Young covers the impending doom of mortality and motivates those who believe in music to change the world. This title track is different from Hozier's two released albums - with more electronic instrumentation implemented. Despite this risk, Hozier's iconic and passionate voice is still clearly displayed. The strong piano keys and smooth purr of the organ in the outro engulf listeners into a beautiful spiral that leads into the rest of the new EP. 

3. The Adults are Talking by The Strokes

    Debuted in 2019, The Adults are Talking explores instrumentation in an incredible way. The combination of an electric guitar with sharp staccato notes and the supporting guitar creates an energy that easily boosts listeners' moods. The repetitive guitar riffs make The Adults are Talking fit for a pop music genre as well as The Strokes usual rock aura. 

4. Coward by Sarah and the Saturdays

    Coward is about self-realization and the aftermath of life. The Living End album portrays growth and solidifies their indie persona for the band. It is a satisfying listen with the numerous guitar tab and drum combination. The guitar solo in the middle flows easily into the slower bridge before a strong last chorus with intense and abrupt drumbeats. 

5. Sugarmuffin by Sumbuck

    Caamp's lead singer Taylor Meier created Sumbuck as a side project to the award-winning band. Sugarmuffin is a chill acoustic song that embodies Taylor Meier's raspy and iconic voice you hear in all of his music. This song makes you want to wrap up in a blanket as the smooth melodies cover you while listening.

6. Let Me Go by Daniel Caesar

    The second track to Caesar's newest album - Let Me Go is hypnotic and soothing to listen to even though Caesar is explaining to his partner how they need to move on. He is brutally honest as he tells her "It's about time that I, break away / before my time expires / baby, won't you let me go." The instrumentals give a throwback aura to the song with tambourine and guitar downbeats. Caesar's voice shines through guitar beats piercing the background, creating an entrancing mix.

7. New Song by Maggie Rogers and Del Water Gap

    This collaboration has created a masterpiece of emotional tension and release with New Song. With no chorus, Rogers and Del Water Gap took an artistical risk that I believe paid off. The warm guitar builds as more and more instruments are added into the mix. A banjo trickles into play with a steady drumbeat not far behind.

    New Song is hanging onto a relationship that will inevitably fail and wrestling with this already known fact. The pair try to convince themselves they "don't mind" if their relationship is never picture-perfect. The resolution to the conflict is acceptance, but the emotion of the last two minutes leave listeners wondering the true thoughts of the couple.

8. I Love that Sound by Michael Bernard Fitzgerald

    Michael Bernard Fitzgerald must be in love from what he sings bout in I Love that Sound. What begins as a sweet and romantic relationship turns into moving in and settling in with their partner. With a mix of male and female vocals, the story is shown in a way that anyone can implement themselves into the singer's shoes. 

    The strong drop before the drums hit is my favorite part of the instrumentation. The deep bass overflows through the sound as the acoustics are clean and simplistically artful. Graceful, simple, and elegant are the best three words to describe the feel of this song. 

9. Black Leaves by Kirby

    Black Leaves is a feministic and social justice masterpiece. A powerful and soulful number with Kirby's strong voice booming richly and with passion. The tambourine and gospel-like "mhms" in the background create a unforgettable atmosphere.

    The track brings justice to women and men who fought for their individual rights in places like Mississippi. "We've got God and cotton / we've got sons and daughters / we've got grit and glory / we've got mama's stories." Kirby sings fierce lyrics that tell the story of Black American history without explicitly going into the detail, allowing the feel of the song to portray their courage and bravery. 

10. Give Up Baby Go by Peach Pit

    Peach Pit takes up a more folk aura in Give up Baby Go, with a groovin and movin attitude to the instrumentals. The electric guitar solo and strong guitar presence throughout the song is insane. This song is described by Peach Pit's lead singer as "the country version of Party Rock Anthem." However, it is all about the negative affects about getting drunk - so not really like Party Rock Anthem.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Daniel Caesar can't give his fans enough as they count down the days to his newest release

      Set to arrive in only a few short days on April 7 - Daniel Caesar's NEVER ENOUGH album has been long-awaited by fans. He has released three singles so far, all part of his third studio album.      "Do You Like Me?" was co-produced with Rachel Saadiq and released on January 28, 2023. It was met with buzz from his loyal fans. The song effectively mixes the uncertainty of romantic relationships with a relaxed and chill vibe. The FADER  called it a "delicate, funky, and flirty return from Caesar." Caesar has said online that the song is about a "woman I respect deeply" and the "love triangle" that stemmed from his relationship with her.     "Let Me Go" is the second song of the album and the breakup track. Here Caesar is brutally honest as he takes the jump to let his girlfriend know he needs move on from their relationship. He is begging her to "Let Me Go" before things get too toxic for them both. "It's bout t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Moon Taxi - A Story of Brotherhood and Music

      In 2006, Trevor Terndrup mooned a taxi during a night out in downtown Nashville, Tennessee with his five best friends.      A couple weeks later, when the group of five students decided to form a band while at Belmont University, there was no better choice than Moon Taxi as the name.     Now, 16 years later, the band has grown tremendously and is inseparable.      Each of the artists - Trevor Terndrup, Tommy Putnam, Spencer Thomson, Tyler Ritter, and Wes Bailey - got into music at a young age. They all had parents and grandparents who were passionate about music and pushed them at a young age to play an instrument.      Moon Taxi started out as a local band and slowly grew their platform by touring around the country before social media skyrocketed.     "We had very grass roots and never did anything crazy marketing-wise to gain a larger audience for a long while," said Thomson.     During th...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Grounded Artist: Sam Burchfield in the Spotlight

      Originally from Seneca, South Carolina, Sam Burchfield has turned his joyful childhood hobby into a career that is continuing to grow.      Burchfield grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where his blue grass, gospel and folk roots were born. He went to University of Georgia and currently lives in Athens when not traveling as an artist.     He began as an independent artist, which posed many challenges as he was putting his foot in the door.     "I initially had to do everything - from taxes to booking and everything in between. My brain was constantly between thinking logically and creatively," said Burchfield.     Now with "Eat Music Management" and "Atlas Touring," Burchfield has been able to delegate the overwhelming roles to other people and focus in on songwriting.     For Burchfield, songwriting is the best part of being a music artist. Here he gets to dig into his creativity and tell stories. ...
Post a Comment
Read more