Saturday, December 31, 2016

“Somewhere Out There” by Hume – A Song Review

     There isn’t much to say about a musician with a website (http://humesounds.com/) that “can’t be reached” and a Facebook page (facebook.com/humesounds) that simply states “Sorry, this content isn't available right now.” But we enjoy the song “Somewhere Out There” by Hume, so it’s posted. The song is scheduled for release on January 13, 2017, which leaves Hume some time to provide content.



Friday, December 30, 2016

Free Friday (“FL&R”) – December 30

     Free and Legal Downloads? Yes, at least temporarily. Bands often temporarily permit free downloads of their releases.  The end of an offer is usually based on the expiration of a set period of time.  But at least for now, here are songs that qualify as Free, Legal and Recommended (FL&R) downloads.
     Finding songs that can be legally downloaded is easy. The difficult task is to find legally downloadable music that we recommend. The hope is to post at least one FL&R song each Friday.
     Veronica Fusaro is a singer/songwriter in Thun, Switzerland.
     “Pluto” by Veronica Fusaro – Available on a “name your own price” basis 


Lyrics of “Pluto” by Veronica Fusaro
We came from the back of Pluto now we are breathing
From the day you say hello to the one on which you’re leaving
So much to achieve, minds are filled with dreams
Got no color scheme, you just gotta find a gleam
In this chaotic forest
Because let’s be honest
We all know this thing called fear

Cause the skeleton’s walking inside of me
But that won’t stop me from being free
To live life fullest
Even if bullets
Will hit my chest
I’ll get up and
Go for the crown
No one can tie me down
I wanna scream and shout
Hope you’re ready cause I’m coming now

Chorus
Leaving in a rocket
Off to outer space
Lost yet moonlit
Feeling the thunder bass

You know we love it
Yeah we’re winning this race
Hope you’re ready, cause we’re coming now
Hope you’re ready, cause we’re coming now

Waiting for the night to show us little wonders
and then when we dream too big sometimes we go under
But we’ll come back up again
The monsters became our friends
Got some hearts to mend
I hope this will never end
Framing some more memories
Remember them vividly
Humming our own melody
Own melody

Tonight we leave our fears at home
Cause we wanna go for the throne
Living life fullest
Even if bullets
Will hit my chest
I’ll get up and
Go for the crown
No one can tie me down
I wanna scream and shout
Hope you’re ready cause I’m coming now

Leaving in a rocket
Off to outer space
Lost yet moonlit
Feeling the thunder bass

You know we love it
Yeah we’re winning this race
Hope you’re ready, cause we’re coming now
Hope you’re ready, cause we’re coming now
Hope you’re ready, cause we’re coming now
Ready, cause we’re coming now
Cause we’re coming now
Ready, cause we’re coming now
     Slowlights is a London quartet comprised of Dan Clark, Tim Hillier Brook, Stephen Dukelow. And Bill Dukelow.
     “A Light” by Slowlights

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slowlightsband

Thursday, December 29, 2016

“Don't You Cry for Me” by Cobi – A Song Review

     We agree with the description of Cobi as being a multi-dimensional performer. The song “Don't You Cry for Me” begins with a Hozier-meets-Kaleo bluesy energy. But it’s not too long before a Pop-ready synth is allowed to play a prominent role. The song seamlessly fuses elements of Blues, R&B, Pop and Electronica.

     Cobi is Jacob Schmidt from Grand Marais, Minnesota. The Facebook page identifies the current location as Los Angeles and names Al Cleveland III and Jeff Kinsey as also being members of Cobi. 

     “Don't You Cry for Me” by Cobi



“(It's Not About) Running” by Tuvaband – A Song Review

     The song might reflect a complex struggle with mental instability. Or it could be a simple motivational exercise to get out of bed and do some physical exercise. We love the dichotomy in the possible interpretations of “(It's Not About) Running.”

    Tuvaband is a Norwegian/English duo based in Oslo. The members are Simon Would (guitar, piano, keys) and Tuva Hellum Marschhäuser (vocal, guitar, songwriter).

     The video of “(It's Not About) Running” is a focus on a runner. So, the song must be about a person motivating herself to leave the bed (“You need to get up”) for a morning jog. Right? The “contradictions” are the ones you feel when you know exercise is important, but you’re not ready to go. Right? Hell no! The song even states, “It’s not about running.” 




Lyrics of “(It's Not About) Running” by Tuvaband 
I think that I'm thinking
That I think
I think too much
I think I'm still alive

I like those days when I live many lives
In one day
It's not about running
It's not about running

And I feel
When the colors are just the way I like them
The way they melt
The way they melt

Now I know
I know I know now
You just need to get up
You need to get up

Feel the contradictions, you should feel it
You need to get up
You need to get up
You need to get up
Feel the contradictions, you should feel it
Now I know I know now
I know now
You just need to get up
You need to get up
You, you need to get up

The way I think is what I feel
And I needed to control it
Make it feel good
Make it feel good

It wakes when I do not care
When I don't give a damn
Sometimes I forget
Sometimes I forget

And I burn when the streets are empty
Dark and rowdy
That's when I become
That's when I become
Become

Now I know
I know I know now
You just need to get up
You need to get up

Feel the contradictions, you should feel it
Feel the contradictions, you should feel it
Feel the contradictions, you should feel it
Feel the contradictions, you should feel it
You just need to get up
You need to get up
You, you need to get up
You need to get up

Feel the contradictions, you should feel it
Now I know I know now
I know now
You just need to get up
You need to get up

I know now, I know now
Now I know I know now
I know now, I know now
Now I know I know now
I know now, I know now
Now I know I know now

 “Unknown” by Tuvaband 



Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Wolfie’s Just Fine – The Dark Side of Folk

     Sinister Folk is an oxymoron, right? No, not when the Folk genre is the hands of Wolfie's Just Fine. In the song “A New Beginning,” three curious boys watch a horror film with a nude scene. One falls for the women (played by Leah Kilpatrick) just before she meets her untimely demise. Confused, he projects himself into the film.
     The same boy (Gabriel Bateman) stars in the video “It’s a Job.” He angrily rides his bike into the woods to unbury and awaken four barbarians who can bring him justice. But he changes his mind moments before directing the barbarians to destroy his home.    


Written, directed, and edited by Jon Lajoie
Co-directed by Brandon Dermer
Produced by Ray Blanco


Written by Wolfie's Just Fine (Jon Lajoie)
Guitar, vocals, backing vocals: Jon Lajoie
Guitar, bass, backing vocals: Joe Corcoran
Drums, percussion: Lester Nuby
Produced by Joe Corcoran

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

“Oceans Away” by ARIZONA – A Song Review

     We assume everyone has “attention hooks” that cause music hunters to be attracted to songs before hearing the first note. For a reason we cannot explain, a song title that includes the word “Home” has a competitive advantage in grabbing our attention. An odder attention hook is our attraction to band names that are geographically misdescriptive. Examples in the UK include Bastille, Bombay Bicycle Club, Texas, and Lisbon. There are Canadian bands named Tokyo Police Club and Cairo. And Phoenix is based in France.

     But attention hooks will only carry the music hunter to the start line. Once the song begins, judgement is not influenced by the song title or band name. So, praise for the song “Oceans Away” is posted because it’s deserved, rather than because the song is a release by a New Jersey band that calls itself “ARIZONA.”
     “Oceans Away” is more melodic and less beat driven than earlier releases by ARIZONA. We enjoy their single “I Was Wrong,” but prefer the more organic approach of “Oceans Away.”

     ARIZONA is a trio formed of Zach Hannah (vocals), David Labuguen (keys), and Nate Esquite (guitar). 
     “Oceans Away” by ARIZONA

Monday, December 26, 2016

“Poem” by She Drew the Gun – A Song Review

     In a year having an uncommonly high number of songs with outstanding lyrics, “Poem” is among the most interesting. The vocals are supported by a Johnny Cash-like guitar hook. The song questions listeners’ understandings of freedom and their position in society. “Poem” has a fast-paced poignancy that only allows an occasionl quick breath as it moves between topics.

     According to the Facebook page of She Drew the Gun:
 "The idea for the song came from reading ‘Slaughter House-Five’ by Kurt Vonnegut, where he said that time did not want to pass, and I liked the idea of giving a will to things like time, so I used that in the opening line and went from there. It’s one of the last songs we recorded on the album a love song about heartbreak, and also about the fine line between reality and dreams; it’s kind of surreal so it feels like it could be a dream that the person is having, where they have lost their love and will be woken, but if you have ever lost in love you will know that all the dreamlike things in the song are very real, the time does refuse to pass, and the sun might as well decide not to shine."

     “Poem” is one song on the eleven-track album entitled “Memories of The Future.” She Drew the Gun is based in the UK and is driven by singer/songwriter Louisa Roach.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheDrewTheGun/

Lyrics of “Poem” by She Drew the Gun
Can't believe what I'm reading
When I open up these sheets
They've got police getting busier
Cleaning up the streets

'Cause that's what we need now
To make the place neat
Take the homeless man’s rags
No sleeping bags, no place to sleep

Because we're far too civilized
Around here to see
An unkempt human being
A broken human being

Open up your eyes
Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Yeah
A misplaced made-to-feel
Disgraced human being

What it's not enough
To just pretend that you don't see him
You can't stand the sight
So you've got to disappear him

Well I hope you feel more comfortable
Doing your sight seeing
Taking pictures
Buying fucking Union Jack magnets and keyrings

Life give me something to believe in
No lies, just something to believe in
Am I the only one that's grieving?
These things that belong to you and me that they are thieving

And how long until they build a wall
And call it a private city
They got walls made out of laws
To exclude you and me

And now they take away our right
To fight those laws for free
No legal aid, no more justice
Only for the wealthy

Oh but they're
Trying to build a more healthy society
So that everybody knows
You don't get nothin' for free

No scroungers
No living room loungers
Living off me

Can I suggest
You're seeing exactly what they want you to see
A monster, A cancer
Threat to your liberty

How 'bout a scapegoat for their crimes
A victim of the times
Everything that you’re not meant to be

How 'bout a badly prepared
Scared human being
How about a necessary cog
In their economic machine

‘Cause if there was no unemployment
Tell me how would things be
Would you still feel lucky
To be working 40 hours a week?

We’re like a caged bird
And they got us by the beak
Give us enough to eat,
Enough to sleep, enough to tweet

But there's not enough space
Between the ground and our feet
We're singing songs of freedom
But we're not flying free

So, life give me something to believe in
No lies, just something to believe in
Am I the only one that's grieving?
These things that belong to you and me that they are thieving

And this whole world's got me hurting
Got me feeling undeserving
Got me questioning my worth
In this sad system that we're serving

Found no place
In this twisted race for property
Is making profit
The sole aim of humanity?

Protect the banks
Bring out the tanks if they disagree
While we're at it let's invest some more in military
All our friends have shares so why shouldn't we?

And now the markets are demanding that we give away for free
Everything that our grandparents fought for to some company
It's called wealth creation
Yeah, it's more efficient you see

Sorry I forgot the free market would set us free
I forgot to only think about I am and me
While brothers and sisters have nothing to eat
Brothers and sisters, at home and overseas

So I can't lie down
And I won’t let it be
While we are working for a market
That doesn't work for we

These things that they're thieving, yours and mine
You know that they're still stealing
But there's still time
If you feel this way too
[Repeat]


“Poem” by She Drew The Gun on Skeleton Key Records 2016
Video by Oliver Bradley-Baker, Lewy Dohren & She Drew The Gun

Written by Louisa Roach
Performed by She Drew The Gun
Video performance by Gisele Mya Griffiths
Produced and Mixed by James Skelly and Richard Turvey