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Eat The Young. The Jacklights
Boston's
The Jacklights return to this blog with a single from it's upcoming new
EP 'Drift'. Eat The Young is not just a variation on the more common
'Eat the Rich', it is a punkrock anthem, that joins energy with a hint
of rage. The band goes at it without holding back for a second. In fact
well within two minutes it's all over, faster that a fifties rock and
roll single. So, do not expect any niceties or embellishments coming
with Eat The Young. The Jacklights present its new single totally
straightforward. Message delivered. Full stop. Nothing is made prettier,
nothing hidden. Eat The Young is what it is, punkrock.
La
Luz is a surf rock inspired trio from Seattle/Los Angeles founded in
2012. The trip has brought the band to a 2021 release that is extremely
dreamy by nature. The singing could be placed in the dreampop segment of
rock for certain, musically In The Country is so much more adventurous.
There is a lot happening underneath that dreamy singing. Inventive
drumming is where this song starts. Over it almost everything goes. A
bass that escaped from Air's 'Moon Safari' album. All sort of
mysterious, psychedelic sounds flying by. Guitars with a surf influence
may start the song, from there on they produce ever more mysterious sounds.
Shana Cleveland is the lead singer, her two bandmates certainly assist
in colouring in the vocals. Together they create as intricate a vocal
web as the music is multi-layered. I could call the music neo-hippie,
but that would be making it far too easy on myself. For that In The
Country is far too interesting and intriguing. It could well be a new
name has to be invented to describe the music and that is meant as a
huge compliment. Beautiful single In The Country is. I can't wait to
hear more.
Ashley Shadow is a singer from Vancouver, BC, and releasing her first single from her upcoming second album. For Love is not a joyous love song. In fact slowly but surely the single gets darker overtones by the ten seconds. It starts almost as a Christmas single, as if the sleigh bells are dampened by heavy snowfall but still can be heard, muffled and all. As soon as the song starts for real, it is the rhythm that catches my ear. This is not your average pop/rock rhythm. I can't start to tell you what it might be. At heart a 3/4 but over that? Ashley Shadow sings with her deep voice in a slow fashion. The ever darker lead guitar matches her voice more and more, drawing For Love into the dark ever more. The harmony vocal, another timbre to her voice, makes the song definitely more beautiful. Intriguing song, but I've used that word today already, haven't I?, but justifiably so.
Irish
singer Cat Dowling wrote Freedom right after the birth of her child.
The result is a mix of Irish folk chanting and oh so sweet pop with a
folkrock twist. This song starts however with Cat Dowling's voice. Pay
just a little attention and you will notice all the different voices she
has. From pub shouting in the background, "freedom", to the soft and
sweet purring lead voice, the whispers, the harmony vocals, it all comes
by well-layered and ever so present. The music is almost a nice
addition to the vocal power of Dowling. Of course musically there's
enough to enjoy. The semi-muted lead notes on the electric guitar, the
acoustic guitar ringing out all through the song. It is the mysterious
pre-chorus "freedom, freedom", that is the most mysterious. How does one
think of such a strange twist to a song?
The
Chelsea Curve is releasing singles faster than I can keep up with, but
trying hard. A Better Way is the fourth single in a monthly cycle of
releases. And one to take notice of. A Better Way is that kind of
punkrock single that brings me back over 40 years to the best punkrock
singles of Blondie, starting with 'Hanging On The Telephone'. The
singing is also the best of U.K. punk of 1977. Chelsea is a part of
London and the name of a punkrock band at the same time. What makes A Better Way a
great single? It starts with the fact that it appeals immediately. It
resonates with me and settles in my brain with ease. I want to sing
along and dance to it. It holds it all. If there is a better way for The
Chelsea Curve than this single then I'm going to get really excited. It
must be a near impossible achievement.
Colin
Moulding of course is best known as bass player in new wave band XTC,
long before that name became the love drug of another generation. With
The Hardest Battle Moulding returns to the pop front. Like his most
famous sing, The Hardest Battle plays with the rhythm of the song but
that is not what stands out most. If anything the single is a homage to
Brain Wilson and The Beach Boys. With harmonies coming straight out of
the Wilson playbook. Without having a voice that would ever qualify for a
The Beach Boys audition, Colin Moulding plays with the playbook with
fun and ease. Colin Moulding shows himself once again as a great
musician and inventive songwriter. On his first ever solo release it all
seems to get together in a fine song, that he can be immensely proud
of. (What's the name of his most famous song, you ask? 'Making Plans For Nigel', of course.)
Some
more rock from Italy today. Roman rockers Solar Mantra announce its new
album by way of the single Candyman. Anyone liking hard rock will find
something to his or her liking. Heavy riffing, great singing in the true
rock style and a heavy rhythm driving the song onwards. Solar Mantra
presents a mix of traditional hard rock in the style of Black Sabbath,
while obviously having listened to bands like Guns 'N' Roses as well.
For me personally it is important that a song has a melody to. That part
is no issue here. Candyman has one alright. Nothing is overdone, all is
functional. The solo is to the point, working towards a climax. The
surprising part is the sample on hard candy at the end of the song.
Something almost frivolous is allowed in.
Only
five weeks ago we wrote on 'Headphones Baby'. The Vaccines return
already with a new single, the title song to the new album to be
released in September. Back In Love City is an almost strange hybrid of a
single. It has an enormous pop streak, one that comes close to be too
pop to my liking. The first verse comes close to being discarded, and
then that guitar joins. The chorus is as flat as a nail laid on the
rails ahead of an oncoming train. And yet, try to shake that chorus after you've
heard it. To protect yourself it's best just not to do so. Do and your
sold. Having heard 'Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)' first, there was no
predicting Back In Love City. It gets close to being just as infectuous
though.
Whether
on Red On Red or on Rum Bar Records musicians from Boston tend to play
together in all sorts of line ups. Together with drummer Chuck Ferreira,
Harrington and Mandolyn check out together how far pop music can be
stretched into punkrock. I promise you towards punkrock heaven and back.
Real Love is a tremendous pop song. One that Brad Marino would love to
have written, were it not that Real Love has this even sweeter touch to
it. The band, drums, bass, guitar, plays like mad and still sounds
sweet, because of the vocal melody and way of singing. I know I can
think of dozens of influences if I wanted to but all would take away
from the strength of this single. The combination of voices, melody and
playing makes this song, most likely not unique, but certainly extremely
good. Where were all these musicians before Red on Red came into my
life?
We end this week with indie rock from Iceland. Máni Orrason clearly has heard what has come out of the U.K. in the past 30 years. On Change The World he manages to mix Blur and Oasis near to perfection. The result is a song with a lot of style and the spunk to shout it into the world to get a little more attention. The song has the kind of rhythm that makes someone run for a long time as long as that rhythm keeps going. Orrason understands how to build up a song. It gets more demanding, craving for attention by playing with the inner dynamics, with the passing of mere minutes. "I wanted all of that", he sings and it may well Change The World deserves the attention. It grabbed mine with ease.
Wout de Natris
Listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:
https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g
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