zondag 19 februari 2023

2023 Week 7, ten singles

The days fly by, so it's time for ten more singles to be presented to you. Only two first timers on this blog this week but also only one true veteran to the blog. In fact she was part of the duo represented in the first post, The Parlor Soldiers. She's at the end with a beautiful new single. It's time she becomes a worldwide star. Check her music out! All the others have come by with a previous single or more or with one album. And yes, it's varied alright. From rocking hard with loud, huge riffs. to beautiful pop. What are you waiting for?, enjoy!

Every Colour Suits Me. Lizzy

It has been quiet for a while as far as Lizzy is concerned. This changed recently with her new pop single Every Colour Suits Me. The heavy laden ballad is full with an anticipatory atmosphere. The singer is in a sort of limbo and not knowing what to expect, yet surrenders as she invites the other to paint any colour on her. Musically, the song is fully organic with slow but firm drums and a string section colouring it in. It makes the song stand out among the previous singles Lizzy released in the past two years. As if with each single she explores a different side of her musical self.

There are so many differently spelled Lizzys these days, that it is good to be reminded that Lizzy is Belgian singer Lise Reyners, active under this name since 2021. She works with producer (and The LVE drummer) Joes Brands, who has a role in the creation of Lizzy's sound. She writes the songs though. Every Colour Suits Me is the first single of a five song EP. The question is, what kind of musical colours will she share in the coming months?

Caged. Motive Black

Big, thick riffs, that is the best description of Caged, Motive Black's latest single. With huge drums and a deep end bass guitar behind the riffs, providing context and power. Over it there's a singer, Elana Justin, who comes closest to Ann Wilson as I've heard for years. That mix between power and frailty. Despite Heart's balladry and folk outings, when the band rocked, it rocked and Motive Black has this rock part totally down. Louder, harder, tougher it may be, I'm thinking of Heart the whole of the time here. And that's a good thing, as Caged is a song that has the same sort of quality like 'Crazy On You' or 'Barracuda'. This song rocks by the millions and is totally balanced in all the right ways. There's nothing here solely to impress. All power is used for the love of this song, Caged. Album Auburn is out for a few days, time to check it out.

Bad Vacation. Streetwalkin' Cheetahs

After a vacation from the band of 20 years, three original members and two new ones are back on the trail and how. Streetwalkin' Cheetahs rock and simply know what a good rock song takes to rock. The obvious fun of playing this music, like they used to make them over thirty years ago, is simply added to the quality This band does not need a potential sympathy factor because of its comeback, it deserves it on the basis of the way Bad Vacation rocks. Despite or because of the inspiration of being on holiday with the "saddest girl in town", Bad Vacation totally jumps out of my speakers. The elementary chord progression has been played like this since 'Wild Thing' in The Troggs's version, add some variation, melody, a dirty lead guitar and harmony oohs and aahs and a great rock song is born. Streetwalkin' Cheetahs deliver and end it all with a great sax solo. How many (garage) rock bands do you know doing that?

Feelin In Stereo. Local Drags

Not even two minutes and Local Drags have said it all. The listener is transported, once again, to the 1990s, say as if The Lemonheads are looking back even further in time. The result is an alternative pop song that simply is infectious. Try and count the guitar parts in there, from acoustic to electric, all playing their parts. There are several layers, under which the rhythm section, unfazed by it all, is doing what it is supposed to do. The singer found a golden pop melody and some nice harmonies to boot. Feeling In Stereo, like the title I'm reminded off 'Pumping On Your Stereo', is a pop gem that deserves being heard. It makes me feel good immediately, despite having a slightly sad undertone. Don't be fooled by the name, making you expect the local punk band, in this song Local Drags shows a great pop side to itself.

Carpenter. Vera Ellen

Yes, I'm almost apologetic, as once more I'm writing about a Flying Nun Records release from New Zealand. (If it still exists, as there a some apocalyptic storms going on there at the moment. Stay safe!) What else can I do though, when the label releases a song like Carpenter? Whatever you say, this is getting close to epic proportions. Not in the blown-up 'November Rain' style but in its own modest, small town kind of way. Vera Ellen starts in the smallest of ways, with waves crashing on the shore, a soft electric guitar,  her voice and the atmospheric silence coming with the effects (of being in a room) on both. Ever so slow and subdued. "I called the carpenter. I broke the furniture", is the way the song starts and that's just the start of her worries. But help is asked all through the song and is it's theme. Slowly but surely the song grows bigger and more impressive. Without ever exploding, this is a different yet successful approach. With small parts bordering on dissonance, if not beyond, she catches my ears for the whole ride. She is really giving it her all here and all for us listeners to enjoy. Carpenter is something different alright.

Looking Right At You. The Morning Line

Looking Right At You is a kind of time machine or song from beyond the grave, as this is so Tom Petty like. The Morning Line from San Francisco comes with a beautiful new single, celebrating all a mild rock and good pop combination can achieve in a song. As far as I'm concerned this song combines the best of West Coast pop of decades hence. The Byrds/Roger McGuinn are in here. It could be a The Travelling Wilburys' song as well. And the good news is, it has that same level of quality. A songsmith is at work here and has the band members to make his songwriting come alive. Looking Right At You has that bittersweet taste that makes up the best songs that are not intended to be happy. The Morning Line's singer Stephen Smith may be looking at his object of desire, it is not as if he/she/they or it makes him happier because of it. This feeling is caught in music and voice and together create a beautiful song.

Stay. Matweeds

Another re-release on Rum Bar. This time from 1987. Jerry Lehane and Jim Keough at the time bundled their musical efforts into a new band called Matweeds. That's 36 years ago, folks and even then the song may have sounded "old", as it combined 1960s pop with a mild form of punk singing with pub brawling. The result, the undoubtedly totally obscure song, 'Stay' is a delight though. In 2023 I finally get to know it and here I'm singing along "You oughta stay, stay, stay!". The famous song title, made even more famous by that sugar coated movie called 'Dirty Dancing', seems to have been the inspiration to this Stay. "Why don't you stay", is a line not hard to ignore here. The pop element is so present in the Stay from 1987, with some The Stones style guitar playing going on in the background. I have no clue what else Matweeds produced at the time but on the basis of this song I'm sure curious. Something tells me Rum Bar will let us know more soon. Stay should have been a hit in its day and deserves far over the 30 views on You Tube it had the moment I checked in today. Heck, it should be a hit in 2023 as well.

Never Had To Know. The Vices

One month from now The Vices releases its second album, 'Unknown Affairs'. In the mean time the Groningen based band warms us up with a new, rather darkish 80s sounding new single. Those paying attention will find the lyrics hold the album title. The single starts soft but in a decisive way. It allows for dynamics, when the band lets go a bit for the chorus. More atmospheric sounds give room to lay the full band sound over it. Singer Floris van Luijtenaar shows his ability to sing and quite a few different qualities to his voice. The raplike sequence is the only lesser side to Never Had To Know. I truly like the slow keyboard notes coming right after the chorus and at the end. They give the single a luxurious feel of never having to hurry again, and that right after Van Luijtelaar has shared his anguish with us. Another fine introduction to 'Unknown Affair'. If I remember correctly, it's three up one down so far.

Making History. The Utopiates

For a band having started in the pandemic, I have to say the sound is rather upbeat. But than songwriter Dan Popplewell's convinced he is making history here with his songs and band. Every reason to be upbeat. The band releases 'The Sun Also Rises' in May and embarks on a U.K. tour, so the sun is not only rising, it's shining on the new band. The music does sound familiar to people with a track record in music like me. Jesus Jones, The Stone Roses and that kind of bands from the end of the 90s, that mixed rock with some dance is what The Utopiates are recreating in a very successful way. Making History has that rocking dance vibe all over it and a lead guitarist, Josh Redding, that really tears things apart in the outro. This is simply great fun. Despite my initial scepticism over the overly familiar sound, The Utopiates got on my good side, as Making History rocks. There's no other word for it.

Lay Me Down. Karen Jonas

With her second single of upcoming album 'The Restless' Karen Jonas returns to a slightly more familiar territory compared to its first single 'Rock The Boat'. That said, Lay Me Down is of a stunning beauty. This song should make her world famous, because it holds all one need to be convinced. Her voice is beautiful, the relaxed albeit a bit sad, perhaps resigned atmosphere holds my attention captured, while the music is so rich. Drums and bass are present without becoming too dominant. They serve, just like the acoustic guitar does, song and singer alike. Over that a piano plays chords alternated with slow solo notes. A pedal steel guitar delivers the right sort of accents. Lead guitarist Tim Bray takes all the room he's allowed and plays a couple of brilliant solo's and lead lines. He's howling with the wolves alright. His beautiful sound adorns Lay Me Down like a flower bead the May queen at the local fest. I do not know how she does it but Karen Jonas is still able to surprise me over ten years into her solo career. Lay Me Down is simply utterly beautiful.

Wout de Natris

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