A Song You Can Lean On
Like the one from Bill Withers
The beginning of April 2020, was the time when we were only starting to grasp the full-scale and ravage COVID-19 was doing to us. One of the songs that were getting widespread airplay was that big, brilliant Bill Withers hit, ‘Lean On Me.’ Beginning of April 2020, unfortunately, was the time when Withers left us, many people unaware that he was still around up to that point. Hopefully, Withers had somebody to lean on while he was still around, he deserved it.
He left us though with that fantastic song, as well as many others, that we can certainly lean on, not only in hard times but at any time. Good songs come round all the time, brilliant o new once so often, but then, it is all a question of taste and which song creates a certain effect at any point in time.
Maybe a few of those below will serve their best purpose and that we can lean on them at some point.
Devin Hoff - Let No Man Steal Your Thyme
Devin Hoff is a bassist who has cooperated with everybody, more or less, from Yoko Ono to Mike Watt. For his upcoming album ‘Voices From The Empty Moor’, he has decided to try and extract the timeless essences from folk music, and this collaboration with Julia Holter shows that he might be coming up with something special.
Blue Arcade - Somebody Else
Blue Arcade, relative newcomers from Melbourne, come up with an upbeat, indie tune that sounds like a cross of every good band that once recorded for venerable Sarah Records in the Nineties. Along the way, they do that sound justice, as do the other three tunes on their debut EP.
Shortly - The Reaper
Michigan’s Shortly probably had something else in mind when they titled this tender ballad ‘The Reaper.’ More to do with that saying ‘you reap what you saw,’ but then you can decide for yourself, that burning polaroid in the video might be a clue.
Jeremiah Moon - Kinds of Light
Seattle singer/songwriter is a classically trained cellist who puts his instrument to excellent use here, but it is his slightly wavering vocals, anywhere along the line of Marc Bolan to Devendra Banhart that shine here, with his obvious songwriting skills. Another debut album to look out for.
Cedric Noel - Comuu
Another bassist, Montreal’s Cedric Noel tries to equally cover the ground between pop and ambient with some excellent results here. He has an extensive catalog behind him already, but based on this track, the forthcoming ‘Hang Time’ album sounds like something to look out for.
Steep Canyon Rangers - Nothing Matters (When You’re Mine)
As Grammy winners, Steep Canyon Rangers have certainly made a name for themselves among American music fans. Deservedly so, as this harmony and string-laden tune proves and puts itself into that category of songs you might want to lean on at some point.