When Procol Harum came up with ‘Homburg,’ a great follow-up song to their biggest-ever hit ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale,’ they and their lyricist Keith Reid seem to have referred to a type of a hat, but then, the lyrics themselves were too surreal and steeped in psychedelics to be sure that they didn't in some way refer to all those places and people that bear a Homburg in their name, like that beautiful Bad Homburg spa in Germany (bad being the spa in German, not bad at all, including the song itself):
“Your trouser cuffs are dirty
And your shoes are laced up wrong
You'd better take off your Homburg
'Cause your overcoat is too long”
Some criticized the song for being too similar to Procol Harum’s initial big hit, but in many ways, it was more subtle and developed and it just confirmed with what that band came up with later on, that they were actually one of the progenitors of genres like baroque pop and symphonic prog.
Evidence of a Struggle - Do’oa
This Chicago-based collective maybe has a complicated name and a somewhat cryptic title for their latest single, but on the evidence of this one, simplicity does not seem to be their trademark, as they follow up in the tradition of great Chicago post-rockers Tortoise and some others.
Esther Rose - Spider
Rose has one of those voices that ooze emotion, but then so do her lyrics, which she seems to set in some equally emotional melodies, but with subtle arrangements that don’t overstate those emotions. Great stuff.
Indie Dog - Darlin’
No, not that great Beach Boys song, but the one where these Dogs have come up with some soulful grooves that work both at home, in a car, on a run, or on a dance floor. Hard to achieve, no matter what.
Bonny Doon - Let There Be Music
This Detroit trio loves their melodic pop it seems, and why not, if they do it this well, with a theme and a title that has been running through modern pop for decades now? As it should.
Michael B. Thomas - The Moment
Thomas can definitely bear the title of an archetypal singer-songwriter, but he seems to have all the qualities of a really good one at that, combining and digesting all his influences to come up with something that is actually quite personal.
Bailen - Nothing Left To Give
Bailen is actually the last name of these three siblings (two brothers and a sister) and that sibling unison is very much felt through their vocal harmonies that embellish this excellent pop ditty.
Peter One - Cherie Vico
This 67-year-old Nashville resident originally came from Cote d’Ivoire, and he so playfully and well combines his Afropop roots with the other country roots he encountered when he moved to Nashville.
Vinyl Williams - Petroglyph
Williams steeps his music in the late sixties psych and Brazilian tropicalia here, a very discerning and quality choice for sure, and he does it justice, as he combines the elements that inspired him into something quite personal.
The Now - Girl You Got Me
These Welsh rockers are exactly what it seems, and they definitely know how to combine their excellent guitar sound with a good melody and shifting tempo here.
Ricky Byrd - Alien
Byrd is actually part of the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame for his work with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and to underline that fact, he goes back to the fifties here, just updating that sound for these modern times, without a single blemish on his reputation.
Hania Rani - Hello
Actually, a live performance recorded in the mountains makes Rani her vocals and instrumental skills (along with her accompanying musicians) simply shine, more an introduction to her new album and live performances than a single as such.
Anne Brun - Hand In The Fire
Norway’s Anne Brun has always been recognized as a brilliant singer, with her songwriting skills somewhat on the back burner, but not on this song taken from the latest compilation of her material that proves she is actually excellent at both.
Estrella del Sol - Figura de Cristal
A crystal figure is actually an excellent title for this dream pop/shoegaze song that surely works well as both from this Mexican singer-songwriter that should make a greater impact, for sure.
Friday - Meantime
Nicole Daddona, aka Friday, seems to love that late sixties psych pop sound, but definitely in an updated form, and she hits both the original genre and the modern production more than just well. Her debut EP from which this song is taken is definitely worth checking out.
Skating Polly - I’m Sorry For Always Apologizing
This trio shows exactly how a good pop/rock song should sound like, both yesterday and today, without actually apologizing for anything, including the tongue-in-cheek title and lyrics.
Maggie Feldman - Meantime
No apologies here for being a good singer-songwriter, and none are actually needed anyway, as Feldman comes with a good song, interpretation, and an arrangement to match.
Pickle Darling - Invercargill Angel
The title might be a tongue-breaker for some but not for New Zealand’s Lukas Mayo, aka Pickle Darling, who comes up with quite a delicate pop song that shines and shimmers as it evolves.
Softlung - Second Chances
Not sure whether this title song from his upcoming album is a first or a second chance for Softlung, but Canadian musician S. J. Kardash who is behind this project, based on this song, definitely deserves a chance.
Chain of Flowers - Fire (In The Heart of Hearts)
This one is inspired by the eighties bands like Echo & The Bunnymen, Cure House of Love, and even The Waterboys, but these Welsh guys definitely have their hearts (and chops) in the right place and do their inspirations justice.
Natalie Rose LeBrecht - Holy
The title is a bit of a giveaway here, as this New York singer-songwriter, combines spiritual jazz, dream pop, ambient, and space psych for quite n intriguing combination that definitely makes checking out her upcoming album a must.