‘If I Could Fly Eight Miles High, I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better,” goes one of the articles I wrote about the late great Gene Clark, a remarkable songwriter, and singer whose influence on modern music, particularly rock and Americana ranks among the unparalleled so far. Yet, the other side of Clark’s life coin was his substance abuse, fear of flight, and premature passing.
Unfortunately, more often than not, musicians taking the route of modern music also pick up on a lifestyle that has more dark shades than light ones, having a two-sided effect on their music - sometimes great, sometimes not so great. The main question there is - is it, or was it worth it, particularly for them?
Leo Sidran - Nobody Kisses Anymore
Sometimes children of well-known musicians are intimidated by their parents, something that is definitely not the case with Leo Sidran, who has not only proven that by winning an Oscar for his musical contribution, but has also come up with some seriously good body of music, much proven with this one from his latest album.
Drew & Ellie Holcomb - Bones
The husband and wife duo are something of an established force in Americana music, that can easily deserve epithets of suave and sophisticated, something so easily heard here, on one of their latest singles. More force to them.
Michael McArthur - Winding River
McArthur is one of the artists for whom they say ‘on his way,’ as this song was proclaimed ‘best of the week’ on quite a few Americana music streams, and for a good reason - excellent songwriting and vocals and subdued backing.
Freja The Dragon - Midnight
Swedish singer-songwriter Freja The Dragon didn’t get the attention of her better-known countrymen Peter, Bjorn, and John just for that fact, but because she obviously knows her way around a good melody and has a voice that carries it quite easily. From her latest EP.
Far From Saints - Let’s Turn This Around
You might wonder where this sophisticated ballad came from, as this duo/trio is yet to see their debut album released, but it is actually Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones alongside The Wind and the Wave’s Patty Lynn and Dwight Baker and it shows in this songs that goes from a simple to a fully-blown arrangement that works.
Cape Crush - Sans Souci
Power pop is still and seems to be thriving, but not only it is strictly sticking to its previously set formulas, but by stretching out and touching upon other genres. Massachusetts quartet Cap Crush shows how it is done when you add a bit of post-punk and emo to the mix, all in less than two and a half minutes.
Jared Saltiel - A Stranger, Your Name
Saltiel might still be a (musical) stranger, but on the evidence of this one, that might not last long, particularly for the fans of strong singer-songwriter music. Nice classical music touches throughout this one.
Whitehall - Pull
Pop rock is often considered low-grade stuff, which is entirely off the mark, particularly when it is done right, as is the case here from these Brooklyn guys, where everything is measured, including the loud guitars, somewhere along the song.
Bailen - Call It Like It Is
While Whitehall goes more into rock than pop, this trio takes reverse steps making this bass-thumping thing work by knowing how to use the pop formula to their advantage with a song that is driving playlist material.
Emma Ruth Rundle - In My Afterlife
Rundle doesn’t shy away from her music bearing the ‘dark’ tag, but she does seem to take deep plunges into musical shadows with true emotion and the capability to transfer those emotions into music that counts.
Esben and the Witch - True Mirror
Another shadowy one that works, with some serious questions that beg serious answers - “When the cracks are in the walls, will you still come home? / When you see what lies beneath, will you still love me?” it asks, and the music suits the question perfectly.