Skip to main content

Are your Levis Quivering?

I heard yet another melancholy song by a young female singer songwriter. I am going to leave out names only because it is my first foray into this type of music critiquing and I don't want to make enemies, yet. The song relied on the morbidity of depression "I am so sad / I am so blue" Oh for God's sake why are you so depressed all the time. I mean you could have got e to that hypnotherapist your ex lover gave you 1500 bucks for sessions and you only went once. Natalie Merchant of Ten Thousand Manicas crafted a song about depression "Like The Weather" If you really don't dive into the lyrics "Well by the force of will my lungs are filled and so I breathe. /Lately it seems this big bed is where I never leave. /Shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather. /Quiver in my voice as I cry," The song has a peppy, danceable vibe. Merchant was always a wonder at creating songs with a pop of snark to alleviate the dark. Aimee Mann is also a master at writing about heartache and breakups. In "Save Me" (the title alone) Mann croons in her signature slow rolling vocals. Check this opening line out "You look like a perfect fit 
For a girl in need of a tourniquet 
But can you - save me" 


You crave more of this song and it doesn't disappoint with overarching bridge that rises high then drops you back to reality. I relate to Aimee. Her last album from 2017 was simply entitled "Mental Illness" and instead of running away from her waxing poetic about being depressed and anxious in this age of general anxiety and overmedication, you want to lung right into the fits of mania she speaks about in "RollerCoaster". The woman has talent and truth and she builds on life experience. Pitchfork wrote "Mann fills her songs with ordinary people struggling against operatic levels of pain." The issue I feel with these young girls full of dread and angst and inability to forge forward in real relationships is I am not hearing the aria. 



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Song of the Day - "OPEN" - by Stella Ruze (Rules)

The Gang is all here. STELLA RUZE writtten by Violet Rosette Stella Ruze? More like Stella Rulez! Stella Ruze was birthed in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia in 2014 and is continuing to grow. They just dropped a new video for their newest song “Open”. This song will be featured on their new album “The Greater Dog”. Brendan Johnson & Katie O’Donnell are the band founders and help write most of the songs. The group also includes Keyboardist Mason Wallack and Alex Styer on trumpet. Together they make a stellar team! What could be better than Stella Ruze the 4-piece?   Stella Ruze the 7-piece! These funky monkeys have added accomplished blues drummer Sean McIntyre who really knows his way around a drum set. They also merged Bass guitar extraordinaire Ted Mayo and saxophone player, Vince Gleason, who is a lifetime member of the legendary Mummer group – Ferko String Band, into the previous 4-piece. According to the band, “Our new sound emboldens our message t...

Allow me to Introduce The Inclines

The Inclines hail from Kitchener, Ontario. The dynamic four-piece band release songs that ricochet with emotive prowess. They sing of relationships gone South as well as found love. Their style is a brash mix of alternative self-confessional emo indie rock.  They released a few ripping singles earlier in the Spring.  Here is your introduction to the band. Sam Belanger - Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar Jake Robinson - Bass Guitar/Vocals Brad McNeil - Drums/Vocals Cole Saunders - Lead Guitar What's up with the band name?  – “Our singer came up with it about 3 years ago. It doesn’t have any special meaning we just like how ambiguous it sounds.” Tell me about your start as a band  – “ We’ve been a band since 2016. Our  influences  range across many genres such as punk, and R&B. We write our lyrics as a group. Our songwriting process is very chaotic because we always have many songs on the go.” What is your favorite music to listen to? ...

Justin Townes Earle will be sorely missed. Thank you.

Demons descend in order to hold you down. Demons can be kicked. Demons will return. It is not the fault of those who continue to welcome them back in their life.  Justin Townes Earle battled since he was 12. He once mentioned he couldn't believe he was 12 and shooting up every day. The underrated stellar song writer and guitar slinger was an acquired taste. He spoke the truth. If you were able to get  mentally tough enough not to look away you can understand the pain underneath his melancholy yet gorgeous offerings. A son, a songwriter, a new husband and the father of 2 year old, Etta. Breaks my already cracked heart that she will be denied some time with her Dad.  Middle named for his Dad's mentor for alt country music, the original badass , Townes Van Zandt, Justin had his issues with his Dad, Steve. But you know he loved him.   He sang a lot about his mother who tended to look the other way when he fked up.(Mama's Eyes")   "I am my fathers son/I ain...