Month: August 2024

Top 30 Songs for August 25-31, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's13 Comments

Ever since learning about them nearly 10 years ago, twenty one pilots have ranked among my all-time favorite music acts. Their 2015 masterpiece Blurryface is one of my top 10 favorite albums of all time. Still based in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio, the dynamic duo consists of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. Joseph is a brilliant and imaginative songwriter, as well as a damn fine rapper, and Dun is one of the best drummers around today. Their eclectic sound is a blend of alternative rock, hip hop, synth-pop, bedroom pop, emo rap, indie and garage rock.

This past May, they released their seventh album Clancy, the final installment of their nearly decade-long series of conceptual albums. Clancy concludes the storyline of the character Clancy, who resides in the fictional dystopian city of Dema in the metaphysical world of Trench we were introduced to on their 2018 album Trench. The album was co-produced by Joseph and his frequent collaborator Paul Meany, a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music director and producer who’s also front man of alt-rock act Mutemath. One of the album’s tracks, “The Craving”, was released in two different versions, one being the album cut featuring a stripped-down acoustic arrangement subtitled “Jenna’s Version”, and the other the single version featuring a fuller arrangement. Joseph wrote the song as a dedication to his wife Jenna. The beautiful single version is my new #1 song this week, making it twenty one pilots’ 11th song to reach #1 on my chart (their previous single “Overcompensate” recently peaked at #2).

In other chart news of note, Sabrina Carpenter‘s breezy dance-pop gem “Espresso” climbs six spots to enter the top 10 at #10, and Lola Young‘s powerfully defiant “Messy” moves up six spots to #21. Two songs make their debut this week: entering at #29 is the hauntingly beautiful “Into Gold” by English indie pop trio London Grammar. Formed in 2009 the band consists of Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman and Dominic “Dot” Major. They’ve released three albums thus far, with a fourth, The Greatest Love, due for release later this year. Though their albums have been quite successful in the UK, many European countries and Australia, some reaching #1 in those countries, they’ve had only limited success in the U.S. “Into Gold” was released on June 21st as the third single from The Greatest Love, and marks London Grammar’s first appearance on my chart. Entering at #30 is the topically relevant and captivating “Permanent Record” by Welsh singer-songwriter GG Fearn, which I reviewed last month. The talented artist just released her album “Scopophobia”, a soundtrack to the independent Welsh horror film of the same name, featuring “Permanent Record”, along with previously-released songs and new ones written especially for the film.

  1. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (2)
  2. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (1)
  3. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (4)
  4. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (3)
  5. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (5)
  6. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (7)
  7. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (8)
  8. OH NO! – The Decemberists (10)
  9. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (6)
  10. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (16)
  11. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (14)
  12. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (12)
  13. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (13)
  14. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (9)
  15. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (17)
  16. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (11)
  17. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (15)
  18. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (20)
  19. STARGAZING – Myles Smith (21)
  20. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (23)
  21. MESSY – Lola Young (27)
  22. WAR – Healer (24)
  23. HONEY – Mr Bewlay (26)
  24. BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish (29)
  25. GOOD LUCK, BABE! – Chappell Roan (30)
  26. BABY BLUE MOVIE – Cigarettes After Six (25)
  27. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (18)
  28. TOO SWEET – Hozier (19) 20th week on chart
  29. INTO GOLD – London Grammar (N)
  30. PERMANENT RECORD – GG Fearn (N)

EML’s Favorite Songs – “Sunny Afternoon” by The Kinks

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Favorite Songs20 Comments

I was recently invited by fellow blogger Max Gower to participate in a special series on The Kinks for his terrific blog Power Pop… An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture. I chose to write about their 1966 single “Sunny Afternoon”, which ranks among my top ten favorites songs by the Kinks. I was 11 when the song came out and I remember liking it a lot, not only because of its catchy, upbeat melody but also for the lines “Save me, save me, save me from this squeeze. I gotta big fat mama trying to break me” which, being an 11-year-old, I found pretty funny. Though I didn’t fully comprehend the deeper meaning of the lyrics at the time, my guess was that the song was generally about a guy’s discontent over his current life situation.

Written by Kinks frontman Ray Davies while he was at home suffering from a bad cold, “Sunny Afternoon” was inspired by the high levels of progressive tax imposed by the British Labour government of Harold Wilson (a subject also covered by the Beatles in their song “Taxman”), as well as a host of difficult issues he was facing at the time. Despite the Kinks’ immense success, group tensions, lawsuits, an unrealistic workload and unsupportive management was making them miserable. Davies was also dealing with new fatherhood, and had even left the band for a while.

In writing the song, Davis composed the melody first, then created an alter ego to express his feelings. He later recalled: “The only way I could interpret how I felt was through a dusty, fallen aristocrat who had come from old money as opposed to the wealth I had created for myself.” In order to prevent the listener from sympathizing with the song’s protagonist, a spoiled aristocrat bemoaning the loss of his vast unearned wealth, Davies said, “I turned him into a scoundrel who fought with his girlfriend after a night of drunkenness and cruelty.” (Songfacts)

Regarding those lyrics I loved as a kid, Davies explained in a 2016 interview with Q magazine: “My mother was quite large. But that also alludes to the government, the British Empire, trying to break people.”

Davies was still suffering from his cold on the day he recorded the song on May 13, 1966, and now that I know this, his nasal congestion is apparent in his vocals, which nevertheless still sound great to me. He recalled to Q magazine: “I did it in one take and when I heard it back I said, ‘No, let me do it properly,’ but the session was out of time. So that was the vocal. I heard it again the other day. I was 22 but I sound like someone about 40 who’s been through the mill. I really hang on some of the notes. A joyous song, though, even if it’s suppressed joy. I had real fun writing that.” Backing vocals were sung by Dave Davies, Kinks bassist Pete Quaife, and Ray Davies’ then wife Rasa.

With its strong music hall vibe (a type of British theatrical entertainment similar to American vaudeville that was popular from the Victorian era through World War I, characterized by a mix of popular songs, comedy and specialty acts), “Sunny Afternoon” was a continuation of the stylistic departure from the band’s earlier hard-driving, power chord songs like “You Really Got Me” and “All Day and All of the Night” that began with 1965’s “A Well Respected Man”. Besides Davies’ wonderful vocals, I love Pete Quaife’s jaunty bass riff, session musician Nicky Hopkins’ spirited piano, and the charming little musical touches like the harmonica, tambourine and lively percussion heard throughout the track.

Released as a single on June 3, 1966, “Sunny Afternoon” went to #1 on the UK Singles Chart that July, where it spent three weeks. The song also reached #1 in Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands and Norway, and peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. It was later included on their fourth album Face to Face, released in October 1966, as well as becoming the title track for their 1967 compilation album.

The promotional video produced for the single featured the band performing in a cold, snowy environment, in sharp contrast to the lyrics about enjoying a sunny afternoon.

Top 30 Songs for August 18-24, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's18 Comments

I’m still enthralled with Fontaines D.C.‘s bombastic and unsettling masterpiece “Starburster”, consequently it remains at #1 on my Top 30 chart for a third week. twenty one pilots and Beach Weather hold the #2 and #3 spots again this week with their beautiful songs “The Craving” and “High in Low Places”, while “Panoramic View” by AWOLNATION moves back up to #4. Norwegian psych-noir duo Mayflower Madame‘s darkwave gem “A Foretold Ecstasy” moves up two spots to #5 and The Decemberists move up a notch to enter the top 10 with their delightful Latin-esque “Oh No!”

Two songs, both of which have been out for a while, finally enter my chart this week. At #29 is the enchanting “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish, giving her two songs on this chart, the other being “LUNCH”, which currently sits at #6. Both songs are from her latest album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT.

Coming in at #30 is “Good Luck, Babe!” by Missouri-born and now L.A.-based singer-songwriter sensation Chappell Roan. With her campy music aesthetic and performing style heavily influenced by drag queens, she’s recently gone viral, and I’ve happily climbed aboard the Chappell Roan bandwagon! Her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, released in September 2023, was not an immediate commercial success despite being included on several best albums of 2023 lists. But following her run as an opening act for Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour, which ran from February-April 2024, and performances at music festivals like Coachella, Governors Ball and Lollapalooza, where she allegedly broke the record for the most crowded set at that festival’s history, Roan and her album eventually garnered a cult following. By mid-2024, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess had climbed numerous worldwide charts, reaching #1 in Ireland, New Zealand and the UK, and the top five in Australia and on the US Billboard 200 Album chart. Subsequently, several of the album’s singles entered various charts for the first time since their release, along with her follow-up single “Good Luck, Babe!”, which reached the top 10 in many countries, making it her most successful single to date.

  1. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (1)
  2. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (2)
  3. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (3)
  4. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (5)
  5. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (7)
  6. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (8)
  7. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (9)
  8. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (10)
  9. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (4)
  10. OH NO! – The Decemberists (11)
  11. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (6)
  12. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (12)
  13. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (16)
  14. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (17)
  15. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (18)
  16. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (19)
  17. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (20)
  18. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (13)
  19. TOO SWEET – Hozier (14) 19th week on chart
  20. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (21)
  21. STARGAZING – Myles Smith (22)
  22. VICES – 5ilas & Shimmer Johnson (15)
  23. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (25)
  24. WAR – Healer (26)
  25. BABY BLUE MOVIE – Cigarettes After Sex (27)
  26. HONEY – Mr Bewlay (28)
  27. MESSY – Lola Young (29)
  28. DOWNING STREET – Brain Ape (30)
  29. BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish (N)
  30. GOOD LUCK, BABE! – Chappell Roan (N)

Top 30 Songs for August 11-17, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's5 Comments
Photo of Fontaines D.C. taken from their Facebook account

Last week’s top seven songs remain in the top seven this week, with the irrepressible Fontaines D.C. holding on to the top spot for a second week with their darkly beautiful and bombastic tour de force “Starburster”. twenty one pilots and Beach Weather switch places, with the former’s “The Craving” moving into the #2 spot. Entering the top 10 are “Like You Do” by a long-time favorite of mine, Virginia-based singer-songwriter The Frontier, and “Lost In Space” by another long-time favorite band Foster the People. Fun fact: I’ve seen twenty one pilots, Beach Weather and Foster the People in concert.

“Oh No!” by The Decemberists jumps eight spots to #11, making it the biggest upward mover for a second week. Two songs make their debut, the first of which is “Messy”, a defiant song of self affirmation by English singer-songwriter and musician Lola Young. I heard the song on a recent post by fellow blogger Katie Hartless on her wonderful blog Yard Sale of Thoughts, and loved it at first listen. Though Lola Young has been recording and releasing music for the past five years, I wasn’t familiar with her or her music. Her provocative songwriting and smoky vocal style have earned her comparisons with the late Amy Winehouse. “Messy” is from her third album This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway, which dropped June 21st. The second debut, entering at #30, is “downing street” by innovative London-based alt-rock band Brain Ape, who I’ve featured many times on this blog. I reviewed the song when it came out last month.

  1. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (1)
  2. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (3)
  3. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (2)
  4. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (4)
  5. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (5)
  6. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (6)
  7. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (7)
  8. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (9)
  9. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (11)
  10. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (12)
  11. OH NO! – The Decemberists (19)
  12. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (14)
  13. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (8)
  14. TOO SWEET – Hozier (10)
  15. VICES – 5ilas & Shimmer Johnson (15)
  16. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (16)
  17. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (17)
  18. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (18)
  19. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (20)
  20. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (21)
  21. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (24)
  22. STARGAZING – Myles Smith (28)
  23. ON THE GAME – The Black Keys (13)
  24. JUST WANNA SLEEP – Halfloves (25)
  25. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (26)
  26. WAR – Healer (27)
  27. BABY BLUE MOVIE – Cigarettes After Sex (29)
  28. HONEY – Mr Bewlay (30)
  29. MESSY – Lola Young (N)
  30. DOWNING STREET – Brain Ape (N)

EML’s Favorite Songs – “Shotgun” by Jr. Walker & the All Stars

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Favorite Songs11 Comments

I’ve always loved a great saxophone solo (who doesn’t?), and few did them better than Junior Walker, frontman of 1960s Motown powerhouse soul band Jr. Walker & the All Stars. And one of the finest examples of his virtuoso sax prowess is their 1965 hit song “Shotgun“. I remember being blown away the first time I heard the song as a kid, and have loved it ever since. With that opening shotgun blast, quickly followed by an explosive drum roll and wailing saxophone riff, you know you’re in for a wild and exciting ride! 

Born Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr. in 1931, Walker began playing saxophone in high school, and in his mid-20s, formed his own band called the Jumping Jacks. His music style was inspired by jump blues and early R&B, particularly jazz saxophonists like Louis Jordan, Earl Bostic, and Illinois Jacque. Walker later joined The Rhythm Rockers, a group started by longtime friend and drummer Billy Nicks. After a number of changes in lineup, the band name was changed to “The All Stars.” In 1961, the group was spotted by singer-songwriter and producer Johnny Bristol, who recommended them to singer-songwriter, producer and record label executive Harvey Fuqua. Once the group were signed with the Harvey label, their name was changed to Jr. Walker All Stars. The name was modified again, to Jr. Walker & the All Stars, when Fuqua’s record labels were taken over by Motown’s Berry Gordy, making the band part of the Motown family. (Wikipedia)

The recording of “Shotgun” was sort of a happy accident. When the vocalist who’d originally been hired to sing the song failed to show up for the recording session, Walker stepped in, with the intention of his vocal being re-recorded later. Much to his surprise, Berry Gordy decided to keep his vocal take, which was a smart move. His raw vocals were a perfect complement to his exuberant tenor saxophone riff, matching their ferocity note for note. In addition to Walker’s marvelous sax, the song features terrific Hammond organ fills played by Johnny Griffith, funky guitar notes by Willie Woods and a lively tambourine by Jack Ashford.

Written by Walker, “Shotgun” was the title track from Jr. Walker & the All Stars’ debut album, released in May 1965, and their first song to chart, reaching #1 on the Billboard R&B chart and #4 on the Hot 100. They would go on to have 11 more top 40 singles, including the gorgeous “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” (which I featured in 2019). Walker would later play a wonderful sax solo on Foreigner’s 1981 hit song “Urgent”.

Here’s the best audio version of the song I could find:

And here’s a video of a performance of the song on an unidentified TV show in 1965:

Top 30 Songs for August 4-10, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's9 Comments

Irish alt-rock band Fontaines D.C. are one of the most exciting and interesting acts making music today, and I love their always arresting sound, thanks in part to charismatic lead vocalist Grian Chatten’s distinctive baritone Irish brogue. Formed in Dublin in 2017 and now based in London, in addition to Chatten, the band is comprised of Carlos O’Connell (guitar), Conor Curley (guitar), Conor Deegan III (bass), and Tom Coll (drums). They’ve released three critically acclaimed albums since 2018 (none of which have charted on the Billboard 200 Album chart, which is a travesty), with a fourth, Romance, due for release on August 23.

“Starburster”, the bombastic lead single from Romance, rises to the pinnacle of my Top 30 chart this week. It’s one of the most sonically thrilling and complex songs I’ve heard in a while, and I could listen to it on an endless loop. It’s become their highest-charting single in the U.S. thus far and, shockingly, their first to ever make the UK and Canadian singles charts.

The song was inspired by a panic attack that Chatten suffered in London’s St Pancras tube station, and the jarring gasps heard at the end of each line suggest the gasps or quick breaths of someone experiencing a panic attack. To drive home their message, Fontaines D.C. start with a foreboding Mellotron string loop quickly followed by an elegant piano riff before the music explodes into a bombastic soundscape of stomping trip hop beats, sharp percussion and reverb-soaked twangy guitars. Chatten does a fine job with his commanding rapid-fire rapping of the lyrics, which he’d previously done on the collaborative single “Better Way To Live” with Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap. The song transitions to a calm interlude in the bridge with a majestic string arrangement and Chatten’s vocals now a warm and soothing croon, then finishes with a return of the stomping beats and jarring music. I love it!

The song’s rather unsettling video, directed by Aube Pierre, features Chatten performing a variety of daily activities in differing personas ranging from angelic to demonic, sometimes wounded and other times wearing a mask or wig. It’s as ambiguous and scattered as the song’s lyrics.

In other notable chart developments, Billie Eilish‘s “LUNCH” enters the top 10 at #9, and The Decemberists‘ “Oh No!” leaps nine spots to #19, making it the biggest upward mover this week. Three newish songs make their debut this week, starting with “Stargazing” by English singer-songwriter Myles Smith, entering at #28. He wrote the song along with Jesse Fink and Peter Fenn after being inspired while watching a sunset together in Malibu. The song has become his biggest hit yet, and first to chart in the U.S. Next up is “Baby Blue Movie” by Texas dream pop band Cigarettes After Sex. Released on June 4th, the captivating ethereal song was the third single from their recently-released third studio album X’s. The third new entry is the sensuous “Honey” by Welsh art pop artist Mr Bewlay, which I reviewed in late June. This is the first appearance on my chart for all three acts.

  1. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (3)
  2. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (1)
  3. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (4)
  4. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (2)
  5. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (5)
  6. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (7)
  7. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (9)
  8. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (6)
  9. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (11)
  10. TOO SWEET – Hozier (8)
  11. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (14)
  12. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (15)
  13. ON THE GAME – The Black Keys (10)
  14. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (16)
  15. VICES – 5ilas & Shimmer Johnson (17)
  16. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (18)
  17. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (19)
  18. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (20)
  19. OH NO! – The Decemberists (28)
  20. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (23)
  21. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (25)
  22. THE BREAK – Blame My Youth (12)
  23. TOO MUCH – girl in red (13)
  24. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (27)
  25. JUST WANNA SLEEP – Halfloves (26)
  26. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (29)
  27. WAR – Healer (30)
  28. STARGAZING – Myles Smith (N)
  29. BABY BLUE MOVIE – Cigarettes After Sex (N)
  30. HONEY – Mr Bewlay (N)

RONNIE THE BEAR – Album Review: “BASEMENTS”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews5 Comments

Ronnie the Bear is the solo music project of Joshua Rukas, a strikingly handsome, silky-voiced singer/songwriter originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan and now based in Orlando, Florida. A talented and versatile musician, he was previously drummer for punk/emo rock band MUSCLEMAN, as well as a former member of alt-rock band Dancing On Pluto, whose music I reviewed a couple times prior to their splitting up in August 2018. I also reviewed a couple of his songs back in 2020 and 2021, both of which I really liked, but he later took them down because he felt they didn’t fit his vision for who he wanted to be as an artist.

He’s just released his debut album BASEMENTS, featuring seven tracks he wrote and recorded in his basement apartment in Eugene, Oregon, where he lived for two years between Grand Rapids and Orlando. Joshua played or programmed all the instruments and recorded, mixed and mastered the album by himself. I’ve always liked both his sound and warm vocals, so listening to this little album is a real treat for me. The album opens with “i thought you’d change your mind“, a short but sweet song of apology to a former loved one. I like the lively skittering beats, sparkling synths and his smooth vocals.

Keeping with a similar theme, “2 months” speaks to missing a former romantic partner who’s moved on. The song’s infectiously catchy and exhilarating, with a frantic driving beat and a vibrant mix of jangly and gnarly guitars. Ronnie the Bear’s plaintive echoed vocals are sung at an almost shouting level, perfectly conveying feelings of exasperation and sadness over his unhappy situation.

“Maybe, Eventually” is an exciting track with more great jangly guitar work, accompanied by some interesting percussive textures. I like the urgent guitar-driven groove and how it slows down halfway through the song, allowing the guitar notes to really shine. His vocals are calmer and more introspective here as he wishes the best to a former romantic partner, while still feeling a bit melancholy about the loss of the relationship: “From what I can see, you look like you’re happy and that helps me cope a little bit, cause I don’t want to see you lonely. I wish we could be close.”

Squarely in the middle of the album is the delightful little instrumental piece “Tangerine (interlude)“, an energetic and pretty track featuring spacey synths and skittering beats. This is followed by the title track
“Basements“, a terrific electronic song with dreamy otherworldly synths, spirited beats and some lovely piano.

“Spring 24” is an enchanting track, with drawn-out gauzy synths, sparkling piano keys and lots of crashing cymbals. As always, his soothing vocals are very pleasing to the ear. The final track “Changes” is really pretty too, and I especially like the chiming guitars and dreamy flute-like synths. Ronnie the Bear’s smooth vocals are very low key as he ponders about how our perspectives on life evolve over time: “I’ve spent so much time waiting for things to change. But every time I look back, nothing is the same as before.”

BASEMENTS is a wonderful little album, serving up nineteen and a half minutes of sonic bliss. It’s bedroom pop at its finest.

Ronnie the Bear’s Socials: Instagram 

Find his music on Spotify / Apple Music / Bandcamp / YouTube

RAKER – Single Review: “Hologram”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews12 Comments

On my previous post, I commented about the rapid passage of time, which I was yet again reminded of when Mike Sarasti, one half of Miami-based indie pop-rock duo Raker, reached out to me about their new single “Hologram“. I was shocked to discover that seven and a half years have passed since I last wrote about them on this blog, when I reviewed their debut single “Gospel” (which I liked so much that it ended up on my 100 Best Songs of 2017 list). Now, after a very long hiatus, Raker, which consists of Sarasti on guitar and lead vocals and Andy Rodriguez on bass and backing harmonies, are back making music and I couldn’t be happier. 

I asked Mike for a bit of background about the song, and he graciously provided this detailed and thoughtful response: “A few years ago I was exploring a new city at night (I was visiting Detroit). It was one of those pensive, reflective, wandering walks. Down a seemingly solitary street, I noticed colored light coming from the door of an unmarked, blacked-out storefront. I opened the door and found a hidden tiki-style bar. The moment felt a bit magical, like a “ghost bar” seeming to appear from out of nowhere, existing slightly outside of time and space. This is the backdrop for the track and much of the upcoming album… A wandering spirit, reflecting in familiar spaces, but you cant quite pinpoint why… existing somewhat out of time, popping in and out of memory and the urgency of the present… realism, but magical realism.

‘Hologram’ toggles between the uncertain exploration of that city street, and remembering/returning to the sense of home – ‘safe in your arms’, the sense that even the persistent wanderer has a safe space to return to. Themes that you’ll hear through the collection of songs… time, memory, a sense of agency, hope, anchoring ourselves to the people we love, reflecting on your story, and not letting other people tell it for you. ‘Hologram’ feels like the cinematic introduction to this world which is why we’re releasing it first.“

“Hologram” is a beautiful song, and I really like its breezy melody and colorful arrangement. Highlights for me are the magical synths and fluttering keyboards, accompanied by fuzzy guitars that provide a wonderful textural contrast. Andy’s chugging bassline provides a sturdy rhythmic foundation for the track without overpowering the proceedings. All sorts of charming little musical touches and sounds are sprinkled throughout, adding to the song’s overall enchanting vibe. Mike has a lovely singing voice, and his warm vocals are both pleasing and comforting as he sings of feeling safe in a loved one’s arms.

It’s good to have Raker back, and “Hologram” marks a fine return for this talented duo. I look forward to hearing more music from them soon.

Stare out into nothing.
A hundred and something feelings in tandem collide.
Split into sections.
Speaking in fractions.
I need direction… so I look to the light in your eyes.

Here I am safe in your arms.
And here with you’s the best that I am.
Hold me cause I need to feel
More than a Hologram  

Out here, the city breaks
Another ghost bar in the night
Maybe here I'll find forgiveness, maybe here I’ll find what’s right
Street lights, they pierce right through me
‘cause I’m strange projected light.
Faded stories with no answers
Sad songs to feel alright

Now Here I am safe in your arms.
Here with you is the best that I am.
Hold me cause I need to feel
More than a Hologram

Raker’s Socials:  X / Instagram / TikTok

Find their music on Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / YouTube