Month: January 2025

UNQUIET NIGHTS – Double Single Review: “Everything Seductive”/”Straight To The Ground”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews3 Comments

Unquiet Nights is an outstanding rock band I’ve been following for seven years and have featured several times on this blog. Originally started in 2006 as a solo project by Luke Mathers, a talented singer-songwriter and guitarist from Belfast, Northern Ireland, with  the help of Rodger Firmin on drums he began recording songs for what would become the first Unquiet Nights album 21st Century Redemption Songs. In 2010, Luke moved to Italy, where he eventually finished and released the album. He was later joined by Italian musicians Francesco Piciucchi on bass and keyboards, and drummer Matteo Bussotti for live shows, though Rodger still played drums on their recordings. 

In 2015 they released their beautiful second album Postcards in Real Time. One of the tracks from that album, “George Best City”, which was never released as a single but was used in the Federico Buffa Racconta documentary series, landed them several live national appearances on Italian TV stations, and became their best known and most successful song, garnering more than half a million streams on Spotify alone as of today. Mathers eventually moved back to Belfast in 2016, where he continues to record and release music with Firmin and Piciucchi as Unquiet Nights. In 2022, they released a compilation album First Ten (2012-2022), a sort of ‘greatest hits so far’ work commemorating the 10-year anniversary of their debut album 21st Century Redemption Songs. They followed two years later with their third studio album Seasons in Exile, released last January (2024). I reviewed the album’s lead single “Diamond and the Missing Son”, which ended up ranking #11 on my 100 Best Indie Songs of 2024 list, and #65 on my 100 Best Songs of 2024 overall list. (Also, their 2019 single “Four Winds“ ranks #76 on my list of 100 Best Songs for that year.)

Now they’re back with a double single “Everything Seductive”/”Straight To The Ground” which, like all their music, was produced by Mathers, and mixed and mastered by Neal Calderwood. The songs were recorded during the Season in Exile sessions, but since they didn’t fit in with that album’s storyline concept, they weren’t included. Both being excellent songs, Unquiet Nights decided to release them now as stand-alone singles. The first, or A-side “Everything Seductive”, is an exuberant foot-stomping rocker, with fuzz-coated gnarly guitars punctuated here and there by twangy notes and accompanied by Fermin’s urgent drumbeats. Mathers’ commanding vocals nicely convey a sense of sad resignation as he sings of a romantic love affair that’s hit its end, leaving him feeling dejected and wondering what went wrong: “Tell her I’m discouraged, and she should know the reason why. Everything seductive in this life just seems to pass me by.“

The B-side “Straight To The Ground” is more personal for Mathers, who told me he never had the opportunity to meet one of his grandads because he died of a heart attack after the IRA (Irish Republican Army) destroyed his corner shop in a bombing. The song’s lyrics are meant to describe his grandad’s bitter feelings after seeing his life’s work blown up: “I built all that you can see. I built on solid rock for those who depended on me. You ever tried to make the best out of all that you found? You ever stood and watch it all falling straight to the ground?” To drive home his message, Mathers serves up a distinctly darker tone than on “Everything Seductive”, with an ominous grinding guitar riff layered over a hard-driving rhythm of throbbing bass and pounding drumbeats. His guitar work is fantastic, highlighted by a one-two punch of a gorgeous chiming solo in the bridge, followed by a magnificent wailing guitar solo that leaves me covered in chills before the song quickly fades out. Befitting the subject matter, his vocals are more intense as well, fervently conveying the anger and bitterness expressed in the lyrics.

Though I really like both tracks, “Straight To The Ground” struck me at first listen, and it’s my favorite of the two. 

Connect with Unquiet Nights:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Find their music on  Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music/ Soundcloud 

Top 30 Songs for January 26-February 1, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's10 Comments

It’s always fascinating to me how vastly different the various music charts can be, and also how long many songs now remain on each chart, and this particular week is a good example of just how much that is the case. “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, which spent September, October and November in the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 before falling below that while the annual parade of vintage Christmas songs ruled the chart for most of December, is now at #1. On the Adult Pop chart, “Stargazing” by Myles Smith has spent seven weeks and counting at #1 (it peaked at #4 on my chart last November). Meanwhile, “Sad in Carolina” by Dexter and The Moonrocks has spent eight weeks and counting at #1 on the Alternative Airplay chart, “Arrow” by The Head and the Heart has spent six weeks and counting at #1 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, and “Mayday” by Three Days Grace has spent three weeks and counting at #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart. While “Stargazing” did quite well on both Alternative charts, even reaching #1 on the Alternative Airplay chart for a week, neither “Sad in Carolina”, “Arrow” nor “Mayday” have appeared on the Hot 100. The last time I can remember a song topping all those charts simultaneously was “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye way back in 2012!

At any rate, the delightful “The Faithful Heart” by L.A.-based Wons Phreely + The Horses is still my current favorite song, thus remains at #1 on my Top 30 chart for a third week. “Sad in Carolina” holds at #2 for a third week after previously spending two weeks at #1, making it their seventh week in the top 2. “A Tear in Space (Airlock)” by English band Glass Animals holds at #3 for a second week, while Green Day‘s “Bobby Sox” inches up a spot to #4, and “Arrow” moves into fifth place. Entering the top 10 are “Autumn Leaves” by Welsh artist Secret Postal Society (the music project of singer-songwriter and guitarist Craig Mapstone), and “Routines in the Night” by twenty one pilots. “Die With A Smile”, which peaked at #2 on my chart early last month, moves back up three spots to #17.

Two fantastic songs make their debut this week, the first of which is the enchanting and cinematic “The Line” by twenty one pilots, giving my favorite music act two tracks on this chart. The song is from the Season 2 Soundtrack of the Netflix animated action-adventure series Arcane: League of Legends, which I previously had no idea about but is apparently enormously popular. The second debut is the smoldering rocker “Take This Heart” by Denton, Texas-based singer-songwriter Brian Lambert, which I reviewed a few weeks ago. It’s his fifth song to appear on my chart, two of which were by The Star Crumbles, his collaborative band with Marc Schuster.

  1. THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (1)
  2. SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (2)
  3. A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (3)
  4. BOBBY SOX – Green Day (5)
  5. ARROW – The Head and the Heart (6)
  6. IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (7)
  7. NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (4)
  8. GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings (8)
  9. AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (11)
  10. ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (12)
  11. SO COLD – Balu Brigada (13)
  12. A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (9)
  13. DARKERSIDE – David Kushner (15)
  14. YOU’RE MY DRUG – Talk in Waves (16)
  15. DETROIT – Badflower (17)
  16. SAILOR SONG – Gigi Perez (18)
  17. DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (20)
  18. SHE WANTS TO GO DANCING – Mt. Joy (23)
  19. DAY & NIGHT – Oli Barton (21)
  20. HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (10)
  21. AFTERLIFE – Sharon Van Etten (22)
  22. GIVING UP – Michigander (14)
  23. PEOPLE WATCHING – Sam Fender (24)
  24. BAD DREAMS – Teddy Swims (26)
  25. FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (19) 20th week on chart
  26. ROCKMAN – Mk.gee (28)
  27. HERE WE GO AGAIN – Set the Tone (29)
  28. IMPOSTER SYNDROME – Fake Empire (30)
  29. THE LINE – twenty one pilots (N)
  30. TAKE THIS HEART – Brian Lambert (N)

LYIA META – Single Review: “I Fall in Love Too Fast”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews9 Comments

One of my favorite female vocalists – and music artists in general – is Lyia Meta, an immensely talented, gracious and lovely recording artist with a vibrant singing voice. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and of Creole Portuguese ancestry, Lyia’s a multi-faceted artist in every sense of the word. With her smoky contralto vocal style, she can literally sing just about anything and in fact, has recorded songs in a wide range of genres including blues, jazz, pop, country, rock and even metal, bringing her international recognition and acclaim. 

She’s been nominated for, and won, numerous music awards around the globe over the years. Besides Malaysia, she’s also performed in India, Los Angeles and Texas, and has been featured in Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine, FAULT Magazine and Reader’s Digest, to name just a few. As if all that weren’t enough, she’s also a highly-accomplished visual artist with several exhibits to her credit. (You can see some of her work here.) She even surprised me with a wonderful pencil drawing of myself in 2019.

A prolific artist, Lyia’s released an impressive amount of music over the past nine years, beginning with her debut EP This is Lyia in 2016. Since then, she’s put out two more EPs, two albums Always You in 2023 and Next in 2024, and scores of singles. I’ve written about her and her music many times, most recently last July when I featured her single “Easier and Easier“ in a Fresh New Tracks post. (The song ended up on my 100 Best Indie Songs of 2024 list.

Now she’s back with a new single “I Fall in Love Too Fast“, a sophisticated and jazzy pop number in the style of songs by the late great Ella Fitzgerald or contemporary artists like Diane Schuur and Diana Krall. The song was written by Los Angeles-based songwriter David Sanchez and co-produced by Lyia and her frequent collaborators, Nashville-based musician and recording engineer Bob McGilpin and musician and producer Gene Rabbai. For the recording of the track, McGilpin played guitar, drum and bass, as well handling the arrangement and sound mixing, while Rabbai played piano and orchestration.

I love the song’s lush orchestral arrangement and uptempo melody, highlighted by gently soaring strings, jazzy piano keys and a bewitching flute. As always, Lyia’s pleasing and warm vocals are sublime, flawlessly executed while matching the rich orchestration note for note.

The lyrics speak of letting your heart overrule your common sense, allowing yourself to fall head over heels with someone quickly after meeting them, mistaking intense physical attraction and infatuation for love. As a hopeless romantic in my younger days, it’s something I experienced far too many times myself. 

Why do I lead with my heart?
Why can't I learn from the past?
My head says 'Go slow, when it's too soon to start'
Oh I fall in love too fast

Promises made in the night
Are just illusions that love will last
It's the music and moonlight that I can't deny
Oh I fall in love too fast

That voice inside may scold me
'Let love come in it's own time'
But the room starts to spin each time he holds me
And my resistance unwinds

Did he come here tonight to bewitch me?
Should I run from the spell that he casts?
And maybe I'll just let him kiss me
Oh I fall in love too fast

Follow Lyia: Website / Facebook / X / Instagram / TikTok

Find her music on Spotify / Soundcloud / Apple Music / Amazon / deezer / YouTube

Top 30 Songs for January 19-25, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's10 Comments

As we enter the first week of the return of the despicable corrupt authoritarian that is Trump to the American Presidency, with its guaranteed upheaval, at least we have lots of great music to bring us a bit of comfort and solace.

The lovely and endearing “The Faithful Heart” by L.A.-based Wons Phreely + The Horses maintains its firm grip on the #1 spot for a second week, while “Sad in Carolina” by Texas sad cowboy music band Dexter and The Moonrocks holds at #2 for a second week after previously spending two weeks at #1. English alternative pop-rock band Glass Animals move up to #3 with their enchanting “A Tear in Space (Airlock)”.

Three songs enter my chart this week, starting with the very cool “ROCKMAN” by alternative indie rock singer-songwriter Mk.gee (born Michael Todd Gordon in New Jersey but from what I can tell is now based in L.A.). He began releasing singles in 2017, as well as two EPs in 2018, a mixtape in 2020 and his debut album Two Star & the Dream Police in February 2024. Sadly none of them charted in the U.S. until his latest single “ROCKMAN”, which is currently #26 on the Billboard AAA (Adult Alternative Airplay) and #30 on the Rock/Alternative Airplay charts (Billboard has way too many charts!). That said, Mk.gee’s star has risen exponentially over the past year, with him garnering a coveted spot as musical guest on Saturday Night Live on November 9th. He’s also amassed 2.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 288,000 followers on Instagram.

The other two debut songs are by acts I’ve recently learned about, and I loved their music right off the bat. Coming in at #29 is the beautiful “Here We Go Again” by Welsh pop-rock band Set the Tone. The song was released at the end of November, and I reviewed it in late December. One of their previously-released songs, “Do You Really Wanna Know?”, ended up on my 100 Best Indie Songs of 2024 list. And last but certainly not least is the mesmerizing and gorgeous “Imposter Syndrome” by English alt rock/synthwave band Fake Empire. I became a big fan the instant I heard this song, which I also wrote about in a recent Fresh New Tracks post. 

  1. THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (1)
  2. SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (2)
  3. A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (4)
  4. NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (3)
  5. BOBBY SOX – Green Day (5)
  6. ARROW – The Head and the Heart (6)
  7. IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (7)
  8. GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings (10)
  9. A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (8)
  10. HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (9)
  11. AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (14)
  12. ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (15)
  13. SO COLD – Balu Brigada (16)
  14. GIVING UP – Michigander (11)
  15. DARKERSIDE – David Kushner (17)
  16. YOU’RE MY DRUG – Talk in Waves (18)
  17. DETROIT – Badflower (19)
  18. SAILOR SONG – Gigi Perez (20)
  19. FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (12) 19th week on chart
  20. DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (13)
  21. DAY & NIGHT – Oli Barton (23)
  22. AFTERLIFE – Sharon Van Etten (24)
  23. SHE WANTS TO GO DANCING – Mt. Joy (25)
  24. PEOPLE WATCHING – Sam Fender (26)
  25. CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (22) 19th wk on chart
  26. BAD DREAMS – Teddy Swims (30)
  27. NOBODY’S SOLDIER – Hozier (21)
  28. ROCKMAN – Mk.gee (N)
  29. HERE WE GO AGAIN – Set the Tone (N)
  30. IMPOSTER SYNDROME – Fake Empire (N)

Fresh New Tracks, Vol. 38 – The Nanners, Onism E, Marc Schuster & His Amazing Friends, Traverse the Abyss

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews10 Comments

Lots of new music continues to issue forth from more of the highly creative artists and bands I follow, so time for another Fresh New Tracks installment. Today I’m featuring new songs released over the past week by four acts I’ve previously written about, in alphabetical order: L.A.-based pyschedelic pop-rock duo The Nanners, Texas indie rock trio Onism E, Philadephia-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Marc Schuster, along with an array of indie artists he calls “His Amazing Friends”, and Scranton, Pennsylvania-based metalcore band Traverse the Abyss. While each of the four songs couldn’t be more different from one another from a musical standpoint, they all address varying approaches for trying to keep sane in what seems to be an increasingly insane world.

The Nanners – “Jokes”

Hailing from Los Angeles are The Nanners, the wonderfully zany music project of Nicholas Ewing and Thomas Ferraiuolo, who have this to say about themselves: “Welcome to Banana World, where love, curiosity, angst, and nebulous speculations are explored through the lens of two meek and socially awkward grown men in banana costumes.” While at first glance they might appear to be some kind of weird novelty act, they are in fact fine musicians and songwriters who also happen to be both hilarious and charming, with their music a delightful mix of indie rock, psychedelia and jangle pop.

I first wrote about them and their song “New Pony” in a previous Fresh New Tracks post a year ago, and am now pleased to feature their latest single “Jokes“. About the song, the guys say: “When you’re tripping sometimes you trip and fall pretty hard. But when you get your face out of the mud you realize everyone and everything is laughing with you.” To drive home their message, they layer a colorful blend of twangy, jangly and edgy psychedelic guitars over a bed of quirky twinkling synths, all fueling by a pleasing rhythm of subtle bass and percussion. As great as the music is, I really love their warm harmonies as they sing of not allowing life’s trials and tribulations to get the better of us.  

 

Onism E – “Call You Home”

Photo by Jim McKay

When I last wrote about indie rock band Onism E and their powerful song “It’s Not Over” in November 2022, they were a four-piece based in New York City. Now relocated to Austin, Texas, the band is a trio comprised of uber-talented front woman, singer-songwriter and guitarist Eline Chavez, bassist Gabe Chavez and drummer Andre Atalaya. Their latest single “Call You Home“, written by all three band members and produced by Tucker Allen, is another hauntingly beautiful and compelling song in the style for which Onism E have become known.

Like all their songs, “Call You Home” features intelligent lyrics touching on life’s struggles and the human condition. In this case, Onism E explores feeling lost and untethered in a troubled world gone mad, seeking solace in people and places that can bring a little comfort and peace of mind: “The world is lost, and I’m empty. Drifting in sadness of sins I don’t even own. And I’m just trying to hold my own. I’m just trying to hold on, and all I need to know is can I call you home? When the world gets hard, and I’ve got no place to go.” I love the gorgeous mix of chiming guitars and twangy guitars, rich percussion and Eline’s always marvelous, deeply-emotive and heartfelt vocals.

Marc Schuster & His Amazing Friends – “Hole in the Boat”

Marc Schuster is an insanely creative, multi-talented guy from the Philadelphia area who’s not only an educator, author, literary critic and visual artist, but also a prolific songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, recording both as a solo artist and as part of numerous music projects and collaborations with an ever-expanding roster of musicians. As if all that weren’t enough, he also hosts a weekly hour-long music podcast where he features songs by talented indie artists, plus has a terrific blog of his own called Abominations, where he writes about music and interviews indie artists. I honestly don’t know how he finds the time and energy to accomplish all that he does!

 I’ve featured Marc many times on this blog, most recently last May when I wrote about his collaborative single “All the Same to You” with Portland-based artist Quizboy. Now he’s back with another collaboration, “Hole in the Boat”, which he recorded with the help of Quizboy and a host of other musicians he names below. The song has a somber and rather melancholy vibe, yet offers glimmers of optimism and hope that we can come together to at least achieve a bit of understanding and empathy toward each other, even if we’re unable to totally resolve or overcome our deep-seated differences. 

About the song, Marc elaborates: “It’s a plaintive call for solidarity in difficult times. And, I suppose, a request for honesty. I had my own hole in the boat in mind when I wrote the tune back in November, but now I’m thinking of all the holes we don’t talk about. In fact, the line that inspired the song came from a Don DeLillo novel called Mao II, and the line actually refers to “holes,” plural: ‘What about the holes in the boat? All repaired?’ one characters asks. ‘We don’t speak about the holes’ another responds. Times like this, as I say in the song, all we have is each other, so I’m grateful to all of you for listening to my music — and to my friends Nick Cervini, Jim Lorino, Sam Goodman, Jaimee Jacobczak, Brian Lambert, and Quizboy for helping me out with this one!“

Traverse the Abyss – “Reasoning”

Photo by Juliana Soroka

I’ve been following heavy metal band Traverse the Abyss for over eight years, and while this genre of music isn’t one of my favorites, I do like to hear a good face-melting, speaker-rattling song now and then, and this band always delivers the goods. Their intense yet melodic sound draws from a myriad of metal sub-genres, including classic heavy metal, thrash metal, death metal, nu-metal and metalcore, as well as hard rock, rock’n’roll and even punk influences I first wrote about them in early 2017 when I reviewed their impressive debut album Gamble of Life, then again in August 2018 when I reviewed their eponymous EP Traverse the Abyss. In the years since, the Scranton-based act has undergone some changes in lineup, and from what I can tell now consist of original co-founders Eric “Abyss” Ross (Vocals) and “Iron” Mike White (Guitar), as well as Jamie Macheska (Guitar), Justin Coe (Guitar), Nick “Big Shits” Cotillo (Bass) and David “Goblin” Wilczewski (Drums). They’ve dropped a series of additional singles, along with a second EP Smiling in the Suffering, in 2022. 

Now they return with a new single “Reasoning“, the first of five tracks from their forthcoming third EP Momento Mori, due for release on April 25th. Musically, the song opens with a somber, darkly beautiful guitar riff interrupted by an occasional stab of a piercing gnarly guitar note. Soon, all hell breaks loose with an explosion of furious raging guitars, pummeling bass and aggressive drums as Eric screams the lyrics in his signature fearsome growl. The combined guitar prowess of Iron Mike, Jamie and Justin is on full display as they inject spine-tingling riffs and solos throughout the song, while Nick and David masterfully drive the rampaging rhythms forward. The lyrics speak to letting go of negative thoughts resulting from unpleasant or unhappy past events that are holding you back, keeping you from growing and achieving your full potential: “The way we feel about everything is based on our past experiences. I know negativity is haunting, lurking, stalking me. Learn from your past mistakes. How we think and respond has the power to rebuild our own lives.”

STILL TRAFFICO – Single Review: “Who’s a Fraud?”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews14 Comments

January 10th was apparently a big day for new music releases, and I featured three singles that dropped that day on my recent installment of Fresh New Tracks. One I missed – because I was not yet familiar with the band who recorded it – is the wonderful song “Who’s a Fraud?” by English alternative pop-rock band Still Traffico.

Originally formed in London as a four-piece named Peach, the band renamed themselves with a rather unusual but certainly distinctive moniker Still Traffico in the summer of 2023, when they reduced down to three members consisting of Cam McColl (lead vocals/guitar, Dan Carabine (lead guitar) and Dan Arthur (bass). Influenced by everything from Chanson Française storytelling to African desert blues to post-rock and more, Still Traffico make a blend of indie pop and post-punk they call “Railway Pop” and cheekily describe as a “sound that clanks and shunts… but soothes.” After listening to their songs I’d say that sounds about right.

Still Traffico released their debut single “Seagull” in September 2023, and since then have dropped three more excellent singles, the latest of which is “Who’s a Fraud?” While not quite jangle pop, it most definitely features some marvelous jangly guitar work, as well as really lovely twangy guitar notes accompanied by a subtle but solid bassline and spirited percussion. It all works beautifully to create an enthralling and memorable backdrop for Cam McColl’s immensely pleasing vocals. I like “Who’s a Fraud?” more with each listen, and think it’s their best song yet.

The poetic lyrics seem to speak to those who think of themselves as pure of heart and mind with the best of intentions, yet are quick to judge others they feel are wrong or inferior to themselves:

I tore the lid off
Light hit the eggshell walls
What lurks underneath
Can't be concealed anymore.

It's coming for you
In all your comfort
Turn your face away
when it matters.

So who are you calling a fraud?

You've seen the world
You've got your measure on things
Now, hold yourself
Like we're the same?
It's night and day.

I tread alone
in familiar places.
Step into the road
as the lights turn red.
To find that people behind me follow.
To feel.. that cars can't kill.

You know the world
You've done your own reading
So, hold yourself
like we're the same?
It's night and day.

So, who are you calling a fraud?

Still Traffico’s Socials: Facebook / X / Instagram / TikTok / Threads / BlueSky

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

Top 30 Songs for January 12-18, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's4 Comments

After spending two weeks at #2, “The Faithful Heart” by Australian-born and now L.A.-based singer-songwriter Wons Phreely, backed by his band The Horses, ascends to the #1 spot on my latest Top 30 chart. I loved it at first listen, as well as the charming video they made for the song, and wrote about it in late November, which you can read here. But to summarize, Wons wrote the lyrics for “The Faithful Heart”, with the beautiful music written by singer-songwriter and musician David Skeet (who’s one half of the music duo Winter Swim and also produced and mixed the track). He said he was inspired to write it after thinking of a childhood friend he’d grown up with in Australia who, like himself, had moved on to a bigger city in search of greater opportunities and figuring out how to make their way through life. I love that sweet little piano riff at the beginning, those glorious chiming and jangly guitars, and Wons’ earnest vocals that rise to an endearing falsetto, backed by lovely harmonic choruses. I can listen to this song on endless repeat.

As for the wonderful video they made for the song, Wons drew inspiration from some of the quirky and popular one-shot videos by American alternative pop-rock band OK Go, and challenged himself to dance on film. With the help of choreographer friends, Wons and his band spent months coming up with inventive dance steps for a non-dancer like himself, with two of the guys guiding him through an entertaining routine as if he were a human-sized marionette. Once they mastered the choreography, they turned their attention to finding the right location to shoot the video, which in Los Angeles is always a challenge, especially when you’re on a tight budget. They settled on a laundromat, where they managed to film the sequence in one shot. 

In other notable chart developments, “Neverender” by French electronic music duo Justice and Australian band Tame Impala, “A Tear in Space (Airlock)” by English alternative pop-rock band Glass Animals and “Bobby Sox” by legendary punk-pop rock band Green Day, each move up two spots to #s 3, 4 and 5. “Gild the Lily” by Michigan-based singer-songwriter and bluegrass musician Billy Strings advances three spots to enter the top 10 at #10, while “So Cold” by New Zealand alt-pop duo Balu Brigada jumps six spots to #16, making it the biggest upward mover this week.

The lone debut, entering at #30, is “Bad Dreams” by Georgia-based Teddy Swims (born Jaten Collin Dimsdale). The song is the first single from his forthcoming second album I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2), due for release on January 28th. “Bad Dreams” is Swims’ third song to appear on my chart; “Lose Control” went to #1 in February of last year, while “The Door” spent two weeks at #4 in November.

  1. THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (2)
  2. SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (1)
  3. NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (5)
  4. A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (6)
  5. BOBBY SOX – Green Day (7)
  6. ARROW – The Head and the Heart (8)
  7. IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (9)
  8. A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (3)
  9. HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (4)
  10. GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings (13)
  11. GIVING UP – Michigander (12)
  12. FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (10)
  13. DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (11)
  14. AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (16)
  15. ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (17)
  16. SO COLD – Balu Brigada (22)
  17. DARKERSIDE – David Kushner (20)
  18. YOU’RE MY DRUG – Talk in Waves (21)
  19. DETROIT – Badflower (23)
  20. SAILOR SONG – Gigi Perez (24)
  21. NOBODY’S SOLDIER – Hozier (14)
  22. CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (15)
  23. DAY & NIGHT – Oli Barton (25)
  24. AFTERLIFE – Sharon Van Etten (28)
  25. SHE WANTS TO GO DANCING – Mt. Joy (29)
  26. PEOPLE WATCHING – Sam Fender (30)
  27. MIND GAME (3:33) – Collette McLafferty & John Serrano (18)
  28. DOPAMINE – Sum 41 (19)
  29. PEACE SONG – Fat Dog (26)
  30. BAD DREAMS – Teddy Swims (N)

Fresh New Tracks, Vol. 37 – Taylor DeRousse, Fake Empire, The Formerly Misinformed, Naive Nature

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews12 Comments

It’s been six months since my last Fresh New Tracks post, and given the plethora of new music being released, as well as the fact I’ve returned to writing reviews again (at least for now), I thought it was time for another installment. Today I’m featuring the music of four acts, in alphabetical order – Michigan singer-songwriter Taylor DeRousse, English alt-rock band Fake Empire, Texas alt-rock band The Formerly Misinformed, and Pennsylvania alternative pop/punk band naive nature. The songs were released on January 10th, except for the one by Fake Empire, which came out January 2nd. I’ve previously written about The Formerly Misinformed, whereas the other three acts are new to this blog.

Taylor DeRousse – “Growing Up Is Scary”

Photo of Taylor from her Facebook account

Taylor DeRousse is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the Detroit area with an impressive resume. She not only writes, sings and records her own original songs, she also owns a music school and studio called Tailored Harmonies Music Co, plus has a B.A. degree in Music with an emphasis in Piano Performance, as well as an MBA. According to her website, she’s been teaching music in a variety of capacities since 2014, including as a private music instructor, studio music teacher, group class instructor, middle school art & music teacher, theatre vocal coach, and collegiate music tutor. While her primary instruments are piano, guitar, and voice, she also plays the ukulele, violin, mandolin, and bass guitar.

Inspired by such artists as Alanis Morissette, Phoebe Bridgers, Stevie Nicks and Carole King, she released her first single “Pins and Needles” in 2020, and last September (2024), she began dropping a series of singles, beginning with “Front Porch”, that will be included on her forthcoming debut album Running Back To Me. Her fourth in the series and latest single is “Growing Up Is Scary“, a sort of coming of age song about realizing what really matters in life. The song was recorded with the help of Bryan Pope on guitar and bass and backing vocals by Cassidy Chaisson and Tom Mihalis, who also produced the track. I like the bouyant melody and great instrumentation a lot, as well as Taylor’s lilting vocals, but it’s the honest and poignant lyrics, in which she sings about the thing that frightens her more than monsters, zombies or Friday the 13th that really touch me: “I don’t wanna die doing something I hate, make a whole lot of money just to drink it away. I want something more, I’ll do whatever it takes. It’s a burden I carry. Growing up is scary.”

Taylor’s Socials: Facebook / Instagram / Threads / TikTok

Fake Empire – “Imposter Syndrome”

Band photo by Rob Luckins

I wasn’t familiar with English band Fake Empire until the other day, when I learned about them in a post by Maria Savva for her blog Rock And Roll. She’d chosen their latest single “Imposter Syndrome” as her Track of the Day, and it was love at first listen for me. The song is darkly beautiful and mesmerizing, with a brooding atmospheric feel that reminds me of some of the songs by bands like The Cure, New Order, The Church and Interpol. The song compelled me to check out more of their back catalog, which I must say is outstanding, and I’m now a fan of this band.

Based in the south of England, Fake Empire consists of Simon Brookes, Les Black and Becky Bellinger, and from what I can tell, they’ve been putting out music since 2017, all in the form of singles which now number 20 in total. “Imposter Syndrome”, which runs 7:45 minutes in length, was released along with two shorter remixes. Though the primary song is long, it’s so beautiful and flawlessly executed that it could go on for even longer. I love the lush, haunting synths and Cure-esque jangly guitars set to an enthralling beat and accompanied by droning, yet comforting vocals. It’s the perfect song for sitting back with headphones and letting yourself be enveloped by its gorgeous soundscapes. To my mind, the lyrics seem to be about living lives that are inauthentic and controlled by other sociopolitical and cultural forces, leaving us acting like sheep, unable to be our true selves or even know who we really are: “Imposter syndrome. You’re sinking like a stone. How can you live when your life is not your own? Our lives are not our own.” The original artwork used in the single cover art was painted by Nathaniel Westwood.

Fake Empire’s Socials: Facebook / X / Instagram / Threads 

The Formerly Misinformed – “Cut To Scene (Half Life)”

The Formerly Misinformed is a family band from Texas that’s comprised of siblings Brandon Green, Erica Jones and Emily Henney, and their father Terry Green. Together, they create a pleasing style of alternative indie rock, with strong elements of folk and singer-songwriter. Brandon also hosts and produces a music podcast Gimme These Two. Formed in 2019, they released their debut album All In A Dream in 2020, followed by a number of singles and an EP Let’s Pretend it’s Fine in 2022. In September 2023, I reviewed their song “Underneath the Same Stars”, a collaboration with Welsh singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Craig Mapstone, who records music under the moniker Secret Postal Society. The two collaborated again last month (December 2024) when The Formerly Misinformed did a remix of Secret Postal Society’s song “Autumn Leaves”, which is currently enjoying a long run on my Weekly Top 30.

Now they’re back with a new single “Cut To Scene (Half Life)“, which was written and sung by Brandon, with backing vocals by Craig. Brandon also produced, mixed and mastered the track. According to the press release, the song draws inspiration from the scientific concept of half-life, a term used to describe the rate at which unstable atoms decay or how long stable atoms survive, and aims to capture the feeling of transition – of reflecting on where you’ve been while acknowledging the messiness of where you are now. I like the song’s free-form melody that almost borders on progressive rock, as well as its colorful mix of grungy guitars, spare piano keys, throbbing bass, swirling synths and spirited percussion. Brandon’s laid-back vocals have a casual air, and are nicely complemented by Craig’s backing harmonies that fully blossom in the terrific choruses.

The Formerly Misinformed’s Socials: Instagram

naive nature – “alright”

Photo by Justin Henry

Hailing from Philadelphia is alternative indie rock trio naive nature. Formed in 2023, the band is comprised of singer-songwriter and guitarist Jackson Vincent, drummer and backing vocalist Jim Lorino (who’s also front man of Philadelphia-based power pop band Scoopski) and bassist and backing vocalist Mickey Collins, who joined the lineup last September. Together, they blend grunge, pop-punk, alternative, emo and indie rock influences to create some really terrific songs. They released their debut single “the weight of the world” in January 2024, and since then they’ve dropped another four singles plus a three-track EP outsiderism (their band name and all their songs are stylized in lower case letters). Their wonderful single “childhood friends” ended up on my 100 Best Indie Songs of 2024 list.

On January 10th, the guys released “alright“, the first single from their forthcoming second EP separation anxiety, due for release in March. The band said the song “serves as a modern breakup anthem with a clear determined focus on pushing through the worst of times to find something better.” To drive home their message, Jackson serves up a marvelous fuzz-soaked guitar riff, while Jim and Mickey drive the rhythm forward with insistent drumbeats and a thumping bassline. Jackson has the perfect singing voice for this type of grunge/pop-punk song, and he’s in fine form here as he conveys a sense of sad resignation to a romantic partner at the end of their relationship: “It’s alright now. Waste your time now, you know it’s all the same. You’ll be fine now. Don’t forget how you gave me all the blame.” “alright” is a great song, and I’m looking forward to hearing their new EP.

Naive Nature’s Socials: Facebook / X / Instagram / Threads / TikTok

MIKEY J – Singles Review: “She’s So Fine/Fell So Hard”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews13 Comments

Hailing from the fair city of Melbourne, Australia is singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mikey J (aka Michael Johnson), who humbly refers to himself as “just a dude who loves music“. Inspired by some of the great songwriters of the past, life experiences and his family, his songs are a mix of rock, blues, folk, funk and indie influences, all of which he performs and records in his simple setup at home. He’s been writing and recording music since his teens, releasing his first self-titled EP in 1999 at the age of 17 with his then band Blue Tracer. In 2011, he released a solo album Happy “​六​” Anniversary, inspired by and dedicated to his wife Ella. Nearly 10 years would pass until his next release ISO​-​Inspiration, an album inspired by the Covid lockdown, in October 2020. Since then, Mikey J’s been on a creative tear, dropping five more albums, most recently Muffet Way, a 14-track behemoth he released last May, as well as numerous singles.

Now he’s recorded his latest album Made in China, another ambitious work to be released in March that will feature 14 tracks inspired by the twelve years Mikey J spent living in Shanghai. The songs delve into love, growth and personal struggles, reflecting the people, places, and experiences – including a pet and a typhoon – that shaped his life during that period. In a recent interview with Marc Schuster for his Abominations blog, Mikey J explained “It’s where I became a man. I moved to China pretty much on a whim after leaving a pretty toxic relationship, for what was supposed to be maybe two years at most of fun! I then met the girl of my dreams, we got married, had a kid and all of a sudden it was twelve years later! It was such an exciting period of Shanghai’s development as well – 2005 was when it really started to develop in a big way and it was just so fun! I wanted to write an album that was a little more thematic than I have previously written and China seemed a pretty significant part of who I am. I had some ideas about people, places and events that were pretty memorable and it just kind of came together! Of course, there is a good smattering of my patented sappy love songs about my wife to boot!“

Last month, on December 5th, he released the first song from the album, “Where Do I Belong?”, and now returns with two more songs released as a pair, “She’s So Fine” and “Fell So Hard“, which dropped January 9th. Both songs are totally different in sound and structure, with straightforward and honest lyrics about meeting and falling in love with Ella, the woman who would become his wife. “She’s So Fine” opens strong with a gnarly, almost bluesy guitar riff accompanied by snappy drums and a thumping bass groove. Mikey J’s impressive guitar prowess is on full display as he layers multiple textures and riffs throughout the song, highlighted by a great solo in the bridge. Mikey J said that the song was somewhat inspired by The Easybeats, an Australian band from the 1960s, while “Fell So Hard was inspired by the Beatles.

“Fell So Hard” has a slower tempo, with a melody and instrumentation reminiscent of songs by the Beatles in their mid-career period of 1966-68. I really love the mellotron sounds as well as the jangly guitar work that nicely channels that of George Harrison. Mikey J doesn’t have a particularly strong singing voice, but his vocals are endearing and heartfelt as he sings of how he fell for Ella: “I met a girl who stole my heart, she snatched it clean away. I was alone, just drifting through life, but I fell for her that day. She looked at me, and the world seemed to stop. I fell for her so hard that fateful day.”

I like that “She’s So Fine” and “Fell So Hard” offer up a completely different vibe and sound from each other, and also that both sound different from “Where Do I Belong”, with its hard-driving beat. It’s a clear indication of Mikey J’s ability to cross music genres and styles in his songwriting and musicianship, which he puts to good use on Made in China, making for an interesting listen indeed.

Here are the songs on YouTube:

And on Spotify:

Mikey J’s Socials: Facebook / X / Instagram / Threads / BlueSky

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

BRIAN LAMBERT – Single Review: “Take This Heart”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews15 Comments

Brian Lambert, an affable, talented and thoughtful singer-songwriter from Denton, Texas who describes himself as a “Friendly Neighborhood Rock and Roller”, is one of the most prolific musicians I know of. When Covid put a halt to playing live, he challenged himself to writing, recording and producing a new song every week for a year, an ambitious feat he went on to accomplish in 2021. Since then, he’s continued his prodigious output, writing and recording numerous songs both as a solo artist and in collaboration with a host of other musicians, including his frequent musical partner Marc Schuster (with whom he also has a side band called The Star Crumbles), Quizboy, Jr Moz Collective, Scoopski, Harmoni Kelly and As Particles Collide, to name some that come to mind.

Photo by Olivia Rodriguez

His lively, eclectic sound runs the gamut from rock’n’roll, indie folk and garage rock to grunge, punk and synthpop. In addition to a dizzying array of singles, he’s also released a terrific album Wild in September 2023 and EP Everything’s a Business in June 2024. I’ve featured him many times on this blog (you can read some of my reviews by clicking on the ‘Related’ links at the end of this post), and today I’m pleased to present his latest single “Take This Heart“, which he released on January 3rd. Inspired by the 90’s music of some of his favorite bands like Soul Asylum, the Goo Goo Dolls and Better Than Ezra, the song is a smoldering, foot-stomping banger. Brian wrote the music and lyrics, produced the track and played all instruments.

The song starts off with a snappy drum riff that’s quickly joined by rumbling bass, then a gnarly guitar enters and we’re off to the races. To my ears, the song almost has a bit of a 60s garage rock feel, but with a contemporary treatment. I love the chugging guitar riff and the insistent drumbeat that continues throughout the song, nicely complementing that grimy bass line in keeping the sultry groove moving forward. Brian dazzles us with all sorts of guitar gymnastics, highlighted by a blistering guitar solo in the bridge.

He’s also a fine singer, with a highly emotive vocal style that works perfectly on this song as he passionately sings of his fervor for a woman he loves: “Hey alright, the moonlight. I just wanna hold you in the middle of the night. Baby, do you want me? Baby, I want you./ Got this feeling inside I can no longer hide anymore./ Baby take this heart of mine.” I think it’s one of his best songs yet!

Connect with Brian:  Facebook / Twitter/X / Instagram / Threads

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