Photo of Otis Pavlovic and Royel Maddell by Shervin Lainez
I’m still loving “moody” by Royel Otis a lot, thus it remains at #1 for a second week, while sombr‘s “back to friends” holds at #2 for a second week after spending three weeks at #1. Twenty One Pilots and Djo move up one spot each to #s 3 and 4 with “The Contract” and “Basic Being Basic”. Entering the top 10 are “No Rain, No Flowers” by The Black Keys, jumping seven spots to #7, and “Scars” by my favorite Welsh artist Secret Postal Society, moving up a notch to #10.
Two songs make their debut on my chart this week, the first of which is “Today’s Song” by rock legends the Foo Fighters, entering at #29. In a note accompanying the single’s release, band frontman Dave Grohl stated it’s a tribute to former band members including recently fired drummer Josh Freese, founding drummer William Goldsmith, guitarist Franz Stahl and late drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died in 2022. The second debut is the quite lovely “Incomprehensible” by Brooklyn, New York-based indie folk band Big Thief. Formed in 2015, the band now consists of vocalist-guitarist Adrianne Lenker, guitarist Buck Meek and drummer James Krivchenia. (Founding bassist Max Oleartchik left the band in 2024.) The song is the lead single from their forthcoming sixth studio album Double Infinity, set for release on September 5th.
MOODY – Royel Otis (1)
BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (2)
THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (4)
BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (5)
PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (3)
NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (6)
NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (14)
BONNET OF PINS – Matt Berninger (9)
FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (10)
SCARS – Secret Postal Society (11)
WHAT WAS THAT – Lorde (12)
CATCH THESE FISTS – Wet Leg (7)
RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (15)
RITALIN – Dexter and The Moonrocks (8)
BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (16)
EMERGENCE – Sleep Token (18)
LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (19)
LONDON TOWN – HEALER (20)
BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice (21)
RELATIONSHIPS – HAIM (17)
SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (26)
JUPITER – almost monday ft. Jordana (27)
UNDRESSED – sombr (28)
ARCHBISHOP HAROLD HOLMES – Jack White (13)
ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (25)
BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (29)
POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (30)
IT’S AMAZING TO BE YOUNG – Fontaines D.C. (22) 19th week on chart
Photo of Otis Pavlovic and Royel Maddell by Shervin Lainez for Flood Magazine
We have a new #1 song this week, as well as four new debuts. Over the past year, I’ve become a fan of Australian act Royel Otis on the strength of their infectious guitar-pop sound and charming, laid-back persona. Formed in 2019 by Royel Maddell (who rarely shows his face) and Otis Pavlovic, the Sydney-based duo draw from elements of indie pop, indie rock, new wave, pop rock, post-punk and psychedelic rock in the creation of their music. They released two EPs in 2021 and 2022 to little notice until the song “Oysters in My Pocket”, from the second EP Bar n Grill, gained traction in late 2022. Their third EP Sofa Kings, released in 2023, proved more successful, with the breakthrough title track marking their first appearance on American charts and eventually peaking at #12 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. In late January 2024, they released their electrifying cover of “Murder on the Dancefloor”, the 2001 disco pop hit by British singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor which they performed on the Australian radio station Triple J for their Like a Version program. The song went viral and reached #1 on the Billboard Alternative chart, as well as my own Top 30 chart. I couldn’t get enough of it, and it ended up ranking #4 on my 100 Best Songs of 2024 list. The guys quickly followed with their debut album Pratts & Pain in February 2024, which debuted at #1 on the Australian Albums Chart, and went on to win four awards at the 2024 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Music Awards. They also released a wonderful cover of The Cranberries’ classic “Linger”.
Their charming single “moody“, released on May 9th, is a love song of sorts, detailing a problematic relationship with a woman who drives the singer crazy in both good ways and bad. She’s jealous, bitchy and cranky, yet he’s hopelessly in love with her: “She’s always givin’ it to me. Late nights, she always accusin’. Last time, she said she would kill me. My girl’s a bitch when she’s moody. But she’s my everything. She’s all that I need.” I love the song’s languid laid back groove, highlighted by Royel’s terrific guitar noodling and Otis’ sweet vocals, and it ascends to #1 on my latest chart.
The joyoustly upbeat “Feels Right” by northern Virginia artist Talk in Waves, who’s no stranger to my charts, enters the top 10 at #10. And as I noted above, four songs make their debut this week, three of which are spelled in all lower case letters. Entering at #27 is “jupiter” by San Diego-based indie pop band almost monday, comprised of Dawson Daugherty (vocals), Cole Clisby (guitar), and Luke Fabry (bass), and featuring L.A.-based indie pop singer-songwriter Jordana. The song was originally included on their 2014 album DIVE as a recording by only the band, but a new version with Jordana singing backing vocals was released in January on a deluxe version of DIVE. It’s the third song by almost monday to appear on my chart, following 2020’s “broken people” and last year’s smash hit “can’t slow down”.
The second debut, coming in at #28, is the relentessly catchy “undressed” by sombr, whose single “back to friends” just spent three weeks at #1 and now sits at #2. The song continues the theme exploring the challenges of moving on from a failed relationship that was first introduced in “back to friends”. Next up is “Backseat” by New Zealand-born and now New York City-based duo Balu Brigada, comprised of multi-instrumentalist brothers Henry and Pierre Beasley, whose single “So Cold” spent three weeks at #1 on my chart in March. Though a long one, running nearly six and a half minutes, “Backseat” is a compelling, melodically complex song that’s sure to be another hit for the talented brothers.
Last but certainly not least is the delightful “polyester (yes sir)” by L.A. indie pop-rock band Sorry Ghost, which I featured in a recent Fresh New Tracks post. As I noted in that post, the charismatic band – comprised of Dan Anton (vocals), Matt Polito (guitar and vocals), Tate Silver (drums) and Sean Duong (guitar and vocals) – have a cheeky sense of humor and frequently delight their fans and followers with hilarious and endearing video reels of themselves on Instagram and TikTok. I love the song’s mellow vibe that sits in a sweet spot between sunny and melancholy, as well as the colorful blend of jangly and chiming guitars accompanied by pleasing harmonies.
MOODY – Royel Otis (2)
BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (1)
PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (4)
THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (8)
BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (5)
NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (3)
CATCH THESE FISTS – Wet Leg (6)
RITALIN – Dexter and The Moonrocks (9)
BONNET OF PINS – Matt Berninger (10)
FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (11)
SCARS – Secret Postal Society (12)
WHAT WAS THAT – Lorde (13)
ARCHBISHOP HAROLD HOLMES – Jack White (7)
NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (18)
RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (17)
BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (19)
RELATIONSHIPS – HAIM (20)
EMERGENCE – Sleep Token (21)
LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (22)
LONDON TOWN – HEALER (23)
BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice (24)
IT’S AMAZING TO BE YOUNG – Fontaines D.C. (14)
BARBARIAN – AWOLNATION (15)
LET THINGS GO – Caamp (16)
ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (26)
SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (30)
JUPITER – almost monday ft. Jordana (N)
UNDRESSED – sombr (N)
BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (N)
POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (N)
I feel guilty including a Spotify playlist anymore, but here it is in case anyone cares to check out any of the songs:
For my latest and 50th edition of Fresh New Tracks, I’m featuring songs by three acts I’ve followed for quite a long time – ranging from seven to nine years – and have written about numerous times on this blog, though none of them for at least the past two years. They are, in alphabetical order, Norwegian composer and musician Antipole (in a song also featuring his son Ja’kob and Portuguese singer-songwriter Pedro Code), English rock band Black Bear Kiss and American alternative pop rock band Council. All three singles were released on July 11th.
Antipole & Ja’kob featuring Pedro Code – “Echoes”
AntipoleJa’kobPedro Code
Coldwave/post-punk act Antipole is the music project of Norwegian guitarist and composer Karl Morten Dahl, who’s based in Trondheim. The prolific musician has released nine albums and numerous singles over the past 12 years, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with many other artists and vocalists, most frequently British electronic music artist Paris Alexander, with whom he’s released several albums. I reviewed their albums Northern Flux in 2017 and Crystalline in May 2023 (which you can read here).
His latest release is the enthralling single “Echoes“, a collaboration with his son Ja’kob, a budding guitarist in his own right, and Portuguese singer-songwriter and producer Pedro Code (aka Pedro Mota), who’s half of the electronic duo IAMTHESHADOW along with Vitor J. Moreira. The song was written and recorded by Antipole, Ja’kob and Pedro, who sings vocals and also produced the track. I love the insistent fast-paced beat and mesmerizing soundcape of swirling industrial synths, haunting jangly guitars and arresting percussion, accompanied by Pedro’s deep baritone vocals. The beautiful black and white video, filmed in Lofoten and Granåsen, Norway and Lisboa, Portugal, was edited by Karl and his wife Anne-Christel and features Karl, Ja’kob and Pedro performing the song in various settings.
Black Bear Kiss – “Calling Out”
Photo by Paul Richardson
Since the release of their terrific debut single “Hooks” in the spring of 2018, English alternative garage rock band Black Bear Kiss have consistently released outstanding songs, and I would know, as I reviewed every one of their first seven singles. On the strength of their exciting guitar-driven sound, strong charisma and rowdy live performances, they’ve built a loyal following in their home base of the West Midlands/Shropshire region of England and beyond. Unfortunately, in June 2021 the band was shaken by the tragic and sudden passing of one of their members Rob Jones due to a previously undisclosed heart ailment. Undaunted by that terrible blow, the guys decided to soldier on as a four-piece consisting of Chris Leech on lead vocals, Colin Haden on guitar, Rich Sach on bass, and Chris Bagnall on drums.
They released their debut self-titled album in March 2023, and since then have dropped three more singles, the latest of which is “Calling Out“. The song is a smoldering melodic rocker, with an intricate mix of darkly beautiful guitar notes and fiery riffs, accompanied by a driving bassline, snappy drums and what sounds like a mellotron in the bridge. As always, Chris’s distinctive warm vocals are a highlight for me as he plaintively sings the lyrics that seem to be about reaching out to a loved one who’s struggling emotionally: “Calling out to bring you in. Oh fight this feeling, my headspace I want you to lift. Call me again. Call me in time. Call me whatever your state of mind. Call it in close. Pull it apart. Never forget baby who you are.”
Council – “Never Let You Go”
I’ve been following New York alternative pop rock band Council for the past nine years, and have featured them on this blog a number of times. Comprised of the three strikingly handsome Reeves brothers – twins Patrick (bass and lead vocals) and Doug (drums) and their younger brother Andy (guitar) – they were raised on a farm in rural upstate New York and now split their time between tending the family farm and working on their music in New York City. Through their signature sweeping melodies, bold instrumentation and anthemic choruses, Council’s dynamic sound has sometimes been compared to Imagine Dragons. Their magnificent life-affirming debut single “Rust to Gold” received worldwide acclaim, including being played at the opening ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, as well as on American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, World Of Dance and Premier League. It’s been streamed more than 14 million times on Spotify, and ended up on my list of 100 Best Songs of 2017.
The guys have released numerous singles over the past nine years, including an original Christmas song nearly every December since 2020. Their latest offering is “Never Let You Go“, their first non-Christmas single in nearly three years. In an Instagram post, they stated that the song is about two toxic people in a relationship who can’t seem to walk away from each other, yet end up slowly destroying each other because each of them wants to change the other into who they think they should be, something I’m sure is the cause of many a break-up. Musically, the song is the kind of powerful soaring anthem we’ve come to love and expect from Council, highlighted by Andy’s intricate guitar work, Pat and Doug’s hard-driving rhythms and Pat’s fervent vocals. Great job guys!
20-year-old artist sombr has a firm grip on the top spot as his song “back to friends” spends a third week at #1, while Australian duo Royel Otis move up two spots to #2 with “moody” (I find it fascinating that a lot of acts today use all lowercase letters for their names and song titles). Twenty One Pilots (who for many years also spelled their name in all lowercase) advance five spots to enter the top 10 at #8 with “The Contract”, followed by Dexter and The Moonrocks‘ “Ritalin” and Matt Berninger‘s “Bonnet of Pins”, coming in at #s 9 and 10, respectively. The Black Keys are this week’s biggest upward mover with “No Rain, No Flowers”, jumping eight spots to #18.
The lone new debut this week is “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” by ROLE MODEL, the music project of American singer-songwriter Tucker Harrington Pillsbury. Born in Maine and now based in Los Angeles, he began his music career in 2016, rapping under his first name Tucker, but soon changed his stage name to Dillis, under which he released an album Moth. In early 2017, he again changed his name, this time to ROLE MODEL, and switched from rapping to singing. He released his debut EP Arizona in the Summer that December, which earned him a following online and captured the attention of the late rapper Mac Miller, who invited him to Los Angeles to work with him on a music project. ROLE MODEL was subsequently signed to Interscope in 2018, and continued releasing singles and two more EPs, culminating in the release of his debut album Rx, though none of them charted.
In July 2024 he released his sophomore album Kansas Anymore, featuring a more country folk sound. He followed this past February with a deluxe edition of the album, Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye), accompanied by the sweet single “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out”. Like many songs these days, it became popular on TikTok, undoubtedly helped by Tucker’s good looks and charming persona, and is his first song to chart in the U.S. and several countries, including Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Israel.
BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (1)
MOODY – Royel Otis (4)
NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (2)
PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (3)
BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (6)
CATCH THESE FISTS – Wet Leg (7)
ARCHBISHOP HAROLD HOLMES – Jack White (5)
THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (13)
RITALIN – Dexter and The Moonrocks (11)
BONNET OF PINS – Matt Berninger (12)
FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (15)
SCARS – Secret Postal Society (14)
WHAT WAS THAT – Lorde (16)
IT’S AMAZING TO BE YOUNG – Fontaines D.C. (8)
BARBARIAN – AWOLNATION (9)
LET THINGS GO – Caamp (10)
RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (19)
NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (26)
BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (22)
RELATIONSHIPS – HAIM (23)
EMERGENCE – Sleep Token (24)
LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (25)
LONDON TOWN – HEALER (28)
BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice (29)
THE TURNAROUND – DelCobras (17) 19th week on chart
Unobliterated is the music project of England-born and now Portugal-based singer-songwriter and musician Gary Taylor, who’s been making music for many years in one form or another under various guises. While living in the UK, he started out making EDM/Ambient music under the name Agent Orange just for fun, never releasing any of it. Then he played in a number of bands – most recently The Tasers, with whom he served as songwriter – who recorded a few demo tracks though nothing was ever officially released. After relocating to Portugal partly in response to Brexit, Gary felt like he still had some unfinished business with regard to making music, as he had a few songs he’d started during his time with The Tasers that had never been fully developed or recorded. Discovering how easy it was to release music on platforms like Spotify, Bandcamp, YouTube, etc., he dubbed his project “Unobliterated” and began releasing alternative pop-rock songs in March 2024, starting with “Truth is Nothing” and “Slipping Through Your Fingers”.
When I asked Gary about his unusual moniker, he explained: “I came across the word ‘Unobliterated’ many years ago on a Dymo label – I just found it at a bus stop along with a bunch of other unused labels. I absolutely fell in love with the word [at first it appears ridiculous but you definitely can make it work in a sentence] and the question of why it was there in the first place, and geekily named my music making computer ‘Unobliterated’, and that tradition carried on until this day. So when it came to finding a name, that was top of my shortlist and won out when I was able to verify that there were no other Unobliterated artists.“
He continued releasing more singles throughout 2024 and into 2025, and today returns with “light years apart“, a majestic song he describes as a “tale of love, loss, fragility, pain and the [misplaced] hope we often cling to in desperate times.” Gary wrote and recorded the song, played guitar and programmed synths, and sang lead and backing vocals, with his wife Anna providing additional backing vocals. The track was mixed and Mastered by Charles Connolly.
To drive home his message, Unobliterated starts with a haunting melody driven forward by a strong pulsating groove, then layers swirling atmospheric synths and warm guitar notes, creating a mesmerizing backdrop for his arresting vocals that masterfully convey a sense of both despair and hopeful optimism. I really like his marvelous vocals that go from breathy and sensuous to plaintive and impassioned, as well as his and Anna’s subtle harmonies in the choruses. “light years apart” is a great song, and I think it’s one of his best yet.
Oceans of empty bottles can’t drown the thoughts of you Red eyes and chemicals in smoky rooms don’t blur these apparitions My Skies grow darker now, day by day Storms flush my colours out and turn my world to grey
Oh I’m devastated to my core But tell me are you really sure Why don’t you hear me out why don’t you give me just one more try And maybe… We can take it back to the start, we’re only light years apart and I would bend space for you
Memories that taunt and tear me down, deride my hollow virtues Caught in this clouded mirror; fading echoes of a better man Oh these scars run deeper now, every day As tortured fragments of my soul are ground to dust and blown away
Let’s take a minute to gather all the moments we have scattered to the wind We don’t know how the story ends but let’s turn the page and see how it begins Yeah I would bend space and time; turn water to wine. I’d take it back to the start; we’re only light years apart and I am light speed
Oh I’m devastated to my core But tell me are you really sure Why don’t you hear me out why don’t you give me just one more try And maybe… We can take it back to the start, we’re only light years apart and I would bend space for you
The cinematic anthem “back to friends” by sombr holds onto the top spot for a second week, while Lord Huron‘s “Nothing I Need” remains at #2 again after spending two weeks at #1. Irish pop rock band Somebody’s Child moves up a spot to #3 with their beautiful “Porcelain (Losing All My Patience)” and Australian duo Royel Otis slide into fourth place with “moody”.
There are three new debuts this week, starting with “The Contract” by my favorite music act Twenty One Pilots, comprised of the dynamic duo Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, entering my chart at lucky #13. The lead single from their forthcoming eighth studio album Breach, to be released September 5th, “The Contract” starts the final act of the narrative begun on their 2015 album Blurryface and continued through Trench, Scaled And Icy, and last year’s Clancy.
Entering at #29 is “Bloom Baby Bloom” by English alt-rock band Wolf Alice, consisting of Ellie Rowsell on lead vocals, Joff Oddie on guitar, Theo Ellis on bass and Joel Amey on drums. The song is the lead single from their fourth studio album The Clearing, to be released August 29th. And coming in at #30 is “Asshole” by Denver, Colorado-based alternative folk rock band The Lumineers, now a duo consisting of Wesley Schultz (lead vocals, guitar) and Jeremiah Fraites (drums, percussion, piano). Also dubbed “First We Ever Met” to mollify radio censors and self-righteous Puritans, “Asshole” is from their fifth and latest studio album Automatic, which dropped February 14th.
BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (1)
NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (2)
PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (4)
For the latest installment of my Fresh New Tracks series, I’m featuring new songs by an international array of acts. They are, in alphabetical order, Italian indie garage rock band Blake Rascals, English alt-rock band Future Theory, American shoegaze/indie rock band Icarus Phoenix, and Canadian Country collaborative Shimmer Road.
Blake Rascals – “Conspiracy Of Snakes”
Hailing from Ancona province in central Italy are Blake Rascals, an indie garage rock trio formed early this year. With a name inspired by their shared love for British poet and painter William Blake, who often used the image of a snake to represent the complexity of the human soul, its temptations and its rebellions, their sound is a distinctive blend of British indie rock and garage / post-punk revival influences by such acts as Arctic Monkeys, Queens of the Stone Age, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Raconteurs. The band is comprised of Giuseppe Palumbo (vocals and guitar), Andrea Marcellini (bass and backing vocals) and Simone Raggetti (drums and backing vocals). Andrea previously released music under his solo acoustic folk music project Andy K Leland, and I featured him numerous times on this blog between 2017-2019.
On June 10th, Blake Rascals released their debut single “Conspiracy Of Snakes“, and it’s a glorious hard-charging banger! The song opens with a powerful stomping drumbeat which is soon joined by heavy bass and a sensuous reverby guitar riff, then explodes into a maelstrom of distorted guitars and thunderous percussion, creating an electrifying soundscape for Giuseppe’s commanding vocals. And just when we think the guys have taken things as far as they can, they let loose with a furious onslaught of raging guitars and pummeling rhythms at the end for an exhilarating finish. I love it!
Future Theory – “Reality Buzz”
A long-time favorite British music act of mine is alternative psychedelic rock band Future Theory, a Lincolnshire, England-based four-piece comprised of Max Sander (rhythm guitar and vocals), Chris Moore (lead guitar), Jacob Brookes (bass) and Rohan Parrett (drums). Blending elements of alternative and progressive rock, psychedelia, grunge, shoegaze and funk, they create arresting songs featuring complex melodies and arrangements, and delivered with lavish instrumentation and Max’s mesmerizing vocals. Since first learning about them in early 2017, I’ve been consistently impressed by their intelligent songwriting and strong musicianship, and have written about them and their outstanding music numerous times. Their single “One and the Same” reached #3 on my Top 30 chart and ranks #42 on my 100 Best Songs of 2022 list, while their gorgeous “Why” went all the way to #1 and ranks #18 on my 100 Best Songs of 2023.
Now this talented band is back with “Reality Buzz“, their first new single since “Skin” in December 2023, and it was worth the wait! The song grabbed my attention right away with its swirling psychedelic guitars, Max’s distinctive sultry vocals and infectious head-bopping groove propelled by an insistent drumbeat. As the track progresses, we’re treated to more of Chris and Max’s awe-inspiring guitar prowess as they lay down a barrage of scorching riffs, fortified by Jacob’s grinding bass and Rohan’s boisterous drums. Future Theory never fail to deliver a quality song, and “Reality Buzz” instantly ranks among my favorite songs by them.
Icarus Phoenix – “Mark & Kyle”
The wonderfully-named Icarus Phoenix is a shoegaze/indie rock band originally formed in Missoula, Montana in 2020, but now based in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Fronted by silky-voiced singer-songwriter and guitarist Drew Danburry (who’s independently released a staggering amount of solo music since 2002, including over 400 songs on over 20 albums and 13 EPs), Icarus Phoenix has released quite a bit of music as well, starting with their self-titled debut album in 2021, followed by two more albums that year, another in 2022 and their most recent, I Should Have Known the Things You Never Said, last August (2024). In Nov 2022, Drew recorded 40 songs in three days at June Audio in Provo, Utah with producer Jed Jones (Post malone, The Killers), also recruiting the help of longtime friends Jake Bellows of the band Neva Dinova to play additional guitar, Justin Pacheco on bass, and Icarus Phoenix bandmate Andrew Young on drums. Since the release of I Should Have Known the Things You Never Said, Icarus Phoenix has been dropping singles at a rate of one every three weeks, many of which will be included on a deluxe edition of their aforementioned album, to be released next month. In March I wrote about their gorgeous song “Poor Sad Indie Everything”, which recently spent 15 weeks on my Top 30 chart, three of them at #10.
Their latest offering is “Mark & Kyle“, a heartwarming song about his English friend Mark who adopted a young boy named Kyle. Drew explains: “Mark has been a long time friend for twenty years at least. He’s always wanted to be a parent. Dreams come true. Sometimes those dreams are difficult and wonderful. It’s all part of the process of life I guess.” I love the song’s breezy melody, chiming guitars and what sounds like a mellotron. And it goes without saying I also love Drew’s warm vocals as he sings the poignant lyrics “When Kyle first met Mark and called him “Dad” he coulda cried. Adopting someone changes more than one life, if its right. So they play hide & seek to find their feet and then they dodge the cracks so they don’t fall in.” Kyle created the sweet artwork for the single.
And here’s Drew singing an acoustic version of the song:
Shimmer Road – “Branson”
Shimmer Road is a collaborate country music project fronted by the enormously talented and versatile singer-songwriter and musician Shimmer Johnson. Born and raised in Edmonton, Canada where she still resides, Shimmer also spent her teenage years in Branson, Missouri, as well as some time as an adult in Los Angeles. She began her music career singing country songs, but eventually branched out into adult contemporary pop, rock and even dance music, all of which she handles with ease. She’s recorded music both as a solo artist and in collaboration with numerous other songwriters and producers from around the globe, creating a truly impressive repertoire of outstanding songs. I’ve featured her numerous times on this blog over the past seven years, and two of her songs, the terrific 2021 dance single “Starts With You” and “Essence”, a stunning 2023 collaboration with Danish composer and producer Refeci, have reached #1 on my Top 30 chart, the latter also ranking #7 on my 100 Best Songs of 2023 list.
The prolific artist must be running on some kind of bionic energy force, as today she drops not one but two new singles – an enthralling collaboration “All I Need to Know” with Dutch producer and songwriter Plux, and “Branson” with her country band Shimmer Road. And this is on the heels of another single she released only a week ago! I’ve chosen to feature “Branson”, as I rarely write about country music. Co-written with her husband Corey, the song is a lovely autobiographical ode to the Missouri town where she spent her formative years. Shimmer explains: “This is about my life in Branson throughout my teenage years and how it will always be my home no matter where life takes me.” In addition to Shimmer on vocals and Corey on bass and keyboards, Shimmer Road also includes Jay Road on drums, Alan Tymofichuk on guitar and Ryan Williams on steel guitar. It’s a beautiful song that has a more traditional country vibe, which in addition to Shimmer’s captivating vocals is why I find it so appealing.
ECLECTIC MUSIC LOVER 