1. THE HYPE – twenty one pilots (1)
2. SOCIAL CUES – Cage the Elephant (2)
3. SOMEONE YOU LOVED – Lewis Capaldi (4)
4. CIRCLES – Post Malone (5)
5. UNDERGROUND – MISSIO (6)
6. GOOD THINGS FALL APART – ILLENIUM with Jon Bellion (3)
7. DISSOLVE – Absofacto (7)
8. FIGHTER – Joseph (9)
9. UNDER THESE SCARS – Falling Into Red featuring Dev (10)
10. YOU? – Two Feet (12)
11. THE MIDDLE – Agency Panic (8)
12. STAY HIGH – Brittany Howard (14)
13. WANNACRY – Darksoft (15)
14. DRIFTING AWAY – Stereohaze (16)
15. SECRETS – The Million Reasons (11)
16. GO – The Black Keys (13) 19th week on list
17. 16 – Highly Suspect (18)
18. OBSESSION – Joywave (19)
19. WHITE LIES & PALM TREES – The Lovepools (20)
20. LONELY – Secret American (24)
21. DESERVING OF LOVE – Lyia Meta (17)
22. NO BULLETS SPENT – Spoon (23)
23. CALM DOWN – Pete Yorn (26)
24. NOVOCAINE – The Unlikely Candidates (28)
25. REWARD – Paul Iwan (30)
26. RAGGED TOWN – Second Player Score (21) 18th week on list
27. UNDER THE COLD LIGHT OF THE MOON – Crystal Cities (22) 21st week on list
28. ORPHANS – Coldplay (N)
29. ALL THE GOOD GIRLS GO TO HELL – Billie Eilish (N)
30. MIGHT BE RIGHT – White Reaper (N)
Tag: Secret American
Top 30 Songs for November 3-9, 2019
1. THE HYPE – twenty one pilots (2)
2. SOCIAL CUES – Cage the Elephant (1)
3. GOOD THINGS FALL APART – ILLENIUM with Jon Bellion (3)
4. SOMEONE YOU LOVED – Lewis Capaldi (4)
5. CIRCLES – Post Malone (5)
6. UNDERGROUND – MISSIO (8)
7. DISSOLVE – Absofacto (7)
8. THE MIDDLE – Agency Panic (9)
9. FIGHTER – Joseph (10)
10. UNDER THESE SCARS – Falling Into Red featuring Dev (12)
11. SECRETS – The Million Reasons (11)
12. YOU? – Two Feet (16)
13. GO – The Black Keys (6)
14. STAY HIGH – Brittany Howard (20)
15. WANNACRY – Darksoft (17)
16. DRIFTING AWAY – Stereohaze (18)
17. DESERVING OF LOVE – Lyia Meta (19)
18. 16 – Highly Suspect (22)
19. OBSESSION – Joywave (23)
20. WHITE LIES & PALM TREES – The Lovepools (24)
21. RAGGED TOWN – Second Player Score (13)
22. UNDER THE COLD LIGHT OF THE MOON – Crystal Cities (14) 20th week on list
23. NO BULLETS SPENT – Spoon (27)
24. LONELY – Secret American (28)
25. HEAT OF THE SUMMER – Young the Giant (15)
26. CALM DOWN – Pete Yorn (29)
27. DOIN’ TIME – Lana Del Rey (21) 19th week on list
28. NOVOCAINE – The Unlikely Candidates (30)
29. 3 NIGHTS – Dominic Fike (25)
30. REWARD – Paul Iwan (N)
Top 30 Songs for October 27-November 2, 2019
1. SOCIAL CUES – Cage the Elephant (1)
2. THE HYPE – twenty one pilots (2)
3. GOOD THINGS FALL APART – ILLENIUM with Jon Bellion (4)
4. SOMEONE YOU LOVED – Lewis Capaldi (5)
5. CIRCLES – Post Malone (9)
6. GO – The Black Keys (3)
7. DISSOLVE – Absofacto (10)
8. UNDERGROUND – MISSIO (15)
9. THE MIDDLE – Agency Panic (11)
10. FIGHTER – Joseph (14)
11. SECRETS – The Million Reasons (12)
12. UNDER THESE SCARS – Falling Into Red (13)
13. RAGGED TOWN – Second Player Score (7)
14. UNDER THE COLD LIGHT OF THE MOON – Crystal Cities (6) 19th week on list
15. HEAT OF THE SUMMER – Young the Giant (8)
16. YOU? – Two Feet (27)
17. WANNACRY – Darksoft (18)
18. DRIFTING AWAY – Stereohaze (22)
19. DESERVING OF LOVE – Lyia Meta (21)
20. STAY HIGH – Brittany Howard (28)
21. DOIN’ TIME – Lana Del Rey (19)
22. 16 – Highly Suspect (23)
23. OBSESSION – Joywave (24)
24. WHITE LIES & PALM TREES – The Lovepools (26)
25. 3 NIGHTS – Dominic Fike (16)
26. CRINGE – Matt Maeson (17)
27. NO BULLETS SPENT – Spoon (29)
28. LONELY – Secret American (30)
29. CALM DOWN – Pete Yorn (N)
30. NOVOCAINE – The Unlikely Candidates (N)
Top 30 Songs for October 20-26, 2019
1. SOCIAL CUES – Cage the Elephant (1)
2. THE HYPE – twenty one pilots (3)
3. GO – The Black Keys (2)
4. GOOD THINGS FALL APART – ILLENIUM with Jon Bellion (5)
5. SOMEONE YOU LOVED – Lewis Capaldi (10)
6. UNDER THE COLD LIGHT OF THE MOON – Crystal Cities (4)
7. RAGGED TOWN – Second Player Score (8)
8. HEAT OF THE SUMMER – Young the Giant (9)
9. CIRCLES – Post Malone (20)
10. DISSOLVE – Absofacto (15)
11. THE MIDDLE – Agency Panic (13)
12. SECRETS – The Million Reasons (14)
13. UNDER THESE SCARS – Falling Into Red featuring Dev (16)
14. FIGHTER – Joseph (18)
15. UNDERGROUND – MISSIO (19)
16. 3 NIGHTS – Dominic Fike (6)
17. CRINGE – Matt Maeson (7)
18. WANNACRY – Darksoft (17)
19. DOIN’ TIME – Lana Del Rey (11)
20. GOODBYES – Post Malone featuring Young Thug (12)
21. DESERVING OF LOVE – Lyia Meta (22)
22. DRIFTING AWAY – Stereohaze (23)
23. 16 – Highly Suspect (28)
24. OBSESSION – Joywave (29)
25. FOUR WINDS – Unquiet Nights (21)
26. WHITE LIES & PALM TREES – The Lovepools (30)
27. YOU? – Two Feet (N)
28. STAY HIGH – Brittany Howard (N)
29. NO BULLETS SPENT – Spoon (N)
30. LONELY – Secret American (N)
New Song of the Week: SECRET AMERICAN – “Lonely”
This past March, I had the pleasure of featuring the delightful band Secret American when I reviewed their marvelous 2018 album Warmth & Shelter. Now they’re back with a wonderful new single “Lonely“, which I’ve selected as my New Song of the Week. The song is the first single off their forthcoming second album, and explores the age-old conundrum between being in a committed relationship and holding on to one’s freedom.
Secret American is a bi-coastal band, born from the collaboration of singer/songwriter and guitarist Derek Krzywicki, who lives in the small town of Carpinteria on the California coast east of Santa Barbara, and his long-time friend Todd Mecaughey, a producer/engineer who lives in Philadelphia. (Todd has stated that their name comes from them being simultaneously proud and ashamed to be American – a sentiment I currently share). Completing the band’s seven-member lineup are the very talented musicians Kevin Killen, Katie Frank, Tony Unander, Alex Baranowski and Rory Geoghegan.
Their refreshing, eclectic sound is at once retro yet contemporary, unique yet familiar. As I noted in my review, the retro aspect of their music evokes the carefree California pop-rock vibe of The Lovin’ Spoonful, while their contemporary side channels the laid-back grooves of Cage the Elephant. And though their song lyrics often address more serious, thought-provoking topics, they’re presented with sunny melodies, breezy instrumentation and pleasing vocals that make for happy listening experience.
“Lonely” features a rich mix of shimmery synths, layers of twangy and jangly guitars, soulful bass and crisp percussion, all wrapped in a captivating melody that envelops us like a warm blanket. Derek’s smooth, sultry vocals are so damn seductive and bewitching as he croons about how, despite the occasional loneliness, being single and free is preferable to being imprisoned in a relationship – or is it?
Cause if you wanna be like me, you better be lonely
You’d better think only of the woman you had
Cause if you wanna be like me, you better be lonely
You’d better think only of the man you had
Oh I’m not giving it up I said
Oh I’m not giving it up I said
Oh I’m not giving it up for you
I wanna be who I want to
I wanna see who I want to, baby yeah
I wanna feel them feels too
But I can’t have that with you
Can’t have my number
Can’t have my time
Though that I want you, you can’t be mine
You can lead me to water, but I wouldn’t drink
You can make me love you, but I’ll always think
Secret American make fascinating videos for many of their songs, and for “Lonely” they’ve produced not one, but TWO delightful videos, both created and edited by Todd’s wife Natalie Mecaughey. The first contains vintage footage from what appears to be a fifties film about a couple on a scenic bus trip across the U.S., who experience snags in their relationship. The second is a mashup of footage of couples enjoying romantic moments on a pier, juxtaposed with poignant images of Jerry Seinfeld and Jason Alexander looking uncharacteristically reflective.
Catch Secret American at one of these upcoming shows:
Sep 25 – Milkboy Philly, Philadelphia, PA
Sep 26 – Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
Sep 27 – The Royal American, Charleston, SC
Sep 28 – Primal Brewery, Huntersville, NC
Sep 29 – The Radio Room, Greenville, SC
Connect with Secret American on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Stream their music on Spotify / Soundcloud / Apple Music
Purchase on Bandcamp / iTunes / Google Play
SECRET AMERICAN – Album Review: “Warmth & Shelter”
Sometimes you just want to hear music that makes you feel good, am I right? Well, that’s exactly what you get with the aptly titled Warmth & Shelter, an absolutely delightful album from the band Secret American. The album came out in May 2018, but I only recently learned about it from fellow music blogger Tina Romano, who wrote a wonderful review for the blog Niche-Appeal.com, and recommended that I give this band a listen. Well, I have to say that it’s one of the most enjoyable albums I’ve heard in a long time. I’m sorry I never heard this album in 2018, because I’d easily rank it among the best of that year.
Secret American’s refreshing sound is at once retro yet contemporary, unique yet familiar. While listening to the songs I kept wondering ‘who do they remind me of?’ Then it finally dawned on me that the carefree California pop-rock vibe of The Lovin’ Spoonful was the retro part, while the contemporary side evokes the laid-back grooves of Cage the Elephant. While their song lyrics often address serious subjects that require a bit of thinking, they’re presented with sunny melodies, breezy instrumentation and pleasing vocals that make for happy listening experience. The songs are infectiously catchy without hitting you over the head, slowly boring themselves into your brain, but in a very good way. When I first listened to Warmth & Shelter, I thought ‘these songs are nice’. On the second listen, I thought ‘this is a really good album’. By the third spin, it was ‘I fucking love this!’ and have been hooked ever since.
Born from the collaboration of singer/songwriter and guitarist Derek Krzywicki, who lives in the small town of Carpenteria on the California coast east of Santa Barbara, and his long-time friend Todd Mecaughey, a producer/engineer who lives in Philadelphia, Secret American is a bi-coastal band of sorts. Derek had written several songs after leaving the band Cheers Elephant, and reached out to Todd about helping bring them to life. Despite their distance, they began working together on music fairly regularly for over a year in Philadelphia, as well as collaborating through the internet from their home studios, and eventually formed Secret American. Todd has stated that the name comes from them being simultaneously proud and ashamed to be American (a sentiment I currently share). Using Derek’s songs, the two created their debut album Warmth & Shelter. For the recording of the tracks, Derek played guitar, bass and sang vocals, Todd played drums, Kevin Killen played pedal steel, and Katie Frank played keyboards. Todd also engineered and produced the album. Along with those four, three additional musicians – Tony Unander, Alex Baranowski and Rory Geoghegan – were enlisted to complete the lineup for live performances.
The album kicks off with the title track “Warmth & Shelter“, a sweet tune about making a life in the country with your beloved, knowing there will be rough spots, but that everything will be alright: “Oh my dear, I wish to lead a Countried life. Hard work low wages. But these days, they lie ahead of us just out of reach. We’re making changes. I’ll hold the book you’ll turn the pages. Take what we want, take what we need, this little home, this dog we feed. This land of ours it’s all we need. Give me warmth and shelter, heart as well to count, count, count, on me.” The twangy guitars, cheerful synths and bouncy drumbeats are sublime, and Derek’s falsetto vocals, backed by his and Katie’s smooth harmonies, are sheer delight.
I don’t usually include so many videos in my reviews, but the band has produced highly entertaining ones for several of the album’s songs that are worth sharing. Feel free to watch them (or not). This one for “Warmth & Shelter” beautifully showcases Derek’s strong charisma and playful spirit.
Speaking of charisma and playfulness, Derek has it in spades on the charming and droll video for “Bang Bang“. He states in the video notes that it was made “to explain some of the choreography for their first band practice. It is now our default music video.” Honestly, how can you not love this guy? The song has a soulful Americana vibe, and is catchy as hell, with a delightful mix of jangly electric and twangy slide guitars, accompanied by a gently galloping beat. Derek’s vocals are quirky as he croons the humorous lyrics that speak to sexual desire: “I’m a standing tall and ready, not a man in disguise. I want you to blow my head out, right between the eyes. Sooner or later, like it or not. Tie yourself together and I’ll undue your knot. Send me your love on that ball and chain.”
“Why Believe?” speaks to the current state of political, economic and environmental upheaval. The song’s bubbly instrumentals and vocals sharply contrast with the darker lyrics about trying to avoid becoming totally cynical or hopeless in the face of challenges on multiple fronts: “The hotter the hotter the deeper the water. I think it’s time for a swim. Shame to the shameful, blame to the blameful for frying their lies in a pan. Why Believe? I can’t believe myself. Too poor to retire, too young die.”
The great tracks keep coming as the album continues, each flowing beautifully into the next. “Good Men Change” addresses the impermanence of life and not always taking things at face value: “Bad men dream, good men lie. / Clocks go round, things unwind.” One of my favorite tracks is “Amen, California” an enthralling ode to Derek’s (and my) home state. The song is beautiful, with a languid tempo and smooth instrumentals that evoke the blissful feels of a sunny day at the beach. Derek’s vocals are soothing and warm as he croons of the California state of mind: “Be free, like the fish in the sea. Let the waves crash on you, and be reborn in California.” The track sounds like a live recording, with street noise and children’s voices heard in the background.
Another favorite is the joyful love song “I Wanna Know“. If this song doesn’t make you feel good, then I don’t know what will! The simple lyrics ask the object of his desire if they share the feelings he has for them: “I wanna know who’s side you’re on. I wanna know you completely and turn on your TV and put your records on.” Much to the band’s surprise and delight, the song was featured in the premier episode of the YouTube original TV show Weird City, produced by Jordan Peele and Charlie Sanders (which you can watch by clicking on this link). The video for the track, which was filmed on location in Philadelphia and edited by band member Tony Unander, is also a pleasure to watch.
“Chelsea the Cat” is a wonderful slice of Americana confection, with some tasty guitar work, while the funky “Wish A Well” really channels Cage the Elephant. In fact, Derek’s vocals sound a lot like Matt Shultz on this track. Yet another favorite of mine is “Human“, one of the most interesting tracks on the album from a musical standpoint. The melody is mesmerizing and beautiful, with sort of a sped-up and modified ska beat, and the intricate, layered guitars and lush, exotic synths are gorgeous. Derek’s slightly echoed vocals are captivating as he sings of what it means to be a human, rather than a certain race, nationality or type: “I’m a human, I’m not labeled on the shelf. / So long being a stranger. Wearing the name that they gave ya.” The lyrics eventually recite the first few verses of the National Anthem, delivered in a completely different way that seems to lend the words new meaning.
Closing out the album is “Magnolia“, a pleasant lo-fi instrumental that opens with a sweet acoustic guitar riff and gentle synth beat that’s eventually joined by a simple organ riff that lends a bit of a carnival vibe. Halfway through, a lovely chiming guitar enters along with a string synth chord, and the result is pure bliss. The instrumentals fade as the song comes to an end, leaving us with just a few discordant notes of acoustic guitar.
I cannot gush enough about this marvelous album and band! Secret American is a group of incredibly creative and talented musicians, and they deserve to be big. I really love their sound and style, and hope they’ll soon make more of their incredible music for us to enjoy. Those of you fortunate to live in the Philadelphia area can catch them at their upcoming show on March 29th at Underground Arts in Philadelphia.
Connect with Secret American on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Stream their music on Spotify / Soundcloud / Apple Music
Purchase on Bandcamp / iTunes
ECLECTIC MUSIC LOVER 