I've always liked the easy-going sound of Marc Scbilia's songs....
"Flog me with malice 'til the rivers running red
Make me an outlaw
Put a price upon my head
Cast me to exile or a house for the insane
And I would love you just the same"
Unconditional love, am I right? ^
One of the artists I acquired listening to this year was Bruno Major, he has an amazing way of capturing a strong situation/feeling and putting it out in a candid, poetic way like he does in Nothing, and this song too.
8. Run - Joji
If you were to tell me that I'd be listening to Joji by the end of the year....
There was no way I could deny how good his vocals were and the lyricism in this song. I feel like Run really highlights that, plus the guitar solo, that honestly sold it for me. The moment I found myself humming this song in the grocery store, I knew I'd been converted, so thanks Cassie this is all you.
"Now they're celebrating broken things
I don't want a world of broken things
You can tell that something isn't right
When all your heroes are in black and white"
October was basically just a month of listening to discographies of artists I've already listened to. This ode to woes really stuck out in Born & Raised. John seems to be seeking something that he can't find on the radio, nor can he muster the words for it himself. It's simple, like a palette-cleanser song. The flat-out honesty Mayer expresses through the lyrics makes the song so relatable personally.
"The cold truth finally seeps out
Until your memory is saturated
Your fragile smile loses teeth and
Your sparkling eyes grew faded"
This would absolutely be on my list of my favorite songs I've discovered in 2020. The the symbolization used throughout this song matched with the raspy voice really creates a punch of a song.
"Inventory says that you’re in stock
Put my name beside you to reserve a spot
"You look better than your photo on the box"
I love the allusion this song uses between stocks & a potential relationship. The 80's undertone in this song is so vibrant, between the chanted verses at 0:45, the incorportaed techno, and the airy bridge with the bouncy bass. It also highlights drummer/vocalist, Karah James' voice, who I absolutely love. I found this band last December and was hooked on their song "Bailey" & "A Phone Call From Amsterdam". I had tried to listen to the rest of their Maybe album, but just flat out didn't like it. I returned to them during Summer and re-listened to their album & other songs, eventually liking them a lot. Between March and July, I like to think my music palette expanded a lot. It's so embarrassing looking back to songs I didn't like, but now do, it's like really?? Valley is just so unique, they do indie-pop like no other. They recently released a new EP, and it's been really sweet to watch them grow.
I've had The Bends playing on-repeat this whole month. For the record, this song probably has the best fade-in, the nostalgic factor + the rift sets it high above others. The amount of distress expressed throughout this song is just so heavy, yet it's balanced out by the tranquil voice & the instrumentals, which almost makes you forget what you're singing about. Mindless, yet so mindful.
"I used to think your teeth were just white curtains
Acts of optimism just to hide
I confused bitterness for enlightenment
I'll admit that I'm still not satisfied"
"At Least Now I see
Now I see
"You were only trying to light a candle
While I stood on the edge and cursed the night
Slowly unraveling a time when
I needed melancholy blues to keep going"
Those.First.Two.Lines. I feel like that's such a common situation to extent that some don't even realize it wasn't bitterness at all. A pride of sadness I'd call it. Getting caught up in your own sadness to a point where anyone on the outside seems like they're almost mocking you with their happiness and help. Tow'rs flawlessly puts this message out with subtle harmonies and a convicting rift, I could certainly have this song of repeat for a whole day and I'm 100% guilty of it.
I acquired listening to this band earlier in March. The only adjective that comes to my head when I think about The Brook & The Bluff is just, "fresh". Seriously. The harmonies and the smooth unique voice of lead singer, Joseph Settine, all create such a lively vibe around this band that is just incomparable. Definitely my favorite off their ridiculously good EP, The Brook & The Bluff.
Duncan Fellows!! They recently released a new album, The Sadlands, and this one really sets the album's tone. I've said it multiple times & I'll say it again, electric guitar. For me, there's a more grungier end of the spectrum & a more breezier. I'm almost 50/50 between the two, but I'm for sure leaning towards the grungier side after this song. This is one of those songs that you just turn up no matter how you're feeling, but especially when you're feeling down (: