Love CCR’s “Lookin’ Out My Back Door?” Then this is for you.
From the moment it opens, "Strong Enough" by brilliant singer/songwriter and Adult Alt fave Ray LaMontagne captures the spirit of Creedence Clearwater Revival: the rhythm and the beat and the mood and the vibe, plus he’s got John Fogerty-like gritty, sincere vocals...
Weezer Amps Up the Energy!
“Hero” is Weezer’s newest single, and as lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Rivers Cuomo put it, their last album “didn’t have any guitars and this one is just all guitars.” And it rocks, in the way that the Foo Fighters’ top 10, 1998 hit,”My Hero,” rocks: a driving...
Full Disclosure: We Love Mt. Joy
True, it’s trite, but Mt. Joy are almost “indescribable” (folk-indie-rock)–and "Strangers," their newest song, is almost indescribable, too—we're linking it to Jefferson Airplane’s 1967 “My Best Friend.” Lyrically the two songs differ but sound wise and melodically,...
I’m Not OK, Neither Are You, and That’s OK
In the early 90's the "alternative" format flourished, bursting forth with a creative force that led to a steady stream of massive hits from Nirvana's "Smells Like a Teen Spirit" to Radiohead's "Creep" and "Loser," Beck's first hit. Listening to "Not OK!" by...
The Name’s the Same…
In 1986 “Your Love” by British quartet The Outfield went “Top Ten” on both Pop and Rock charts with their mass appeal hit "Your Love." As the lyrics make clear, this “love” is a crass love: I just want to use your love tonight And As you're leaving please would you...
Beware Women with Green Eyes, Plus, “Little” Stevie Wonder is 70 y/o Today
She liked petty crimes, she had green eyes, like mountain dew Let’s agree that that line, by British singer and musician Bakar, is a knock-out. “CRACKD,” the European music mag, described Bakar as an “indie revivalist" because he’s attempting to "bridge the gap"...
This “Fire” is on Fire!
Austin based duo Black Pumas--guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada and singer Eric Burton-- have aptly named their newest song "Fire,” and it’s a killer: cool, hip, and soulful. Only a confident band could or would title their song "Fire"--such a high-profile word...
Rx for a Pandemic? Let’s Dance!
After his mother lamented that she sure could use an upbeat song to distract her from “all this,” twenty one pilots’ Tyler Joseph (singer/songwriter) and band-mate Josh Dun (drummer/percussionist) wrote, recorded and released “Level of Concern,” which immediately...
The Killers. Their Name Says It All.
It says a lot about The Killers, that Lindsey Buckingham is lending and unleashing his guitar playing prowess to “Caution,” their “out of the box” hit that’s #3 on the Alt chart and #4 on Adult Alt. There’s an 80s/90s melodic link between “Caution” and songs by...