“Dream Some More” – The High Water Marks
A bunch of schools around us went back to class this week, which is a tragedy. There should still be a month left of days wide open for listening to music like this.
“Outta Time” – Bethany Cosentino
Cosentino just released her first solo album which takes her sound in a very different direction from where it was in Best Coast, which is on indefinite hiatus. Down a very 1970s AM radio, country rock-ish path. The obvious comparison – mentioned in every review I read – is to Sheryl Crow. That seems apt. This is probably my favorite song on the album, and close to her Crow-iest. Certainly it should be in every playlist made for road trips for what bit of the summer remains.
“yes! yes! a thousand times yes!” – Home Is Where
Not sure I love this song, but it sure grabs your attention. To me it sounds straight out of 1995, like this is a band I would have seen at whatever the big music festival that was in Lawrence that year. I know we saw The Urge, Tripping Daisy, and the Reverend Horton Heat headlined. These kids fit right in with the vibe of that day.
“Begin Again” – The Mysterines.
If you look up pictures of this band – go head, I’ll wait – you would never guess that lead singer Lia Metcalfe sounds like this. She reminds me a little of the lead singer of The Pack a.d.
“Mind is Light” – Say Sue Me
Not all Korean music is K-Pop.
“condition of us” – La Force
A little more mellow than what I’ve heard from La Force before. I still like it.
“Girl” – Beck
I didn’t know until just now there’s a controversy about the lyrics of this song. I always thought he was singing about “my summer girl.” Seems that some people think he is singing “my sun-eyed girl,” while others insist it is “my cyanide girl.” Apparently his official lyrics have always read “my…girl.” Which fits Beck. I prefer my interpretation. Also, probably my favorite Beck song. Which isn’t saying much; I don’t love many of his songs.
“Last Day Of Our Acquaintance” – Sinéad O’Connor
Mercy! Singing about divorce, she combines beauty and absolute rage. Another one I discovered for the first time after Sinéad’s death and have listened to a ton over the past week. Not sure when this version is from, but it is an amazing performance. Her final three lines of the song, when she is basically screaming but still hits each note perfectly (the first comes at about the 4:20 mark), are astounding. There are a bunch of excellent versions of this on YouTube. Last night I spent nearly an hour watching one after another. Time well spent.