Equinox shmequinox. The real proof of life is all the sweet jams filling up our inbox. Enjoy new tunes from Vangelism, Carmen Mellino, Brandon De La Cruz, Roxy Jules, Jiants, TrueMendous, Kidä, Remington super 60, Brandon Jenner and Cosmic Crooner.
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Vangelism – “Colorado”
Somewhere between a punk attitude and bedroom pop aesthetics lays “Colorado” by Vangelism. Is it catchy? Hell yeah. Fuzzed out guitars over simple drum machine beats lay the groundwork for a song that feels a bit like a Pete Yorn song given a more adventurous treatment, but retains the hooks and charm of radio friendly guitar rock.
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Carmen Mellino -“The Liar Chameleon”
With a somewhat ominous bubbling synth track underneath and big bright cooing vocals on top, “The Liar Chameleon” is a study in light and dark, similar to 90’s alternative artists like Garbage or Poe who would not only blend those elements but also rock with pop. Catchy and melodic but casting long shadows, it’s pop music for your inner goth.
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Brandon De La Cruz – “Tiresias”
Inspired by Greek mythology, Brandon De La Cruz puts the story of Tiresias (blind clairvoyant prophet of Apollo who was transformed into a woman for seven years) to music in equally magical fashion. With a simple cycling guitar part over a minimalist beat, De La Cruz’s soft but confident vocals lay out the tale as a first person narrative. Definitely impressive to receive something outside of the normal lyrical content, but even without looking at the source material “Tiresias” still plays like a beautiful and poetic ballad, and that’s its greatest strength.
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Roxy Jules – “As White As The White In White Noise”
We get a fair amount of music that can be described as “spacious, brooding, dark and cinematic,” and really with the general state of things who can blame artists for working in that palette? “As White As The White In White Noise” by Roxy Jules certainly falls into that category, but it also transcends it by constantly evolving beyond the normal “add and remove instruments/layers” structure so often employed in this genre. The song keeps you on your toes by charting unexpected waters, like a conversation allowed to flow unrestricted. It allows it to be “epic” in a way few other songs achieve.
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Jiants – “Some Kind of Loser”
If you’re checking these out in order, let Jiants be the ray of sunshine and easy breath of release you may need to balance things out. Yes, a song where one of the refrains is “I may always be some kind of loser” doesn’t sound like the most positive thing but just like Coldplay, the band has a knack for wrapping the sentiment in big cheery melodies that feel like an affirmation. Coldplay is an obvious reference, but Jiants infuse a more guitar centric approach, with shades of classic 80’s and 90’s left of the dial Britpop acts brought to the forefront.
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TrueMendous – “Y featuring Kofi Stone”
A deliciously old school vibe meets lyrics that are very much of the now on this absolutely perfect bop. TrueMendous mixes world class swagger with confessional lines that examine the complications of modern life for our favorite hip hop song of the month, if not the whole year so far. Her flow is confident, playful and as the name implies: true.
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Kidä – “Brother”
“Brother” by Kidä hits like a cross between Solange and Sade. All the markings of modern, inventive R&B is there but there’s also a strong streak of that undefinable quality that Sade has. Sexy without being sexualized, exhibiting toughness in openness, an intrinsic quality that pulls you in. It’s groovy and pitch perfect and if there was any justice in the world would be a Top 40 hit.
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Remington super 60 – “Talk With You”
Breezy and tropical are maybe not the first things you think of when you think of Norway, but Norwegian indie pop group Remington super 60 are bringing strong island vibes on “Talk With You,” and as the kids used to say – we are here for it. The exotica sounds are just the window treatment, underneath is a classic Burt Bacharach style pop song, heart on sleeve and natural melodies a mile wide.
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Brandon Jenner – “There You Are”
Whenever a stripped down Americana submission like this one starts we ask ourselves “is this going to be a haunting piece of songwriting in the vein of Damien Jurado and Mark Eitzel or is it going to be something that will be in a Jeep commercial?” “There You Are” is the rare song that might be both. It’s got the soul and truth we’re looking for, but also the flawlessness that some savvy art director might grab onto it. Check it out and make your own call, but we’re going to enjoy it until the marketplace rips it away from us and replaces our personal connection to the song with images of beautiful people with intense skin care regimens pretending to camp.
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Cosmic Crooner – “Deep Down in Jazz”
Following in the footsteps of Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, Cosmic Crooner sings his own origin story (famous European pop star) in “Deep Down in Jazz, ” a Father John Misty meets Rufus Wainwright number that is good enough to make us overlook the inherent silliness of it all.
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