New songs for March 20th, 2023

 here they are:


"After Midnight" by Phoenix (featuring Clairo): Phoenix have always been influenced by synthpop, but it's never been as obvious an influence on their music as it has with their latest song, "After Midnight" (not to be confused for the Eric Clapton song of the same name). Some of their later work uses a bit less guitar than their early stuff did, and this is no exception. Enlisting the help of fellow indie-pop sensation, Clairo, Phoenix churn out their most synthpop-y song yet with "After Midnight." Underneath this seemingly simple song, the phrase "Listen, it's illicit" is sung repeatedly, and so fast that it sound more like "listen, listen."

"Classics" by Moon Taxi: So here's a song about...songs! The latest song from Moon Taxi starts out sounding like a children's toy piano version of John Lennon's "Imagine" before dissolving more into typical 2010's/'20s indie-pop a la Cage the Elephant, Portugal. The Man, etc. As the title implies, "Classics" is about listening to old songs and the way they make you feel so great when you listen to them. I'm guessing "classic" means at least 10 to 15 years old here if not older. Only a matter of time before "Classics" becomes a classic itself!

"Eat Your Young" by Hozier: Wow, what a disturbing title!! The song itself is a fun, catchy tune despite its minor-key sound, but the lyrics are kind of like the title of the song. They are easily Hozier's most disturbing lyrics yet, making even the haunting and somewhat controversial lyrics of "Take Me to Church" seem tame in comparison. The premise of the song seems to be that it's "quicker and easier to eat your young." In other words, when one is in a big enough crisis, desperate times call for desperate measures. Hozier seems to be painfully aware that our world is slowly but surely descending into chaos, and "Eat Your Young" seems to be a response to this.