New songs for February 12th 2024

 here they are:  


"Be Yourself" by Wilder Woods (featuring The War and Treaty):  A song featuring two powerhouses of neo-soul oughta be a good one, right?! Well, if you're into soul songs that are slower, than yes. The piano that introduces the song gives off strong "Lean on Me" vibes, and given the song's lyrics, perhaps there's good reason for this. The song is basically affirmation for the listener that it's okay for them to be who they are. You're in a judgment-free zone with Wilder Woods and The War and Treaty! The song is a bit less energetic than the usual fare for either band, but it does work here!

"Burial Ground" by The Decemberists:  Jangle-pop has always been a specialty for The Decemberists, but their latest song, "Burial Ground," is even more jangle-pop-y than their usual stuff! Perhaps part of this is due to the presence of The Shins' James Mercer on the track, who also typically specialize in jangle-pop. This song pretty much screams Rickenbackers and 12-strings! The "ooh"-ing on the background vocals wouldn't sound out of place at all in a Beatles, Byrds, or Big Star song. Though it's obvious from the song's title that the subject matter isn't exactly bright and cheery, it's hard not to feel happy when listening to a song like this one!

"Water" by Lo Moon:  Perhaps the first truly upbeat song in Lo Moon's catalog, "Lo Moon" evokes the '80s like "Burial Ground" does the '60s and early '70s. It has the swirly, echo-y sound that can commonly be attributed to groups like Simple Minds and Tears for Fears, though it also sounds similar to more underground bands of the era such as Cocteau Twins. It's no coincidence, by the way, that the song sounds like TFF. Apparently, Curt Smith from Tears for Fears invited one of the members up on stage last year to sing with him on their best-known song, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," which "Water" bears more than a passing resemblance to. The word "water" is also not prominent in the chorus of Lo Moon's latest song. "I wish you more than luck" is the song's chorus, but Lo Moon wanted to save that for their album title, not the song title, so "Water" it was due to the song's fluid sound.

"You Never Know" by Iron & Wine:  Hearkening back to the ethereal acoustic sound of IAW's early days, "You Never Know" (not to be confused with the Wilco song of the same name) is a chill song that mixes acoustic guitars with carefully plucked string orchestras. You never know what songs like "You Never Know" are about (pun intended, by the way), but as with many IAW songs, the song's appeal lies more in its beauty than its lyrics. Sam Beam manages to enchant us here once again!