New songs for February 5th, 2024

 here they are:


"Fly" by Chicano Batman:  Want somethin' funkaayyy?! Then Chicano Batman might just have the song you're lookin' for! Even the beginning of their latest song, "Fly," sounds like something out of an early Prince tune! Though Chicano Batman are typically influenced by rhythmic music to begin with, they haven't tackled funk yet (at least not to my knowledge), so this is a refreshing new direction for them to go in! The lyrics of this song also seem to be rather Prince-esque, dripping with lurid innuendo from start to finish meant to seduce the listeners. Chicano Batman, you got us right where you want us!

"Her Way Out" by Big Head Todd and The Monsters:  The latest song from '90s jam band, Big Head Todd and The Monsters, "Her Way Out" seems like a Tom Petty song in both its rootsy-ness and the one-two punch of the power chords that punctuate each line. Big Head Todd and The Monsters apparently meant this to sound like Tom Petty, and really, just about every "Heartland rock" musician (Bruce Springsteen was another major influence on the song). The title of the song is meant to take on multiple meanings, ranging from exiting a relationship to finding a way to start your life over, another theme common to musicians like Bruce Springsteen. The best classic rock that never was!

"Lego Ring" by Faye Webster (featuring Li'l Yachty):  Folk-rock has been around for a long time...but folk-rap?! Yep, it's a thing now! Indie-folk musician Faye Webster and rapper Li'l Yachty collaborate for the first time with "Lego Ring," a song that's both as weird and as fun as its title! The song goes through three different cycles within a single verse. Angst-y guitars, a Fiona Apple-esque piano-based indie sound, and a mellower, breezier groove all get put into the verses. The song is mainly Faye's, with Yachty on backing vocals, some of which sound autotuned. You never know what the future holds! 

"Maktub" by Gary Clark Jr.:  For a few reasons, Gary Clark Jr. is like a 21st-century Jimi Hendrix! Both are known for playing psychedelic blues-rock, but their passion about equal rights among different races (as well as embracing their own identities as African Americans) is also something the two master guitarists share in common! In "Maktub" (probably pronounced like "mock tube"), Gary Clark Jr. delivers a call to action for minorities to stand up for their rights to be treated as equals. The song is also comparable, rhythmically, to Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground," which evoked a similarly revolutionary vibe in its lyrics. Perfect song for Black History Month!

"Mars to Liverpool" by Liam Gallagher and John Squire:  Fans of British rock are in for a treat with this one! The two worlds of Oasis and The Stone Roses collide into one world in "Mars to Liverpool," an upbeat post-psychedelic rock song that sounds more fit for summer than winter. Once again, Oasis' love for The Beatles shows here, and not just musically. Liam also lifts from The Beatles' "Dear Prudence" during one of the lyrics. Not much content here lyrically, but there doesn't need to be. It's just a fun, upbeat song!

"Prove it to You" by Brittany Howard:  Perhaps the first Brittany Howard song that focuses more on synth than guitar, "Prove it to You" is a welcome departure from the fiery, angry vibe of her previous single, "What Now." "Prove it to You," instead, is a love song...and it's also a love song that sounds meant for the dance floor! With its techno influence, "Prove it to You" proves to us that Brittany Howard wants to offer us more than just one style with more than just one instrument at the center. A few sections of the song even sound either autotuned or sampled. Not the direction I pictured Brittany going in, but OK!

"Sadness as a Gift" by Adrianne Lenker:  Perhaps it's not surprising that Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker's debut solo effort, "Sadness as a Gift," is...well...sad! It's in the title, after all. Though the song is in a major key, it still manages to pull at the heartstrings with its stark, largely acoustic arrangement, backed by a weeping string section and a downtrodden country-rock twang. The song almost feels like an authentic country song from the pre-Garth Brooks era with its lyrics about being spurned by love, yet still longing for it. 

"Scared to Start" by Michael Marcagi:  The country-rock vibes continue with the debut solo song from The Heavy Hours' Michael Marcagi. The Heavy Hours had an adult alt radio hit in the early 2020's with "Don't Walk Away," but I never thought I'd be hearing more from them after that. His song, "Scared to Start," is barely more than 2 and a half minutes, but packs a lot of content within those minutes. The song seems to be about the anticipation that comes with starting a new relationship and how nerve-wracking it can feel during those initial moments.

"Turn the Lights Back On" by Billy Joel:  Never in a million years did I think I'd be reviewing a Billy Joel song on my blog, but here I am doing exactly that! The Piano Man is still going strong at 74 years old with his latest song, "Turn the Lights Back On," which almost wasn't even written or recorded until a fan-turned-friend of his convinced him to do otherwise. I never know whether to expect a ballad or a rocker from Billy, and this song falls into the former category, but it still holds up and sounds more or less like you'd expect a vintage Billy Joel tune from the '70s to sound. Though the song was advertised on the Grammys as being the first song he'd released in 30 years, he actually did release two songs in 2007, but they were released so quietly that no one seemed to notice them. "Turn the Lights Back On," on the other hand, has certainly gotten noticed, being hyped from the moment of its release about a week ago! Does it live up to the hype?! Well, kind of. There's nothing groundbreaking or special about it, but anyone who's a fan of Billy's '70s ballads will be likely to enjoy this one.

"Wonderland" by JJ Grey and Mofro:  Although JJ Grey and Mofro are Florida residents, their sound always seemed more evocative of soul music from either Memphis or New Orleans. Their latest song, "Wonderland," continues in this direction. Although there are no sad songs I know of in JJ Grey and Mofro's catalog, "Wonderland" seems like their most upbeat tune yet! You can't help tapping your feet to this one, which almost seems to interweave gospel influences into its classic soul sound. The song is about second chances and the opportunity to live a happy life!