New songs for March 25th, 2024

 here they are:


"Girl From the Record Shop" by Frank Turner:  It's rare to get a song these days that's under 2 minutes, but that's exactly what Frank Turner's latest song, "Girl From the Record Shop," is! The song's high-energy punk-rock vibes fit with how short it is, as most Ramones songs could probably tell you. The song even sounds a bit like The Ramones' cover of The Rivieras' "California Sun," albeit with more organ. This song is packed with music references, ranging from Motown acts to Radiohead to Queen to The Descendents! Music nerds, rejoice! 

"Run Your Mouth" by The Marias:  I first discovered The Marias, believe it or not, with a Christmas song they did called "We're the Lucky Ones." About a year after that came their big alt and adult alt radio hit, "Hush," which was a sort of dark, scathing song that was equal parts electronica and rock. Flash forward a few years to the present, and I have found that The Marias have retained their electronica elements with their latest song, "Run Your Mouth." There isn't really anything dark about this song, though, at least not musically. The song actually seems like it would work well with the whole "sad girl" subgenre that Lana Del Rey, Lorde, and Billie Eilish belong to, as it is a bit melancholy. As sad as the song seems to sound, though, it's still a bop! Maria Zardoya's whispery, forlorn vocals and the atmospheric synths seem to contrast with the pulsating rhythms the song has to offer!

"Tejano Blue" by Cigarettes After Sex:  Known for their soothing sound, Cigarettes After Sex have been around for a while now, but "Tejano Blue" looks like it'll be their first successful single on alt and adult alt radio stations! The song's relaxing tone, both vocally and instrumentally, is like a musical bubble bath! Lead singer Greg Gonzalez croons softly and seductively throughout the song. The use of "f**k" twice in the song kind of makes the song's lyrics go from caressing to crude in my opinion, but other than that, it is an enchanting song!

"These Ghosts" by Tyler Ramsey:  Who is Tyler Ramsey, you may ask? Well, if you're familiar with Band of Horses, you already know who he is. He is BOH's guitarist, and his debut solo song, "These Ghosts," doesn't sound that different from what BOH sound like as a band. About the only difference, really, is that Ben Birdwell isn't taking the lead vocals on this tune. BOH's unique style of pleasant and atmospheric yet still potent style of guitar playing is noticeable here. The word "ghosts" here seem to refer to things in Tyler's past that he's not exactly proud of, or perhaps to things that have been coming back to haunt him. Either way, BOH fans probably won't notice a difference between the full band and its guitarist on this tune! 

"What About the Children?" by Gary Clark Jr. (featuring Stevie Wonder):  Last but certainly not least is the song that is both our longest and strongest of the week, and on that I first discovered on The Today Show of all places! Clocking in at a little over 4 and a half minutes, "What About the Children?" sees the neo-Hendrixian blues-rock of Gary Clark Jr. and the legendary soul music of Stevie Wonder colliding with one another, and the results are fantastic! Both Stevie and Gary sing on the song, and their instrumental styles both show up here prominently too. Stevie's use of funky bass, clavinet, and harmonica and Gary's ace guitar playing make for a powerful combination here! The lyrics are also worth noting here. As the song's title implies, it is a protest song against people who mistreat minorities (including but not limited to children) by not providing them with enough money to live properly. Stellar!