New music for April 15th, 2024

 here they are:



"Bored" by Waxahatchee:  The song may be called "Bored," but it sure isn't boring! The song plays out like a slightly more countrified Tom Petty, echoing the progressions of classic Petty songs like "Listen to Her Heart." The title of "Bored" pretty much indicates what the lyrics are like. It's basically a song about Katie Crutchfeld being tired of the relationship she has. 

"Dance in the Desert" by Daniel Donato:  The title of this song sounds kind of hippie-ish, doesn't it?! Fittingly, this song sort of sounds like a happier, more upbeat version of a Grateful Dead song with its Jerry Garcia-esque twang mixing with a peppy, almost ska-like drumbeat. The song is actually a 3-and-a-half minute version of a song that's actually a sprawling nearly 20-minute epic when he performs it live. Trippy, man!

"Docket" by Blondshell (featuring Bully):  Bully have done some awesome songs by themselves, but perhaps their most memorable ones are their collaborations with others (like "Lose You," which they did with Soccer Mommy). "Docket" is another collaboration Bully have been featured on, this time with fellow female alt-rockers, Blondshell. The song centers around the hard-to-bear but all too relatable theme of dealing with change due to shifting of environments. With a crunchy '90s alt-rock inspired sound, "Docket"'s jaded sound fits with its disillusioned lyrics!

"Eyes Closed" by Imagine Dragons:  I honestly loved Imagine Dragons when they first came out! The more hits they've had, though, the more formulaic they've become. "Eyes Closed" continues in the typical Imagine Dragons pattern, combining hip-hop with synth-pop with a delivery that comes off more like arena rock. Right from the opening boast of "I could do this with my eyes closed," this seems like one of those songs where ID just tries too hard to seem "cool." It's not a bad one, but it's one of their goofiest since "Thunder." Think a kid-friendly Eminem with a boy band backing him. That's basically what this song is. Sometimes I really don't know how to feel about these guys. I never understood the hate they get, but this seems like such a far cry from the band who did "It's Time" and "Demons," and not necessarily in a good way.

"Lonely Cowboy" by Kaleo:  So far, this is the most vulnerable song on this week's list, and I often find myself drawn to songs like that! I'm a sensitive soul myself, so any song where a singer spills their sensitivity is sure to soothe my soul! Kaleo's lead singer solemnly croons in this bittersweet folk-rock song about how "even cowboys get lonesome sometimes." I'm not sure how much of a "cowboy" he really is, but that doesn't matter as much as all the emotion he has poured into this one! The essential message of this song is how everyone needs a friend they can depend on through thick and thin. Such a relatable theme for such a poignant song!

"On the Game" by The Black Keys:  The Black Keys typically aren't a band who goes for ballads. The closest thing they had to a ballad before this song was "Little Black Submarines" (which turns into more of a rock song halfway through). After the upbeat, soulful "Beautiful People (Stay High)" from earlier this year, it's shocking (albeit pleasantly so) to see Dan and Patrick slow things down with their latest song, "On the Game." A surprisingly folk-rock-y number from The Black Keys, it's also one of their most lyrically sensitive. Perhaps Dan Auerbach is more of an introvert than he presents himself as onstage! The lyrics to this one remind me a little of "In My Room" by The Beach Boys. It's one of those songs about getting away from the world when it gets you down, but knowing there's still comfort to be found within! Also, unlike "Little Black Submarines," "On the Game" never turns into a fuzzy psychedelic blues-rock song. 

"The Feminine Urge" by The Last Dinner Party:  When The Last Dinner Party first hit with "Nothing Matters" in summer of last year, I never thought they'd become as big as they did. With "Sinner," they had another major alt and adult alt radio hit earlier this year. "The Feminine Urge" brings the all-female indie-rock group up for a third single from their debut album!! This time, they experiment with a sound that comes off like a more cynical version of a group like The Ronettes, ABBA, and countless other glossy pop groups where women take the lead. Women not only take the lead on "The Feminine Urge," but they also make themselves the very subject of the song! And what exactly is the "feminine urge" in question the song is talking about?! It's actually a metaphor of sorts for mother-daughter relationships, and the twists and turns they take during the course of a woman's life.