New songs for April 21st 2025

 here they are:

"Aerial Troubles" by Stereolab:   Stereolab have been active for over 35 years, but this marks the first time I've really gotten to hear one of their songs! Though I don't know their material too well, I did get the impression from hearing about them that they mixed the bittersweet side of 1960's pop music with more avant-garde aspects of music, and "Aerial Troubles" seems to be confirming that this is indeed what Stereolab sounds like! The Anglo-French indie outfit whisper and sing playfully over swirling synths and sprawling harpsichords that sound like they came straight out of an obscure French avant-garde romance film! If any song screams "French hipster," this is it! Not that anyone asked, of course.

"Chemistry" by Gigi Perez:  Last summer, we were introduced to Gigi Perez, whose indie-folk sound seemed to contrast with her fast-spreading TikTok fame. Where her "Sailor Song" was more or less straight up indie-folk, "Chemistry" adds an electronica influence along with the sweeping indie-folk sound she gave us in her debut single. Both songs refer to Gigi's LGTBQ+ lifestyle and how conflicted it seems to make her feel. The "secret life" she refers to in "Chemistry" is that of her attraction to another woman. As the song progresses, she seems to point out that whoever this person is cheated on her (or perhaps that their relationship was never a romance to begin with, but she wanted it to be one). Chemistry is indeed rare, as Gigi points out in the song's opening lyrics, but this seems to be more about how it is not easy to keep a romance (and sometimes how it's not even easy to disclose one) than it is about celebrating the rarity of chemistry.

"Henry, Come On" by Lana Del Rey:  LDR has done guitar songs before, but has she ever done one with classical guitar and plucked nylon strings?! To my knowledge, she has not, which would make her latest song, "Henry, Come On," a first! More lush, orchestral instrumentation gets added as the song goes on, and it's rather unpredictable chord pattern also makes it a fresh tune in the LDR catalog! There is even a slight country twang with sighing steel guitars in the background of it. I don't know who "Henry" is, but he must be someone important in Lana's life for her to reference the Greek myth of Icarus to describe him! As that story is a tragedy, Lana's story probably is too. Both the music and the lyrics seem to indicate this. But sometimes tragedies make for beautiful therapies in music!

"Silver Lining" by Laufey:  After gracing us last year with the catchy bossa nova vibes of "From the Start," Laufey (LAY-vay) continues to show off her musical talents to us, proving how she is not by any means your run-of-the-mill pop musician! She is far more influenced by jazz music than most contemporary musicians are, and it really shows. "Silver Lining" goes for the slower, more sensitive side of jazz, although it should be noted that this would be more soft vocal jazz than it is the frenetic trumpet and brass sound that most associate with the genre. The song gives off a lovely, nostalgic feeling, perfect for taking a midnight bubble bath with!

"Spike Island" by Pulp:   "Britpop" was an interesting musical phenomenon of the '90s! Oasis, Blur, and Radiohead are often celebrated bands of the genre, but many other groups followed in their wake not achieving near the success those three groups did. One such group was Pulp. Where Oasis was almost always rock-oriented, Blur and Radiohead occasionally dipped into electronica, and Pulp has electronica influences on their latest song, the somewhat Bowie-esque "Spike Island." Jarvis Cocker's vocals seem to be trying to emulate Bowie here, and the spacey disco/funk/new wave influences also seem quite influenced by the late, great Thin White Duke. It's been over 20 years since we last heard from Pulp. They've still got it!

"The Hard Way" by Pete Yorn:  Pete Yorn is a master of bittersweet folk-rock, and he really shines in doing so in his latest song, "The Hard Way"! The song's opening line, "please don't take this the hard way," mentions its title. What is it that Pete wants us not to take "the hard way"? He doesn't spell it out that clearly, but with lines like "a world that still exists without you here" and "guess we never know the plan," he seems to be mourning the death of someone important in his life. Death is hard for anyone to go through, especially if it's for someone we care about. This is one of the many reasons why music is so powerful and so important!

"Tunnel Vision" by Beach Bunny:  While this song's dreamy psychedelic surf-rock and power pop sound is no huge surprise from a group like Beach Bunny, the lyrics seem to touch on something deeper than they have in their other material! The actual meaning of "tunnel vision" refers to a condition where one cannot see objects properly. In the context of the song, it is a metaphor, but for what? The overall themes of Beach Bunny's latest album center around dealing with mental and emotional health issues, so "Tunnel Vision" likely continues in this direction. The song is laced with self-doubt, as Lili Trifilio sings about how she "doesn't trust her own opinions and her intuitions." As someone who lacks confidence myself sometimes, it means a lot to me when people are so forthright about their own mental health issues!

"Where I Belong" by Galactic (featuring Irma Thomas):  With so many self-conscious and doubtful songs coming out this week, it's great to end with a more spirited, soulful, upbeat tune with funk-rock ensemble, Galactic, and soul legend, Irma Thomas! Not a whole lot of aching, yearning, deep lyrics in this one, but there doesn't need to be. It's just a celebration of life and knowing where you are and loving where you are in life! Sometimes there doesn't need to be anything more!