New songs for May 12th 2025

 here they are:


"Arizona" by Palmyra:  Named after a song by fellow indie-country-rock group, Houndmouth, Palmyra's "Arizona" has a similar vibe to the band whose song they were named after! Arizona itself often gives one images of dry desert land and vast canyon mountains, and the song "Arizona"'s traveling-down-the-highway country-rock vibes go right in line with the state it's named after. The town of Sedona, Arizona, is mentioned in the song's first verse, and that might be a subtle nod to the title of Houndmouth's most popular song. What separates Palmyra from Houndmouth is how Palmyra has an openly neurodivergent member. Guitarist and mandolinist Sasha Landon is bipolar, and they have written about it in at least one song of theirs. I look forward to reviewing that song if I ever get the chance to!

"Back to Friends" by sombr:  New Yorker Shane Boose, better known as Sombr, might only be 19 years old, but he has the wisdom and weariness of someone at least twice his age! His stagename, "sombr," is quite fitting considering how melancholy (albeit still catchy) his music is! His breakthrough song, "Back to Friends," is a song of regret about a past relationship, as its title implies. He does not want to go back to being friends with his past lover since they, well, went all the way with one another (at least I'm pretty sure that's what "shared a bed" alludes to). Everyone has regrets, but a song like this one gives me the impression that sombr has been through much more than most people his age have!

"Burnout Days" by flipturn:  A song of bittersweet college-aged nostalgia, flipturn's "Burnout Days" is a wistful song that combines indie-rock with electronica, much as their previous song "Rodeo Clown" did, but with a much more yearning sound. The song is an attempt to capture what it was like for flipturn's lead singer to spend his days stoned and in love, not worrying about what lay ahead of him in his future. "Burnout Days" is a song of regret and worry about how much his present pales in comparison to his past, although not without a slight glimmer of hope wedged in between.

"Heartthrob" by Indigo de Souza:  Don't be fooled! "Heartthrob" is not the love song you might think it is from just looking at its title! It is actually a song about physical abuse and trying to rise above it. As such, "Heartthrob" has a darker, more urgent sound than de Souza's previous single, "Hold U." It is still electro-indie-pop/rock like her usual material, but it is also a song with a message that should be heeded by all! I love when people make meaningful music like this! It's a rarity in this day and age!

"Metal" by The Beths:  Unlike The Donnas or The Ramones, The Beths are not all named "Beth." Some of them aren't even women (although the lead singer is)! Their song, "Metal," is also deceptively titled. It's pretty much the opposite of heavy metal, taking on almost Byrds-y jangle-pop sound! The title is also a reference to metal the substance, not metal the music genre. I'm not exactly clear as to what the song is about, but it seems to be about just basic survival and how we should all be thankful to be alive, with slightly romantic undertones. Highly recommend for fans of The Byrds, Big Star, and R.E.M.! 

"Spine Oil" by Samia:  Is it just me, or does Samia have a knack for unusual song titles?! "Bovine Excision" first, and now "Spine Oil"?! What is with these titles?! Well...they are both good songs that resonate with indie-folk audiences. Perhaps the titles are just part of Samia's brooding, poetic mystique. "Spine Oil" is a chill indie-folk tune that contains such haunting lines as "I'll take the plant like a virgin. Everything hurts when it goes in," "Do you want to see the heavenly creature?" and "You've mistaken my joy for a weakness. You're mistaken. It won't go down easy." Clearly, Samia has emotions she wants her audience to feel with her that seem to come from being pushed around and misunderstood too easily.