New songs for May 19th, 2025

 here they are:


"Ancient Light" by I'm With Her:  I'm With Her is an all-female folk-rock supergroup comprised of Sara Watkins from bluegrass-rock group Nickel Creek, Americana singer/songwriter Sarah Jarosz (juh-ROSE), and Irish indie-folk-rocker Aoife (EE-fee) O'Donovan. So what do these three acoustic rock heavyweights sound like together?! Sweet and pleasant, like one might expect from any of these singers as solo artists, and with an infusion of acoustic guitar and fiddle, fitting to the country-rock and bluegrass-rock sounds most of them have. "Sparks and smoke rings fill up the night," the three women sing in harmony together during the chorus, following it up with the line, "When it catches, I'll be swimming in the ancient light." I'm not sure exactly what they mean by "ancient light," but part of the charm of this song and songs like it is how the interpretation of what they're talking about seems to be left up to the listener. It evokes imagery of being out in the middle of a field at night sitting around a campfire for me (even though I've never really liked camping myself). 

"Bloom Baby Bloom" by Wolf Alice:  It's been a decade since I last heard something from Wolf Alice. The only other song I know of from Wolf Alice was released back then - the poignant, shimmering indie-rock tune, "Bros." "Bloom Baby Bloom" is more upbeat than "Bros" and "Bloom Baby Bloom" also uses more pianos than guitars. Not synths either, but just regular keyboards, which is refreshing to hear when a lot of pop and rock music has gone the synth route! The lyrical content of "Bloom Baby Bloom" is also a marked contrast to "Bros." Where "Bros" seemed to be a bittersweet tale of missing an old friend, "Bloom Baby Bloom" is a song that seems to seek revenge against a former lover. Though piano might not seem like an instrument accompanied by yelling, Ellie Rowsell still manages to rage during some parts of the song. An upbeat piano-based song with vengeful lyrics, and even some swearing at the beginning?! Amanda Palmer would be so proud!

"Caroline" by Mumford and Sons:  "Rushmere" really won me over for going back to the old-school Mumford sound! Can M & S continue that streak with "Caroline"?! It looks like the answer is yes! The song is in the key of G major, a bit of an unusual key for the Mumfords, but it still works here. The folks-y strumming and lovely harmonies the band have become known for are all here on this song! If your name happens to be Caroline, what exactly should you think of this song?! Mixed feelings, perhaps?! It's a fun and catchy enough song for anyone, regardless of their name, to find it enjoyable, but the lyrics tell a bit of a different story. Marcus Mumford tells the titular Caroline she can "go her own way" and that although she can "say she's a savior," he "knows she's a fraud." Ouch!! Rarely have I heard a M & S song be so vengeful! A lot of the band's darker lyrics (e.g. "It was not your fault but mine...I really f**ked it up this time" from "Little Lion Man") tend to be more self-pitying than they are directed at other people. 

"Luke and Leanna" by Craig Finn:  The War on Drugs' Adam Granduciel is really making a name for himself in the producer world! Earlier this year, we heard his work on Sam Fender's "People Watching," and now we get to hear it on the latest from Hold Steady frontman, Craig Finn, and his song, "Luke and Leanna." The result is a cross between early U2 and '80s Springsteen, much like a lot of what the WOD frontman produces. Given the mutual admiration of Bruce that both Adam and Craig have, I'm not surprised Craig enlisted Adam's help! The lyrics to the song are also Springsteen-esque, centering around two star-crossed lovers who live in different areas of the U.S. There is a bit of a darker twist to the song towards the end, though, when Leanna finds out Luke has a wife, thus making their romantic endeavors more difficult to continue. 

"Moody" by Royel Otis:  The trip-hop vibes of this song have led more than a few to compare this song to Beck and other mid-'90s performers who put hip-hop beats to light, breezy pop/rock tunes. Reminds you of summer, right?! Well, the lyrics here tell a different story. The chorus states that Royel Otis' girl is "a b**ch when she's moody." Not exactly what you want to hear if someone makes a song about you, right?! Otis then tries to make up for this statement by saying "she's my everything, she's all that I need," but more evidence seems to point towards having a negative point of view of his partner with lyrics like "she's always accusin'" and "she said she would kill me," not to mention the "sometimes more than I want" lyric that comes after "she's all that I need." Makes you wonder if he really likes who he's with or if he's just putting up with it until something better comes along. 

"Sally, When the Wine Runs Out" by Role Model:  Tucker Pillsbury, better known as Role Model, has a sound that combines the twang of country with the beats (and sarcastic/cynical lyrics) of indie-pop/rock, a trend that was perhaps started earlier this decade by Noah Kahan that many musicians since seemed to have wanted to try out. In Role Model's "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out," he tells the story of a girl he met at a bar and fell in love with. The song seems more specifically to be about the regret he feels about his newfound relationship and whether it's truly love or just a one-night stand.