New songs for June 9th 2025

 here they are:


"Afterlife" by Alex G:  I overlooked Alex G when he first debuted on the adult alt radio scene with "The Runner" (I think a lot was going on in my life back then), but I've mellowed out enough since then that I'm ready to hear his latest tune, "Afterlife." I must say, I like what I'm hearing so far! Pop/rock beats wed to a string instrument that sounds like it could be mandolin all while feeling like a mellow day out on the lake while you listen to it? I'm all for it! "Afterlife" can mean different things to different people too. I mean Sharon Van Etten already came out with another song of the same title this year, but that one seemed to be more about a yearning hope to see someone after our mortal years end. In Alex G's song, "Afterlife" appears to be more of a metaphor for starting a fresh new life after a life filled with awkward mistakes. Seems pretty relatable to me!

"@$$hole (When We First Met)" by The Lumineers:  Ummm....THIS is awkward!! How do I talk about a song whose title is one that I can't say comfortably out loud?! (Even typing the song's name on YouTube, I put "Bleep Hole" to avoid potential pitfalls) Well, c'est la vie. On we go! The surprisingly crude title of this song (Really?! The Lumineers chose that title?!) creates a contrast to the dreamy atmosphere of the song. At least the offending word is one that Wesley Schultz uses to describe himself instead of another person. It saddens me a bit when normally gentle bands feel like they have to have an "edge" (or maybe that's just me being too sensitive - I honestly don't know), but underneath the sting of the title, Schultz almost seems to be like a wounded animal here, crying in desperate pain just because he had a lousy relationship with someone. I feel like a lot of us have been through that. 

"Fly" by Wishy:  Now THIS title seems like a nice counterpart to the one we previously encountered! Even the name of the band is! I mean "Fly" by "Wishy"?! Seems like something sweet and gentle enough to be featured on a kid's show! This is yet another song about feel regrets in a relationship, it seems, but this time, instead of putting all the pain on yourself, it's more of a bittersweet goodbye. Over wistful acoustic guitars (and some neo-psychedelic shoegaze-y electrics), lead singer Kevin Krauter waxes nostalgic over his relationship, even mentioning songs like Ace of Base's "The Sign" that were probably special in building it. The song has no hopeful resolution but it doesn't have a particularly upsetting one either, leaving the listener on a cliffhanger as the song's brief but precious seconds pass it by quicker than we might want it to happen!

"Incomprehensible" by Big Thief:  A bit more synth-y and avant-garde than we might be used to with Big Thief, but still worth listening to! Adrianne Lenker starts this mysterious yet alluring song with a bit of a time capsule. She starts with mementos from childhood (even mentioning "Mr. Bear" among her prized possessions of the era - aww!) and by the next verse she goes back to the present, stating she'll soon be 33. Where does the time go?! Part of this song seems to be about being afraid to grow up, which I can relate to! Even though I am a "grown-up" chronologically, I often feel like I'm still a kid, not quite as ready to face the world as I should be. She mentions how her mom, grandma, and grandma's grandma are all getting older faster than she wants them to, and by the last verse, she opens herself up and lets herself become the most vulnerable she's been in the song so far! The use of the word "naked" in the penultimate line could be referring to both the physical and emotional state of the word! She might want to be in such a state physically to relieve herself of the pressure she feels from the outside world, yet it's also possible that she wants to be emotionally "naked" to spill out all her feelings onto a world that might judge her but ideally should not. A very relatable song here! I love when people are this vulnerable in a song since it's the way that I've felt so many times in my own life!

"Lover" by Richard Aschcroft:  Just as his most famous song, "Bittersweet Symphony," sampled from The Rolling Stones, Richard's latest song samples from folk-rocker Joan Armatrading! Wow, that's amazing!! The fact Richard even knows Armatrading's music is amazing to me - such a treat!! Some samples feel like steals, but this one does not. It feels like a loving, affectionate tribute to Joan! (No pun intended since the song sample IS "Love and Affection") Retaining both the lovely acoustic guitar and shimmering saxophone from Armatrading's song, "Lover" is like a musical hug reflected back at a song that was already a musical hug! Sweetness at its finest!


"What Do I Know?" by Deep Sea Diver:  Last but not least, we have Deep Sea Diver's latest song! A break from the vulnerable, bittersweet songs we've encountered for most of the week, "What Do I Know?" wavers gently between drum-and-vocals alone moments and moments where the guitar just comes in and shakes the song like gangbusters! Jessica Dobson's voice and lyrics tremble with uncertainty throughout the song, although the title alone also suggests uncertainty. The trepidation she expresses can feel like a sonic earthquake sometimes, but it's still so exciting and invigorating! Finally, during the last 30 or so seconds, the song closes by slowing down the beat and where Jessica's voice calms down somewhat too, merely repeating the title for the remainder of the song.