New songs for August 10th 2026

 here they are:


"Home Depot" by Medium Build:  After hearing Medium Build's funky song, "Last Time," from late last year, I'm surprised to know that what is poised to be their second adult alt radio hit, "Home Depot," sounds more like a sad, laid-back country-folk song! Why the change in sound?! Perhaps part of it is because of the heavy emotion this song carries! The song is also somewhat a character study for "the Steves" - a group of men, all named Steve, who Nick Carpenter made up for this song. The Steve narrating opens up his heart to ask another Steve about the painful, emotional turmoil he's been facing in his life lately. Though the song itself wouldn't sound out of place as a Garth Brooks ballad, the lyrics tell a more poignant story that pegs the song as more "alternative" for both its raw emotional quality and its quirkiness in character naming.

"The Hallelujah Trail" by Charley Crockett:  Country music weaves its way into this blog yet again for our next entry, but this time with a bit more overt electric guitar work woven on top of the song's roots-y acoustic exterior. Charley Crockett's latest song is probably named after the Western mockumentary of the same name, but it tells a different story of two outlaws named Cuatro and Cholla. The former "dies but then comes back again" while the latter risks his life for him in a way that recalls the plots of most epic Westerns. 

"The Wave" by Jungle:  After Jungle's surprise acoustic adult alt radio hit, "Carry On," Jungle are back to the funky soul and dance music they do best with "The Wave." "The Wave" is another song of reassurance, much like "Carry On" was, and it's another song where Lydia Kitto takes on the lead vocals, but mostly it's a throwback to '70s funk whose primary aim is to make people get up and dance!

"Too Little, Too Late" by Orville Peck:  In a week where we've encountered two country-adjacent tunes and one funk song, this one might be the closest to rock we have for the week, although this one also has a slight country/Southern rock influence to it. This song's angst-ridden, jaded lyrics might also be the closest we come to a true "alternative"/rock entry for the week. It's about a relationship on the brink of ending, but also one that Orville seems exasperated by, and its opening lines ("Babe, we been down this road before/It's easy when I'm at your door/You want me hangin' round but you hate when I complain"). Sort of sets the tone for the rest of the tune.