With the commencement of November, Mother Nature’s capricious mood finally subsided, resulting in reliably chilly days and blanket-covered dorm rooms. Get out your speakers (and your space heaters); here are a few tunes that warmed my heart and kept me company as I took shelter from this past month’s emerging winter.
Hi-Five ~ Angel Olsen
Do not be fooled by Olsen’s choice to begin with an acoustic strumming pattern characteristic of almost every indie folk song. The piece’s artful combination of rockabilly and alternative marks Angel Olsen’s experimental style. Olsen has a voice that is sopping with passion, and she knows how to use it. With a naturally low pitch and syrupy vibrato, she resurrects the sound of Johnny Cash in this dark folk jam. The vocals are not the sole element that make this song stand out, however. The warped electric guitar permeates the otherwise modest melody and adds a vigorous edge. Later, when the striking grand piano adds more fuel to the song’s fiery energy, you won’t be able to resist getting up on your feet. Though each individual part carries a heavy sound, together they produce a liberating feel.
Love’s Easy Tears ~ Cocteau Twins
This is one of those songs that manifests in the lucid colors that swim around the mind of a hopeless romantic. “Love’s Easy Tears” sounds like it could describe the internal monologue of a wistful teenager from an 80s film. This song is intriguingly beautiful because of the ghostly echo in Elizabeth Frazer’s voice paired with the ambient drums,
glimmering synthesizers, and lingering guitar. What makes this song shine is its ability to sound uplifting and maudlin at the same time. Frazer’s enchanting and plunging vocals distract you from the fact that the lyrics are nearly incomprehensible by blending into the surrounding reverberation of celestial music. This subjectivity of meaning allows you to lose yourself in the music as you would in your own emotions
and desires.
Golden Brown – Unpeeled ~ Cage The Elephant
I rarely come across a remake of a song that I enjoy just as much as the original. Instead of revamping the song so as to infuse their unique sound, I find that many artists merely produce a fraternal twin of the original track. Cage The Elephant, however, puts a garage rock spin on The Stranglers’ hit, “Golden Brown” while still maintaining its poetic rhythm and playful energy. Swapping out harpsichord for rock organ generates a more modern, subdued version of the original’s calliopean sound. With the addition of lyrical violin and soft vocals, Cage The Elephant brings us a track that flows with delightful nonchalance. As a rendition that both carries the essence of the original song and offers something new to fans of indie rock, the underrated “Golden Brown – Unpeeled” will not be forgotten by this reviewer.
I Wanna Be Your Man ~ The Beatles
In an effort to make the hours go by a little faster on election day, I searched for a comedic film to watch that would ease my nerves. I came across The Beatles’ 1964 film, A Hard Day’s Night, and it was the perfect choice. I especially remember one scene that put a smile on my face; the boys were dancing to their own “I Wanna Be Your Man” in a groovy nightclub. Instantly I longed to be in that room, dancing freely to the rapid tempo of the crisp guitar and singing along to the bluntly romantic lyrics brought to life by the boys’ youthful energy. The happy-go-lucky spirit of the 1960s is captured in the exuberant shouts that fill the instrumental bridge. This upbeat party-starter will make you feel nostalgic for a time period that you may not have even lived in, but that you wish you had.
Easier to Cry ~ TV Girl
Despite it being one of TV Girl’s lesser known songs, “Easier to Cry” gives us a swanky mix of 90s electronica and French pop. Channeling Deee-Lite’s psychedelic-chic style, as does all of TV Girl’s music, this song tells the story of a woman losing hope of finding love in the foreground of a glitzy rhythm. Echoic synths and a hot beat produce
a lively tune that distracts from the sadder lyrics and add a twist of irony. The transition to a more serious bridge calls our attention back to the song’s meaning, but it is not long not before we fade back into the twinkling chorus. Though a little milder than TV Girl’s more popular tracks, this mod tune with a retro flare is worth listening to.
Come back to the site next month to read about my December Ditties, and in the meantime check out the songs you just read about at the link below. If you have a song in mind that you think I should listen to, don’t hesitate to leave a comment!
