Angelina’s Corner: Roundup
Words by Angelina Singer
I enjoyed all the sonic textures in this alt-pop gem, with a bright, energetic chorus that feels like sunshine. It instantly transported me to a beachside town, with the melodic notes drifting in from an open car window. If you’ve been looking for a new summer soundtrack tune, this song is just the thing. It’s written all about struggling to navigate relationships, but it’s still got so much positivity in it that you’ll barely notice it’s a breakup song.
Moody Joody
Loretta’s Last Call by Moody Joody
If you’ve been looking for your next alt-pop almost-breakup anthem, this is just the thing. It’s atmospheric, a bit space-y, and it’s got a fun chorus using an iconic Boston watering hole as the backdrop. “I’m at Loretta’s Last Call crying in the back stall / am I too late baby?” perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to be having second thoughts about a relationship that looks like it’s on the outs. Bright acoustic guitar chords punctuate the electro-pop orbit that keeps the listener in a strong gravitational pull. I really love the poeticism and the catchy easy-rhyming lyrics. If you’ve ever been wanting to talk to someone that you know you should let go of, this song will resonate with you.
This song almost brought me to tears. Seriously — it’s that beautiful. Something about the soft vocals that cut like a knife through the delicate guitar arpeggiations is just a mix you have to hear to believe. It’s a bit like a lullaby, and then the more intricate vocal harmonies kick in, and you’ll find yourself transported somewhere totally new and ethereal. I also love the introspective lyrics, like “parallel dreams share nightmares / desperate screams hopeless fighting” that illustrate the passage of time and the struggle to find yourself in a world that’s engineered to keep you in a box. And best of all, the song keeps changing, never quite staying the same for very long while still being incredibly cohesive, bringing about a sonic experience that’s every bit as good as chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven.
As The Story Goes by Box Elder
For a more refined pop-punk experience very similar to great bands like Citizen or Neck Deep, you’re in the right place. Bright lead guitar illuminates this fun song all about navigating a relationship that’s not fully honest. While the subject matter is more serious and emotional, this is an example of something that could easily have been on the Warped Tour stage — the perfect setting for a mosh pit on a sweaty summer day. Half-time drums up the ante as the emotional depth continues, with a delectable guitar lick that only gets more and more complex up until the end of the track.
This is a bright country track about a breakup that you never saw coming — but then the realization that your life is better without that person in it. “Living on the flip-side of goodbye / turns out gettin’ over you just needed more time” is at the center of this message. It’s encouraging with a great positive message about what it’s like to have defeated heartache once and for all. A nice guitar solo adds to the experience as the vocals sneak back in during some light harmonica playing. Play this one loud anytime you need a reason to celebrate the new season of life you’re in — sans toxic relationship drama.
This is How You Lose the Time Way by Nick Paschenda
This ambient track is so poetic, and it depicts a complicated relationship that’s put to the test with the passage of time. The vocal harmonies really color the whole sonic experience, as the vocalist inspires listeners to focus on the present moment to make the most of all the time they’ve been given with their significant other. It reminded me a lot of a sci-fi romance, with mentions of timelines, fossils, and the future. That was so clever and I definitely would recommend this song to anyone in love who doesn’t want to waste their life away with things that don’t matter.
The imaginative lyrics in this song stood out to me, aside from her already-gorgeous vocals. And what an opening hook — “We flew too closely to the sun”, connecting to folklore fairytales and Greek mythology alike. Rich vocal harmonies kick in right before the chorus, where things really open up. The overall style sounds like a younger Taylor Swift (hello, that bridge) paired up with Phoebe Bridgers (or another equally moody-broody talented songstress with far more depth than they get credit for). If you’ve been on the hunt for something different to listen to, this piano ballad about a relationship that ended (that never should have) will be the perfect addition to your heartache playlist.