Angelina’s Corner: Roundup
Words by Angelina Singer
This chilled-out blues-rock tune with a sultry, crawling beat is just the ticket for your next beverage night with friends. Sonically, the vocal harmonies feel like a bright, sunny day on a picnic. It’s this intersection between city life and country life that the band knows all too well. Hailing from Los Angeles, but being originally from Minnesota, they’ve seen both sides of the coin and want to use their music to illustrate these differences in an artistic way that helps listeners reflect. Bonus points for the sonic dynamics and lyrical positivity as seen though lyrics like “Lean on me and I’ll lean on you”.
Mike Donello
I absolutely loved this indie-rock song with some really great dynamics, but mostly because they reminded me a lot of a local Boston band that was touring years ago, The House on Cliff. Both bands have that quintessential guitar-laced concoction that will leave listeners begging for another hit. The pounding drums with the melodic lead guitars are a winning combo, as the slight bit of strong country-cognizant vocals really add a nice layer to the overall style. As the lyrics say “all’s fair in love and war / all I wanna know is that this pain inside my soul / it has a purpose”. The grit and strong emotion in this song is unforgettable. I love the isolation of the bass in the bridge before breaking into the guitar solo as well. Also, I found it interesting that this band actually started off playing worship music at church. I honestly can’t say enough good things about this band and highly recommend you give them a listen.
Point of No Return by Mike Donello
This track is full of 80s-inspired bass lines and swampy melody lines that ebb and float throughout all layers of the galaxy. It’s got a really creative thematic concept, comparing dating struggles with planetary metaphors as you try to find your soulmate. Bright guitar licks provide the perfect soundscape for this sonic adventure, while the clever lyrics help you reflect on your own life. Listen to this one no matter where you are in your romantic journey, shifting your focus onto the silver lining that you’ll eventually find when you reach your final destination.
This is a very edgy rock track that’s all about the aftermath of a breakup and the varying emotions that crop up when the dust settles. I really liked the upbeat vibes and the clever lyrics surrounding the drama of the relationship, as the vocalist regains her confidence and depicts her slow-but-steady rebuilding process. And underneath it all, she’s angry. Really angry. This song would be perfect as a villain’s backstory - the really poignant kind that makes you begrudgingly side with the antagonist. No matter where you are in life, you’ll find a piece of yourself in this song and find the sudden ending as surprising as it is right on the nose.
The Life You Thought You Had by Franklin Wall
This is a very encouraging song about mourning plans that you had for yourself before everything got more complicated. I’d put it in the realm of country, but also in the folk style as the dynamics ebb and flow. “Let your story be more than your past / you might find yourself letting go” is a great mantra for anyone processing unexpected twists and turns in their life. I also really liked the way it supports people seeking help from trusted others as they conquer life’s struggles. Bonus points for that big pivot note in the bridge that builds into a great final chorus. For a song that’s equally motivating and invigorating, listen to this one loud and often.