Angelina’s Corner: Roundup
Words by Angelina Singer
While this song might be a little morbid when you listen to the lyrics, the overall sound is bright and the message is super positive. The way I understand it, is that the central idea is encouraging listeners to live life to the fullest and be grateful for what you have. It’s got this intriguing lyrical, almost Broadway style to the vocal melody, alongside some beautiful sonic dynamics and electrified harmonies that play beautifully into nursery rhymes (“ashes to ashes”, etc.). And that guitar solo added so much to it overall. Listen to this one anytime you need a pick-me-up and a reminder to seize the day.
This song reminded me of the midwest-emo genre, with its swelling guitar rhythms and tastefully-monotone vocal approach. But this one has more to it than meets the eye. For one, it’s got great dynamics, a droning lead guitar for some dramatic flair, and a nice storytelling component that brings you into the experience of the speaker. It’s all about the romantic struggle of letting go when you want to do anything but that. If you’ve ever been in a similar situation, this song will resonate with you hardcore.
Green Eyes by The Spitting Pips
This grittier approach caught my eye (pun fully intended with the cover art) and feels like something straight out of the nineties grunge scene in the best way. It’s romantic, visceral, and full of great sonic dynamics that will give you plenty to sink your teeth into. Think about it like a mix of Nirvana and CAKE, just to name a couple bands that came to mind. If this sounds even remotely like your playlist, then I promise that you’ll love this track (even if you don’t have green eyes).
If you wanna know by Evan Honer
This song takes a much lighter approach to the column this week, in this lovely mix of lo-fi infused indie folk music. It’s got a driving beat and beautiful dynamics that grow alongside the raw and honest vocal performance. “I’d write you a note but my thumb would start bleedin’ through the pages / I’ll never show you anyway so honey what’s the difference” is just one example of the poetic lyrics. If you feel like feeling all the feels on a late summer afternoon, this song is the perfect addition to your journaling soundtrack.
Trinity Bliss
For a lighter track with a big meaning that sounds like something Phoebe Bridgers or Lizzy McAlpine might produce, this song is just the thing. Spoiler alert: The dog is actually a metaphor for an imbalanced relationship, and it’s an incredibly smart one — because no one can say “no” to those eyes no matter how much they know they should. It’s about wanting to be strong for the other person but they also don’t have the capacity to appreciate it enough. There are so many layers to this masterful piece of art, so please listen to it more than once to get the full effect and sink into the intention behind it. The guitar solo was also sublime in its simplicity, but it adds so much to the ambience of this powerful track.
Stir Crazy by Alejandro Aranda
This bright track is romantic, sweet, and thought-provoking. I’ve been familiar with this artist before from American Idol, but I was really drawn to the sweetness of this track and the subtle way it nods to the early-2000s digital twinkles in mainstream pop music of the era. “You left me outside in the cold / without a word for me to hold / just take a moment to pick a side / tell me what you see” are just some of the clever lyrics populating this track, which is no surprise since this artist is known for both his unique lyricism and his smart sonic creativity.
will they won’t they by Trinity Bliss
I really enjoyed the poetic, childlike sweetness in this song. It’s sweet and bright, without seeming naive — because this artist has much more maturity than her relatively young age would suggest. Bonus points for the clever sensory details like sand dollars and ocean breeze join the party, cultivating a summertime vibe that can’t be beat. Bonus points for the rom-com worthy love interest poised at the bonfire holding a guitar — it’s all just so much fun and I know you’ll find a piece of yourself nestled perfectly in this song.