Angelina’s Corner: Roundup
Words by Angelina Singer
Portland in the Spring by Dylan Landau
This bright track actually feels like spring. It features a relaxed string section floating just behind sprightly vocals and whimsical slice-of-life lyrics that transport the listener into the artist’s environment. It’s romantic, soothing, and refreshing after a long winter stuck hunkering down indoors. This would be an ideal tune for a picnic date, park hangout, or even just a regular Tuesday evening on a warm night with the windows open. Enjoy this one with a bright green iced matcha in hand while window shopping in your favorite small town.
Grace Honeywell
Time Finds a Way by Grace Honeywell
I really enjoyed the smooth minimalism of this track, and the way that it lovingly traces the passage of time, and the very human struggle of finding your place in life. “I just want us all to feel better / time finds a way / the garden grows wild and new / you will find a way to once again bloom” is at the center of the message. It’s about fresh starts, renewal, and giving yourself the compassion and understanding that you crave in the midst of still figuring out who you are. As it’s a beautiful coming-of-age track for all ages, you’ll definitely find a piece of yourself here.
While the title is the same as the iconic Jimmy Eat World track, this song is totally different. Instead of the struggles of everyday life, this song is all about being on edge when you’re dating someone new. Or maybe you’re not even dating, and this is just about a raging crush that’s barely materialized. The lyrics are also super catchy without relying on a cheesy rhyme scheme. No matter where you find yourself in this storyline, the bright drumbeat and guitar chords make this one you’ll be humming on repeat.
You’re the One by Third Time Luckie
Bouncing off the more relaxed songs above, this song is a welcome dynamic addition to this week’s selection. It’s a typical quintessential punk track — the lyrics are romantic, energetic, and begging to skip town even if there’s nowhere to go. It’s about falling in love little by little and then all at once. There’s palm-muted guitars, a swampy bassline under the surface, and loads of rhythmic lead guitar to land this song in the early-2000s. If you’re like me and that’s around the era you grew up loving, this song will be just the thing to take you back.
I Write Goodbyes by Blake Smeltz
While this one seems like a typical country song on the surface, I felt that the lead guitar really elevated this experience, and the strong vocals really rounds out the overall presentation of this track. I found that the chorus was especially catchy, both melodically and lyrically, as the artist talks about what it’s like to feel torn about whether to keep trying in a relationship or say goodbye. It’s an odd topic to romanticize, but I think there’s a lot of wisdom in taking the power back to plot the course of your own decisions instead of being at the mercy of someone else’s. Listen to this song if you like Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, or music that makes you think about your life and relationships.
I really enjoyed the message of this song — it’s all about changing your own habits so that you can enjoy better relationships (“it’s never too late to right your wrongs”). Self-awareness is rare to find, so I really enjoyed the reflective approach of this tune and the slick pop country vibes that I know will appeal to a broad audience. Most of the rhythm actually comes from the acoustic guitar in a lot of the song, which is a refreshing twist on how songs are typically constructed. Listen to this one if you’re in need of motivation to get off your butt and do that thing you’ve been putting off for weeks.
This more relaxed track is a cozy reflective track about the work it takes to sustain a healthy relationship when one or both people in it are scared of falling in love. It’s bright, and reminded me of bands like Lady Antebellum, in that it’s an emotionally-evocative pop country infused song. “Said I was heaven-sent / that I was always meant to be your one and only” appears to be a confession after the relationship has already ended when it shouldn’t have. I also loved the lead guitar work and the way it adds so much depth to the storyline. Listen to this one if you’re ever been heartbroken in a similar fashion and need to know you weren’t alone in feeling that way.