Upbeat songs with depressing lyrics are the theme this week. Also, there's a new song from Mika.
THE BEST:
‘On My Side’ – Peach Luffe
Korean artist Jong SL – who I’ve
featured before on this blog – is now making music under the alias Peach Luffe
with the help of a band, and it’s a total change of style. It's got a much sunnier and upbeat sound than the
last track. Well, at least instrumentally it is – lyrically it’s actually pretty
depressive. Somehow the sunny guitars and heartbroken subject matter mesh well together, giving it a bittersweet feel.
‘Running Scared’ – Van Houten
Initially, the guitars gave me Coffee-and-TV
vibes, but the psychedelic chorus then takes the song in its own direction. The
chords are creative and the vocals are pretty catchy for a song that’s so
lyrically lugubrious. This is the second track I’ve featured from these guys
that I’ve enjoyed – I’m looking forward to their self-titled debut album, which
is out on the 13th September.
‘Plants’ – Guerilla Toss
Guerilla Toss usually deliver some
pretty light-hearted lyrics, but even they’re going down the depressive route this
week, tackling the personal topic of frontwoman Kassie Carlson’s addiction. Not
that you’d know this was a sad song from the triumphant disco-shoegaze instrumental, which is made
up of howling guitars over a pounding dance beat and groovy bassline. The
band are continually getting more accessible, but they’re still miles away from
going full-blown pop, so it’s all good.
‘Hearts’ - Derelict Dream
When I read these guys were
influenced by ‘Gojira, Opeth, Devin Townsend and Meshuggah’, I couldn’t
hit the play button quick enough. Their sound really is a combination of all
those bands with it’s own distinct style weaved in there too – it transitions from djenty to gentle,
showcasing a few clean vocals before hurtling into full blistering death metal,
and then returning back to its djenty opening riff after a brief Opeth-esque guitar solo. Did I mention there are vocal harmonies too? There’s a lot going on. The Brighton band have an EP out, which you can check out here for more proggy mayhem.
THE WORST:
‘Heavenly’ – Cigarettes After
Sex
This song wishes it was cooler and
sexier than it is. Instead, the whimpered vocals just sound kinda sleazy. It’s
exactly what I expected from a band called Cigarettes After Sex.
‘Tiny Love’ – Mika
Remember Mika? ‘I COULD BE
BROWN, I COULD BE BLUE, I COULD BE VIOLET SKYYY…’ Yes, that guy. Well, now
he’s back with a song that sounds like a Queen/Elton John hybrid, packed with theatrical twists and turns. It’s
quite fun up until the 2:40 mark and then it turns absolutely boring, embracing the worst of 00's piano balladry. And
people are comparing this to Bohemian Rhapsody? I don’t think so…