Mae – “Seasons” : An astoundingly beautiful piano-based instrumental, one that not only harkens back to Mae’s ealier indie rock days but could easily accompany any number of movie scenes, be it a high school graduation, a funeral, or simply a shot of someone staring wistfully at a large body of water. It’s an uplifting little song that deserves to be heard, and don’t be shy about donating a dollar or two to purchase-last fall, Mae was the unfortunate victim of a theft that robbed them of their van, trailer, instruments and many personal possessions. Although they were able to track down the van and trailer, their instruments and belongings remain MIA, which would unquestionably be a greater loss for any musician. Head over to http://www.whatismae.com/ to hear the song and make a contribution.
Songs I’d fogotten about, or overlooked, but now can’t stop listening to:
Hidden In Plain View – “American Classic” (Life In Dreaming, Drive-Thru, 2005): The musicans that consisted of Hidden In Plain View displayed a great deal of talent on their 2005 debut full-length Life In Dreaming, with, “American Classic, ” easily leading the pack in terms of quality and substance. The frenzied intro seemlessly flows into the rest of the song, with Spencer Peterson’s tribal drumming perfectly matching the dual vocals of Joe Reo and Rob Freeman. The chorus couldn’t be anymore catchy, with the vocals continuing to carry the song, and by the time the bridge rolls around, the song yet again changes course, slowing down the tempo while turning up the chuggy guitars & heavy drumming. It may feel a bit like a combination of several different songs, but by the time the outro rolls around (which is actually a reprise of the fantastic intro), it’s hard to care.
Thursday – “For The Workforce, Drowning” (War All The Time, Island, 2003): One of the most exhilirating songs this band has released to date, the gentlemen of Thursday completely hit the mark with this furious audio assault. The instruments have never been tighter, frontman Geoff Rickly’s vocals have never been better (especially his signature screams), and the unexpected breakdown during the bridge propels the song forward, all the way up until the very last note.
Jimmy Eat World – “Bleed American” (2001): Though some may refer to the album this song comes from as Jimmy Eat World, and some may refer to it as Bleed American (a title which was changed following the September 11th attacks), either way this opening track is a total rush, beginning with drummer Zach Lind’s massive flams. This sets up the verse, where things are brought down a few notches, until the chorus seemingly comes out of nowhere to grab you with its unspoken command to shout along (just to avoid any confusion, the first few words are, “salt sweat sugar”). The appropriate guitar solo and the abrupt ending add a few extra pieces of flair as well, helping to push this song into the stratosphere of unforgettable rock and roll.
Jimmy Eat World – “Big Casino” (Chase This Light, 2007): Another huge Jimmy Eat World opener, “Big Casino, ” plunges us listeners head-first into 2007’s Chase This Light with soaring guitars, drums, and vocals, especially during the intro and refrain. Their lower-key verses are once again present, and the bridge, while somewhat short, helps keep the momentum going.