Tuesday Tunes--November 8, 2016
Shaun Cordingley
This week's Tuesday Tunes features a bunch of songs that, for one reason or another, made me smile, as I think this week (and especially depending on how today goes with our neighbours to the south) we could all use a few songs to make us feel good...
...and brace yourself: I get really, really close to a country song.
The Guys From do not hold the rights to any of these songs, it is more our hope to expose our readers to new and different music that we are enjoying, or re-expose them to artists they may have forgotten about.
At the top of each section, will be the song name, followed by the artists' name linked to their website, so you can fall down the rabbit hole, finding and supporting what you dig.
Blood Orange - The Van Ts
The Van Ts, founded by twin sisters Chloe and Hannah Van Thompson, are a little slice of 1990s dream rock that has been missing from all of our playlists. "Blood Orange" off of their EP Coming of Age (released this past July) features an excellent guitar line, and an overall haze that lets the vocals just float atop an endlessly addictive 90s grunge infused rock track. I feel like fans of Wolf Alice would particularly enjoy this track, as in The Van Ts you can really hear some of the best notes that Wolf Alice hit in their best tracks.
If you dig "Blood Orange" than I suggest that you do check out Coming of Age, as The Van Ts explore the range of their hazy 90s sound in tempo and structure to great effect.
Hold Your Fire - Gay Nineties
If you're looking for a little bit of retro-inspired, fun infused indie rock this week, then "Hold Your Fire" from Vancouver's Gay Nineties is your song of the week. I feel like "retro-inspired" is the best way to put it when it comes to describing this track, as unlike other bands I have talked about on here (like say, The Struts, or The Shimmer Band), Gay Nineties is much more free-wheeling; this is one of those indie rock bands that you can hear how much they enjoy making music together. "Hold Your Fire" has a raw, flamboyant energy that, while captured in a recording, I can only imagine would be near addictive live.
If you're looking for more Gay Nineties, be sure to check out their EP Liberal Guilt that released early last year.
Worlds On Fire - Zerbin
"Worlds On Fire" by Edmonton/Victoria's Zerbin (named for frontman Jason Zerbin), is a warm indie rock track that balances a really special bit of guitar, combined with a well balanced rhythm and vocals (shoutout to the various harmonies Zerbin roll out in the chorus) to create a real, feel-good rock song. "Worlds On Fire" is much more of a radio-ready pop rock track than say, "Hold Your Fire" above, but Zerbin has created a unique sound through really spectacular production that helps them stand out from a lot of the other indie pop rock I hear in the process of Tuesday Tunesing.
If you dig "Worlds On Fire", check out their 2015 album Darling--a lot of their other work trends more into a slower/softer tempo, but there are a few great surprises throughout the album. I'm particularly fond of "Ibiza/Burdens" and "C'est La Vie" myself...
We Are the Love - Sutherland
Modern indie folk in North America has been very heavily influenced by the success of bands like Mumford & Sons, as well as bands who add an Americana tinge to a stomp/clap aesthetic, so when I came across South African indie folk band Sutherland, I have to say I was really pleased to hear a unique take to folk. "We Are the Love" features organic sounding acoustics, a beautiful use of piano, and yes, finger clicks and a few hand claps as well, folded into a song that is going to stick in your head, and plaster a smile across your face.
Sutherland have an exciting, and refreshing take on indie folk, and I am very much looking forward to continuing to hear more from them...I believe they may also be unsigned at the moment, which means you may see them come across Tuesday Tunes again when I have the chance...
Diamond Dreams - Castro
Castro dances a line for me, as they balance elements of a bluesy country music (a genre I generally do not care for) with indie folk pop in their debut single "Diamond Dreams", however in this combination of styles, Castro have created a song that feels like a hug.
Sometimes I need songs that hug.
I particularly like the fact that Castro is a family band (Jason, Jackie, and Michael Castro), as there's always something about the balance, and the warm sound that a family produces singing together (it's that blend of familiarity, yet individual uniqueness)--call me old fashioned if you like, but there is something that's just nice about siblings making fun folk music together. Especially considering the fact that each of them have done solo work (and easily could still be): some of you may recognize Jason Castro, who finished fourth on Season 7 of American Idol.
Here's the Apple Music Playlist for October 2016! Missing three songs again, which does make me sad, but this is a very fun, and diverse list...with...slightly fewer hard transitions in it then there has been on occasion when I've been putting these together.
Remember, if you want me to put these playlists on other services (like Spotify), let me know on Twitter (I've linked it below)
If you're looking for more Tuesday Tunes, are late to the party, or just want more theguysfrom.com in your day, here are the playlists for:
There are other (earlier) playlists available for you if you check out earlier articles or search on Apple Music itself.
If you're wanting me to put these playlists on other music services (ones that I don't regularly use myself) let me know in the comments below.
See you again next Tuesday with five more Tuesday Tunes!
-S (@Shauncord)