Tuesday Tunes--August 9, 2016
Shaun Cordingley
How has your August been? Mine has been pretty terrible...so here's a set of upbeat, strange, and fun songs that have been helping me along through my days (because I'm sure some of you could use some pick-me-ups too).
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, or re-expose them to things 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.
Do the Best We Can - Fialta
A little bit of California indie pop to start us off this week with "Do the Best We Can" by Fialta, a slice of mellow harmony off of their album Shadow of a Drought that released just last month. They aren't exactly unknown, with their music being featured in a variety of different television shows, but "Do the Best We Can", despite being named Paste Magazine's Pop Song of the Summer (2016) is still criminally underknown.
This is a great pop song: the vocals, and the harmonies are spot on, rippling through an expertly layered piece that is perfect for almost any summer situation (thought I myself have mostly been listening to it while sitting on my balcony with a drink, and watching the sunset). In a just world, you are going to be hearing this song a lot for the rest of this summer, but I doubt that will happen around here, as the alternative/indie station is awful.
Although, I guess that's why I'm here for you...I think I also have a soft spot for any band who names themselves after something like a Vladimir Nabokov story (and make videos steeped in irony, like the one above).
Don't Follow Me - Wild Son
Kelowna, BC based Wild Son is a folk rock band with a strain of funk to their work that you can definitely hear in their song "Don't Follow Me" off of their self-titled debut album. "Don't Follow Me" has that feeling long-time Tuesday Tunes readers will know I like: it has a retro sort of feeling to it, while sounding new at the same time. I think a lot of that is achieved here via the fiddle: the addition of a strong, featured fiddle in what is largely a funk baseline with folk overtones is fascinating: it really makes this track stand out from the indie folk rock that is coming out today.
If you are an indie folk fan, make sure you give Wild Son a listen.
Satan - D.D Dumbo
Australian singer/songwriter D.D Dumbo's "Satan" is one hell of a song: combining some Eastern influence with a punchy, danceable beat, he has delivered a song that is wholly enjoyable, yet harder to explain than you can imagine if you haven't heard it. This is...the nearest comparison I can make is it's sort of like Sting, but if you took a lot of the annoying parts out of Sting's music, and made it more fun.
Let's go with that....
"Satan" is a strange and amazing journey of a song, that almost makes you want to march along with everyone in the video.
D.D Dumbo is currently working on his debut album, but if you're looking to hear more from this stupidly talented, multi-instrumentalist, check out his Tropical Oceans EP.
Teenage Evolution - Love in October
The Widman brothers have been making and releasing music together as Love in October since 2006; now largely operating as a studio band, they continue to release fun pop tracks on self titled EP's, like "Teenage Evolution". Make no bones about it, this is pure pop rock, but it's very good pop rock--this is catchy, expertly constructed, and fun pop that mixes digital drums with an indie rock, synth vibe.
If you're looking for some fun, radio-ready pop rock that you probably haven't heard, then you should definitely be giving Love in October a listen, with their latest EP Love in October III releasing this past April. OR if you're looking for more of an electronic feel, check out their electro-band Eight Bit TIger.
Freedom - The Shimmer Band
Bristol, UK's The Shimmer Band wrap up Tuesday Tunes this week with their bombastic track "Freedom". First off, I just have to say that I am really happy to see this (for the moment small) movement in the indie rock scene has in returning some of the swagger, and spectacle to an arena-style rock. The Shimmer Band features a horn section in "Freedom", and delivers a sweeping, modern take on upbeat, psychedelic rock that just fills every space. This song is my introduction to The Shimmer Band, and I have to say that this is one of those bands that I'm really looking forward to hearing more from, especially as Tom Newman develops as a lead vocalist.
Anyone telling you that rock is dead is not paying attention, and if it's because they're missing that sweeping power of old school arena rock, you better send them to see The Struts, and The Shimmer Band.
Check out "Shoot Me Baby", another release by The Shimmer Band if 'Freedom' just isn't enough.
Here's the Apple Music Playlist for July 2016! I have done my best to mix it all together like I'm spinning a set for you, but as that is hard to do without being able to fade, mix, or talk through the transitions, you will have to forgive a few hard edges...weirdly enough, I started from the bottom with this one, which never usually works...but here we are.
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:
December 2015 & January 2016 (because I felt crazy)
Support what you dig! It's soooo much cheaper than anything else out there. You cannot even buy foil for what one of the songs listed here would cost you....it's getting so expensive to protect your brain from the MLB satellites.
We will see you again next week with 5 more Tuesday Tunes!
-S (@Shauncord)