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Twain - Death (or S.F.?)
Twain - Death (or S.F.?)

Twain - Death (or S.F.?)


“Death (or S.F.?),” is a timeless and beautiful low-fi jam from indie folk-rocker Twain’s new record, New Miami Sound. Twain is Mat Davidson, a singer-songwriter who has long favored a raw, analog-like style of production. Complete with a teeming background hiss that hovers just within earshot, “Death (or S.F.?)” is just the same, sounding old in all the right ways. The piano, for instance, reverberates heavily, giving it an echo effect that makes it sound like a baby grand being played in a vintage parlor. The soft, muted drums and nostalgic strings flow easily through the song like they’re leading you down a dreamy Pacific landscape. Davidson’s candid lyrics and smooth vocals deftly match that mood: “I was walking in the park getting stoned with local losers / dreaming of my girl but knowing that I’d lose her.” Carefully arranged and masterfully mixed, “Death (or S.F.?)” is a quietly powerful opening track. Listening to it for the first time feels like dusting off a box of your parents’ old vinyl records and discovering they’re in near-mint condition--pleasing and surprising.

Britnee Meiser on February 27, 2019
Buck Meek - Halo Light

Buck Meek - Halo Light


Singer-songwriter Buck Meek’s "Halo Light" comes in soft with minimal guitar plucking, steadily adding percussion and vocals to build to a fuller sound. Meek’s voice is clear, gentle and holds a subtle country twang. The Big Thief guitarist put out his self-titled album last year on the Austin-based record label, Keeled Scales. “Halo Light” follows the same folk sound as the previous record, but falls on Meek’s sweeter side. The pastoral quality of his music has led to comparisons to Neil Youngs Harvest era. Still, Meek stands on his own as a modern power. In “Halo Light,” he addresses the hardship of loss and the ephemeral nature of life with a tender touch. His pain leaks through the lyrics, but his sweet and light melodies prevent the track from dipping too far into melodrama. He sings, “I found the hole you climbed through/ but it’s too small/ to follow with the flowers.” Meek will be touring this Spring both as a joint headliner with Twain and as support for Jeff Tweedy. He will also make an appearance at SXSW.

Corey Bates on February 26, 2019
Small Talks - Teeth

Small Talks - Teeth


“Teeth” by Small Talks is a heartbreaking recollection of a love that’s passed by. Anyone who has lost a love can find solace in the powerful repetition of nostalgic experiences the narrator has had: “You taught me how to love, you taught me how to love no one but you/ You taught me how to look, you taught me how to look/ You taught me how to look for the thorns on all of the roses.” Advice often passed on by wise counselors says not to value relationships for their permanence, but for those not yet ready to embrace this, “Teeth” offers an understanding embrace. Small Talks’ album A Conversation Between Usis out now.

Ben Burke on February 26, 2019
Jennah Bell - Another Louisiana

Jennah Bell - Another Louisiana


Folksy by nature, “Another Louisiana” by Jennah Bell carries with it a somber emotional feeling with a hint of southern charm. The Oakland native’s single off of her newly minted full-length debut, Anchors and Elephants features her earthy vocals surrounded by haunting acoustic blues that outline her strong lyrical writing ability. Like much of the album, “Another Louisiana” is a journey about heartbreak, love, growth, and identity— masterfully wrapped with influences of indie, folk, R&B and soul. Bell remarks, “It’s a song about drinking, and love too...and is probably the most vulnerable point on the record.” The lines, “It's the middle of the afternoon / and my glass is empty / and my life is too,” evoke a profound sadness and reflection on a particularly difficult time. “Another Louisiana” beautifully recalls Bell's internal battles and her struggles in relationships past in a way that you can't help but empathize with.

Jazzmyne Pearson on February 25, 2019
Wet - Old Bone

Wet - Old Bone


Wet’s recent release, “Old Bone” is a cozy tune perfect for cuddling around a campfire. The song is one of two acoustic-heavy tracks released by the Brooklyn-based duo this month. In their first album since going from trio to duo, the band’s sound has evolved from aesthetically ethereal to a more fun, Michelle Branch-like spin on indie folk. “Old Bone” follows suit. It’s the musical equivalent of a wool blanket warmed up in the dryer. Singer, Kelly Zutrau’s vocals are consistently soft at the edges, soothing to the ear even as she hits the highest notes— creating a vocal melody that is beautiful and serene. They’re lazy without losing any of their clarity, which is a nod to the song’s great production. The quiet but close arrangement of the acoustic guitar, upright bass, and muted kick drum evoke such strong classic folk vibes that the careful addition of a synth in the chorus feels natural. Instead of taking away from the song’s acoustic heart, it compliments and energizes it. “Old Bone” is a captivating and emotional song scattered with intimate hooks and dreamy surprises.

Britnee Meiser on February 25, 2019
Tangerine - Chains

Tangerine - Chains


“Chains” begins the way everyone wants an 80s-inspired pop song to begin: a bright sustained chord, an unassuming emotional bass line, and a clear vocal sent from the heavens above. Picking up into a pulsing, Springsteen-inspired verse II, the track lifts off into an anticipatory sparkling blue. Nostalgia-dripping imagery like “smoke halo angel smile” and “country songs in a bar full of neon lights” further feed the serious Born to Run vibes on “Chains.” The track is also informed by the loose, ambient sounds of Tangerine’s contemporaries, such as Wet and Japanese BreakfastThe Los Angeles-trio said they recorded “Chains” on GarageBand. I don’t know about you, but my own GarageBand demos don’t sound an eighth as polished or pristine as this undeniable banger in the making. Check out Tangerine’s 2018 White Dove EP for more spirited, contemplative pop.

Jacqueline Zeisloft on February 24, 2019
Glassio - Age of Experience

Glassio - Age of Experience


Glassio has been a long love for The Wild Honey Pie. Recently, we released a Buzzsession of the band performing, “Weight Of The World II,” a dazzling song about coming to terms with one’s place in the world after a loss. Glassio can take a concept that we have seen elsewhere, and add musical technicality that elevates the idea of the song to a different and engaging new reality. This is what Glassio has done with their song, “Age of Experience.” The hook, “I wanted to be apart/ be apart of it/ in the New York/ New York,” is a concept we have heard before. Moving to the big apple and making something of yourself is something that we can all deeply relate to. Glassio has created a sonic landscape in this song which encapsulates the feeling you have when finally learning a subway route, or learning the name of the cashier at your bodega, or going to a concert and recognizing the venue. By manipulating his voice to sound more like a chorus than a single person, he is recognizing the multiplicity of living in NYC, of engaging with yourself and those around you constantly, sometimes curtly and sometimes kindly. I would recommend this song to anyone who has a even a whisper of this experience, and allow the music to take you out of your head and into the streets. 

Samantha Weisenthal on February 22, 2019
Flaural - The Thinker

Flaural - The Thinker


With the announcement of their debut album coming in April, Flaural releases the first single off of the record. "The Thinker" is a glimpse into the world of these Denver-based psych-rockers. The band comes back to us after years of being away from the scene, giving us an aptly titled record Postponement to look forward to.  Flaural's blend of psychedelic and rock feels organic — a balance that has found it's true equilibrium.  Lead singer Collin Johnson wrote "The Thinker" and essentially the album as a tribute to his late father, who passed away after suffering from ALS. Beyond the initial feeling of eutrophic bliss, is grief and an ode to the unsettlement that death brings. “Nobody likes when you’re not well / Come up, come up, and feel better now.,” he sings. The well-rounded song ends in a swarm of electricity the idea of just laying it all out — the good, the bad and the unanswered.

Dara Bankole on February 22, 2019
Jessica Pratt - This Time Around

Jessica Pratt - This Time Around


Soothing songbird Jessica Pratt is at her best on “This Time Around,” the sixth track on her new album, Quiet Signs. It’s aptly titled; quiet has always been the place where Pratt is most comfortable, and “This Time Around” is no exception. When she sings, her hazy falsetto sits barely above a whisper, and the vocal echo effect feels like something out of a dream. When she strums the same few chords of her guitar, hypnotically rhythmic in its repetition, her movements are tight and deliberate. Even the synth, beautiful and nostalgic, weaves its way through the verses unobtrusively. It’s a quietly contained sound that forces the listener to pay attention by being soft, and it’s a skill Pratt has mastered on this album. Listen to “This Time Around” at night by candlelight to best capture the intimate mood it demands.

Britnee Meiser on February 21, 2019
Hounded (feat. Panama) - Hollow

Hounded (feat. Panama) - Hollow


On his newest single “Hollow,” Sydney-based producer Hounded breaks down the dichotomy between joy and melancholia by merging a colorful arrangement of multi-layered hooks with the haunting vocals of Panama. This is some of  Hounded’s best production work to date. His sonics are upbeat and lush, blending vibrant synths and smooth keys with a pop-style percussion that builds in momentum until it culminates in a lively chorus. The pulse of the song is a direct contrast to Panama’s quivering vocal and moody lyrics, but that’s why it works so well; listeners who relate to Panama’s lyrics about a bad love affair can dance away the pain to Hounded’s euphoric melodies. “Hollow” is a song that transcends mood and genre. You can’t help but feel good after you listen to it.

Britnee Meiser on February 21, 2019
Justus Proffit - Painted in The Sound

Justus Proffit - Painted in The Sound


“Painted In The Sound” is a blissed-out head banger of a single from indie folk artist Justus Proffit. The track is off of Proffit’s upcoming album L.A.’s Got Me Down, out March 8 from Bar None Records, and it explores the tumultuous depths of the singer’s love-hate relationship with Los Angeles, the city in which he was born and raised. The track’s groovy, sunny guitars paired with Proffit’s crooning vocals might remind listeners of Real Estate, or perhaps Elliott Smith in his Heatmiser days. His blatant desire to get loud comes through in all the best ways, like the carefree crashing of the hi-hat in the choral drums or the uplifting rhythm of the electric guitar, but the controlled, even production proves Proffit is a master in the studio. “Painted In The Sound” is an ode to garage-rock that should reassure fans of his 2018 EP with Jay Som that the best is yet to come.

Britnee Meiser on February 20, 2019

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