Tuesday Tunes--November 15, 2016
Shaun Cordingley
I think we are all feeling a little all over the place this past week, so this week's Tuesday Tunes definitely reflects that, but that does mean that there I am almost sure that there is something that everyone will jam on this week, whether you're a fan of folk, electro-pop, or even Oasis-inspired Brit-Rock.
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.
Mindful - Tow'rs
Flagstaff, Arizona's soft-spoken indie quartet Tow'rs leads off Tuesday Tunes this week with their peaceful folk track "Mindful". What I really appreciate about Tow'rs' music is that they take a special interest in storytelling; the band takes great care in crafting their lyrics into a thoughtful song, like "Mindful" that is made all the better for the well-balanced harmonies, and a simple, string and a acoustic heavy piece of indie folk that you just need to let wash over you.
I first hear "Mindful" while I was sitting on a bench in a soft, autumn rain, watching the river go by, and it was one of the best feelings I have had when first hearing a chill, indie folk song that I have experienced in a long time.
Afterglow - Bird Passengers
Indie Electro-pop trio Bird Passengers returns this week (having originally popped up on Tuesday Tunes back in April) with the endlessly addictive "Afterglow" off of their most recent EP Brave the Dark. This is all about the combination of the strings with the synth/rhythm section for me; the juxtaposition of the musical energy with Bird Passengers' whispery lead vocals by Caleb Loveless is addictive (I actually found myself singing along to "Afterglow" during the first play, which is super rare for me).
If you like electro-pop, and excellent production, you are going to love "Afterglow", Brave the Dark, and Bird Passengers.
Falling Into Skies - Queue
"Falling Into Skies" by DC-based indie rock band Queue is both eclectic, and familiar, but wholly new. I definitely draw connections of Temper Trap, with a weird...almost Fleetwood Mac feeling (that I cannot really describe, meaning it might just be me...) from Queue, although it's pretty hard to really categorize them completely. "Falling Into Skies" is a song that progresses thanks in large part to the expectation of an energetic burst, that never really materializes, leaving you in a sort of mid-tempo, tranquil indie rock dreamscape...
Check out Queue's EP Frames which dropped earlier this summer for more, really excellent, and diverse sounding indie rock; I particularly like "More".
Grand Canyon - The Wind and the Wave
Austin's indie rock duo The Wind and The Wave is perhaps better known than many artists I talk about on Tuesday Tunes, as their music has been used on TV etc., but with the release of their second album just last month, Happiness Is Not a Place, have produced a couple of upbeat and fun tracks (that still feature Patty Lynn's thoughtful, raw, and personal vocals/lyrics), and my favourite has got to be "Grand Canyon". Honestly, I have had this song on repeat for the better part of half an hour: it's catchy, fun, and...honestly I think Lynn describes it the best (via their website, linked above):
“’Grand Canyon’ is about my brother,” she says. “I almost lost him to a major car accident a few years ago. To me the song is about the ability to appreciate what’s in front of you and not take the things that matter most for granted. Yes, life has a lot of shit, but can you try to find a way to be happy before it’s all over, seemingly in the blink of an eye.”
If this is your first introduction to The Wind and the Wave, I definitely suggest checking out both Happiness Is Not a Place, and their first album From the Wreckage (2014) to really get a sense of what Lynn and Dwight Baker have been up to: it's quite a range of genres, from blues rock, to folk, to a little wander into psychedelia, and they make all of it their own.
Charlemagne - Blossoms
Greater Manchester's Blossoms is what I would imagine Oasis would've sounded like if they had come out in the 1970s--in "Charlemagne", Blossoms have taken an excellent snyth hook, and combined it with a near-soul bass line and the best parts of Brit-Rock into one spectacular package.
Honestly, "Charlemagne" is just one of those tracks that you need to hear, and I want to hear more of over here--their debut album, Blossoms dropped this August and reached #1 on the English and Scottish charts, but I had to go digging to find them...
Just this past week, Blossoms released an Extended Edition of Blossoms with even more fun, indie Brit-Rock goodness: be sure to check it out.
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.
See you again next Tuesday with five more Tuesday Tunes!
-S (@Shauncord)