“Kerosene” by Pat Byrne – A Song Feature

 

     Our interpretation of the message of “Kerosene” is that the lyrics reference the tendency of society to scorch our dreams and dictate behavioral expectations, particularly if a person’s dreams reside in the arts. But the single from Pat Byrne recommends moving forward regardless. Specifically, the lyrics instruct “Draw a line in the sand // Get up make a stand.” [Those instructions reminded us of a favorite from 2012 – “Taking Alcatraz” by Field Report is included in this post.)
 
     Pat Byrne has a voice that is well tailored for storytelling, much like Jason Isbell. Byrne is an Ireland born-and-raised vocalist/songwriter who now calls Austin, Texas, his home. “Kerosene” is from his recently released album “Into the Light.” The appealing pedal steel guitar on the single is played by Joshua Grange.
 
     “Kerosene” by Pat Byrne

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatByrneOfficial/

\Website: https://patbyrne-music.com/

Bandcamp: https://patbyrne.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “Kerosene” by Pat Byrne
She struggles with anxiety
She’s a product of society
Talks about it all in her poetry.
Poetry’s her lifeblood
But it’s always so misunderstood
People say it’s bad, she knows it’s good.
She knows that it’s good.
 
Harry’s got a new dream
Says he’s gonna make it on the big screen
If he’s a movie star, then I’m the queen.
He’s always on the backfoot
Listens to the whispers in the neighborhood
People say he can’t, he knows he could
He knows that he could.
 
So, throw away another journal
Don’t stray outside the circle,
Who do you think you are?
Get your head out the stars
You’re crippled by another feeling
Staring at another ceiling
Weep it away, night turns to day,
Find your something to say.
 
You didn’t act like they told you
Didn’t love who you’re supposed to
Someday the devil’s gonna get you.
And there’s no time for laughter
No time for happy ever after
When people wanna own you.
People wanna own you.
 
Here comes the cavalry
In waves of depravity
Coming for you, turning the screw.
To sniff out the blasphemy
Broken scales of morality
Draw a line in the sand,
Get up, make a stand.
Take your place with the damned.
 
You’ve still got the big dreams?
Still think you’ll make it on the silver screen?
We’ll smother that all in Kerosene.

     “Taking Alcatraz” by Field Report

“Lonely” by The Gardenwall – A Song Feature

 

     “Lonely” begins misleadingly. The early indication is that the song from The Gardenwall is synth-heavy and likely guitar-light. Yes, a guitar hits the speakers, but it’s not played in a Rock fashion; maybe Shoegaze. There isn’t a signal that “Lonely” is instrumentally driven by percussion and layered duo guitars, accompanying energized and energizing vocals. It’s a triumph of reality over perception.
 

     The Gardenwall was formed mid-pandemic by three friends, with two in Canada and the other living in Hollywood, California. The Canadian residents are Domenic Orsi (guitar, synth) and Steve Casco (drums). Sam Laponis (vocals, guitar) is the California resident. So, the writing process for “Lonely” was challenging, but they were determined to make a song as an aid to get out of a negative headspace. They were only able to send audio files back and forth during the months of the pandemic, without seeing each other face to face. Creating the music video presented other issues.

     “Lonely” by The Gardenwall

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegardenwallmusic/

“Wake Up” by Jessie Reid – A Song Feature

 

      “Wake Up” runs parallel to today’s early post of “Where The Monsters Live” by Freight Train Foxes. Both are vocals-driven singles that feature acoustic guitar. Both save the most beautiful and invigorating segment for a conclusion that features an emotion-invoking string instrument. And in both songs, a crescendo carries the listener into the beauty of the conclusion. A difference is that the crescendo of Jessie Reid’s “Wake Up” is driven by a piano.
 
     Jessie Reid is a Folk vocalist/songwriter in the UK. Quoting her Bandcamp bio:
 “Jessie Reid’s folk-influenced, percussive fingerstyle guitar playing has drawn comparisons with the likes of Ben Howard, Lucy Rose and Nick Mulvey. Jessie was shortlisted for the Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition and has travelled as far as New York and Brazil in the promotion of singles."
 
     “Wake Up” by Jessie Reid

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessiereidmusic
Bandcamp: https://jessiereid1.bandcamp.com/ 

Lyrics of “Wake Up” by Jessie Reid
I know now, the fire in your heart’s burnt out again
No room for doubts
We’ve come to far from home.
 
Empty hearts weren’t meant to grow for me
Take my hand, help me understand
How it’s meant to be
 
Wake up with a face of thunder
Wake up with you never tellin’ me why
The harder we try the closer we get to goodbye
[Repeat]
 
Wake up now
Time to take down some of those guards for me
Speak out loud
Tell me what you need from me
 
Empty hearts weren’t meant to grow for me
Take my hand, help me understand
How it’s meant to be
 
Wake up with a face of thunder
Wake up with you never tellin’ me why
The harder we try the closer we get to goodbye
[Repeat]
[Crescendo]
 
Wake up with a face of thunder
Wake up with you never tellin’ me why
The harder we try the closer we get to goodbye
[Repeat]

“Where The Monsters Live” by Freight Train Foxes – A Song Feature

 

      The full beauty of “Where The Monsters Live” isn’t revealed until the final 30 seconds (beginning at 3:12), when the vocal lushness peaks and the cello is in full bloom. The song from Freight Train Foxes is attractive throughout, but particularly during the conclusion.
 
     Freight Train Foxes are Pat Kenny and Kelsey Berrington in Brisbane, Australia. Kenny was an Army Officer before making an abrupt switch to songwriting, while Berrington had a background as a circus performer before switching to music full-time. The pair met fortuitously at a Brisbane open mic and began writing songs together. “Where The Monsters Live” is on their EP “Cardboard Satellites.”
 
     “Where The Monsters Live” by Freight Train Foxes

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freighttrainfoxes/

 

“Clockwork” by Lime Garden – A Song Feature

 

     Lime Garden created a vibe that achieves their goal of simulating repetitiveness and drudgery while still crafting a single that is energizing – not an easily accomplished musical task. The vocals are almost detached from the lyrical message, which goes so far as to incorporate sarcasm in the “yippee” interjection, “I guess I’m romanticizing nothing // Yet again what fun, yippee.” Singer Chloe Howard explained:
   “‘Clockwork’ was written at a time when we were feeling trapped in the cycle of our everyday lives. We wanted to capture that sense of being caught in a continuous loop where emotions sometimes lead us to a dark and frantic mindset.”
 
       “Clockwork” utilizes strong bass and interesting percussion to generate a feel of forward movement in a song that is based on repetition. The press materials state that “Clockwork” spins a harder edge on growing up, laying out the modern anxieties surrounding impending adulthood. Howard said “We’ve grown up being in this band at this time. Somewhat losing that naïve childlike feeling of expecting to feel on top of the world every day”.
 
     Lime Garden is a UK band. The members are Chloe Howard (vocals, synth, guitar), Leila Deeley (lead guitar), Tippi Morgan (bass) and Annabel Whittle (drums).

     “Clockwork” by Lime Garden

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/limegardenband

 

Lyrics of “Clockwork” by Lime Garden
Wear my crown round a desolate town
Holding onto situations that can’t be seen or found
It’s like clockwork
The way my head hurts
Thinking back on better days
And maybe changing up my ways
 
It’s like clockwork
Don’t you think?
Circles round my head
The ticking time bomb
Keeps me out of bed
 
It’s like clockwork,
Can’t you see?
I guess I’m romanticizing nothing
Yet again what fun, yippee
 
Found out by now
Now the trickling sound
Is a visualized adjustment
Of my inner few pounds
 
It’s like clockwork
The way my head hurts
Thinking back on how we used to laugh
And even sometimes play
 
It’s like clockwork
Don’t you think?
Circles round my head
The ticking time bomb
Keeps me out of bed
 
 
It’s like clockwork,
Can’t you see?
I guess I’m romanticizing nothing
Yet again what fun, yippee
 
Wear my crown
Wear my crown
Wear my crown
Wear my crown
 
It’s like clockwork
Don’t you think?
Circles round my head
The ticking time bomb
Keeps me out of bed
 
It’s like clockwork,
Can’t you see?
I guess I’m romanticizing nothing
Yet again what fun, yippee
 
It’s like clockwork
Don’t you think?
Circles round my head
The ticking time bomb
Keeps me out of bed
 
It’s like clockwork,
Can’t you see?
I guess I’m romanticizing nothing
Yet again what fun will, yippee
 
It’s like clockwork, don’t you think?
It’s like clockwork
It’s like clockwork, don’t you think?
It’s like clockwork, it’s like
It’s like clockwork, it’s like
It’s like clockwork, it’s like
It’s like clockwork, it’s like
It’s like clockwork, it’s like

It's like clockwork

"Hometown" by Sea Girls – A Song Feature

 

     With their release of “Hometown,” Sea Girls add to their already formidable list of songs that are well-suited to shape the band as a favorite of gig-goers. The song features power vocals and a procession of guitar hooks and riffs. Sea Girls are a guitar band with vocals that are somewhere between those of The Killers and U2. “Hometown” is more aligned with The Killers, but with a touch of Gang of Youths.  
 
     Almost two years ago, Indie Obsessive chronicled the significance of age 17 in the lyrics of Rock songs. “Hometown” salutes the significance in the second line with the insight “Nothing feels real when you're seventeen” (the lyrics are included in this post). The song nostalgically revisits youth, with the verses being packed with relatable circumstances and the chorus bringing force.
 
     “Hometown” is a revisit to a hometown that has been left behind, similar to "Small Town" by John Cougar Mellencamp and “My Little Town” by Simon and Garfunkel, while referencing young intimacy less vividly than Bob Seger’s “Night Moves.” All four of the songs are lyrically interesting because the description is relatable. Frontman Henry Camamile explains:
   “‘Hometown’ is one of the most important songs I've written. It defines my philosophy. While writing songs for the new album, I had this intense love for life. Hometown is about people I knew growing up that aren't around anymore. I'm saying ‘I see you’ - it’s a nod to them. I'm grateful for life and I am not going to jeopardise it in any way.”
 
          UK-based Sea Girls are Henry Camamile (vocals, guitar), Rory Young (guitar), Andrew Dawson (bass), and Oli Khan (drums). “Hometown” is a single from the band’s upcoming album ‘Homesick,” which is scheduled for release on January 14, 2022 via Polydor Records. Co-producing the album are Larry Hibbitt and Grammy Award winning producers Jacknife Lee, Jonny Coffer and Cass Lowe. Henry Camamile said:
   “Imagine us locked down in the studio in rainy Brixton working with the producers remotely on the album in California’s Topanga Canyon. That clashing of worlds is the sound of this record, the DNA. Making an album this way, remotely and 5000 miles apart, was a crazy idea and shouldn’t have worked, but it did.”
    
     "Hometown" by Sea Girls

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonicseagirls/
Website: https://www.seagirls.net/

 

Lyrics of "Hometown" by Sea Girls
Lemonade, ripped jeans
Nothing feels real when you're seventeen
I remember it always
Were you up for it always
You'll stay there and we'll move on
You'll never learn the words to my new songs
I remember you always
Were you up for it always
 
On summer days, when winter bites
Especially on nights like tonight
 
In our hometown your old man's singing
His heart out to Sinatra swinging
That's life and Tuesday's gloomy
On Fridays a school friend's using
But I don't want to die
And I'll meet you there, but it won't be tonight
'Cause I'm alright, I'm alright living
We're alright and it's just beginning
 
New Year's Day, going home
I threw up my guts while you kissed someone
I remember it always
Were you up for it always
She's older now, she's really fit
She'll always be the last girl you kissed
She'll remember it always
Were you up for it always
 
On summer days, when winter bites
Especially on nights like tonight
 
In our hometown your old man's singing
His heart out to Sinatra swinging
That's life and Tuesday's gloomy
On Fridays a school friend's using
But I don't want to die
And I'll meet you there but it won't be tonight
'Cause I'm alright, I'm alright living
We're alright and it's just beginning
 
I learnt to swim with you
I went to school with you
I learnt to drive before you
And I got high with you
I watched you lose your way
And I just walked away
I watched your nose bleed out
We didn't talk 'cause it wasn't cool to talk about
 
In our hometown your old man's singing
His heart out to Sinatra swinging
That's life and Tuesday's gloomy
On Fridays a school friend's using
But I don't want to die
And I'll meet you there but it won't be tonight
'Cause I'm alright, I'm alright living
We're alright and it's just beginning
I'm alright, I'm alright living
We're alright and it's just beginning

Boywithuke – An Artist Feature

     If Milky Chance were to become adept at the ukulele as a featured instrument, adopt the U.S. in favor of its home country of Germany, and adapt its the compositional style accordingly, the band would be Boywithuke. After making a major splash on TikTok, the footprint of Boywithuke is now expanding, despite the low profile he personally maintains. That is, not much is known about the man, but his music is gaining in popularity. 

 

      Like Milky Chance, Boywithuke is skilled at infusing various genre influences into appealing Folktronica. His state corporate filing indicates that he is based in Massachusetts, about 40 miles from Boston. He (Charly Yang) describes himself as “Just a boy with a ukulele.” In June, he released the album “Fever Dream,” which he produced using GarageBand on a used iPad. Now, he is following the album with the release of “Toxic.”

 
     “Toxic” by Boywithuke 

 
      “Two Moons” by Boywithuke

Lyrics of “Toxic” by Boywithuke
All my friends are toxic, all ambitionless
So rude and always negative
I need new friends, but it's not that quick and easy
Oh, I'm drowning, let me breathe
 
I'm better off all by myself
Though I'm feeling kinda empty without somebody else
Oh, I hear you crying out for help
But you never showed for me when I was ringing your cell phone
Oh, you don't know how it feels to be alone
Baby, oh, I'll make you know, I'll make you know, oh
 
(Oh, I'm drowning, let me breathe)
(I'm drowning, let me breathe)
(Oh, I'm drowning, let me breathe)
(I'm drowning, let me breathe)
 
But life is immaculate, backing it up a bit
Countin' my hours and knocking on wood
Avoiding my opposites, chewing on chocolate
Had a bit limited time, but I should
Be good for a minute, don't want to admit it
I'm running on seconds, I'm rigid, I'm screwed
Don't know what to do, I'm thinking of you
I'm drinking up bottles and bottles of booze
 
I'm better off all by myself
Though I'm feeling kinda empty without somebody else
Oh, I hear you crying out for help
But you never showed for me when I was ringing your cell phone
Oh, you don't know how it feels to be alone
Baby, oh, I'll make you know, I'll make you know, oh
 
I fell into your river
That's where you told me lies
You said that I'd feel better
But this is where good guys die
You took my pride away
But you cannot take my light
I'll find another way out
But now you're taking my life
Don't you see how I—
 
I'm better off all by myself
Though I'm feeling kinda empty without somebody else
Oh, I hear you crying out for help
But you never showed for me when I was ringing your cell phone
Oh, you don't know how it feels to be alone
Baby, oh, I'll make you know, I'll make you know, oh
I'm better off all by myself
Though I'm feeling kinda empty without somebody else
Oh, I hear you crying out for help
But you never showed for me when I was ringing your cell phone
Oh, you don't know how it feels to be alone
Baby, oh, I'll make you know, I'll make you know, oh

Lyrics of “Two Moons” by Boywithuke
Two moons, I can feel myself start catching on fire
You knew, yeah you kept it to yourself, to yourself
Two moons, I get lost on my way searching for liars
This ain't good for my health, no this ain't good for my health
 
Sorry, please excuse me for my mess
My heart's been pouring through my chest
I fell through corridors of broken floors
I'm sorry that I left
 
Fell asleep in my new bed
I can't feel happy in my head
I see two moons and nothing more
I close my door
I'm left with less
 
I don't feel serene (yeah)
No, I don't feel too clean (ohh)
And I don't want to be the one to make you cry
On plain sight, I'll start a fight
I'll tell your friends that I lost my mind
And it'll take a while but I'll start to smile
Broke your windows and broken tiles
Frozen willows, we'll go for miles
Hope we'll let go, yeah, that's a start
And you don't know where my soul's headed
And I'm forgetting you so I’ll say
 
Sorry, please excuse me for my mess
My heart's been pouring through my chest
I fell through corridors of broken floors
I'm sorry that I left
 
Fell asleep in my new bed
I can't feel happy in my head
I see two moons and nothing more
I close my door
I'm left with less
 
Left, right, my eye's sight is diminishing
My life sucks at night I try to finish it
Early, pearly, whites get blurry
Surely I'll go bite the dirty dust
Cuts deeper as my head goes nuts
I'll be a believer if I ever see trust
I must be disgusting rust
God, I hate myself
I just wanna unplug
 
Yeah, fuck no
I go where I want to
But I'm stuck in my bedroom
I'm telling lies to keep myself
From hurting those around you
Yeah, after all these years I found you
I found you…. again
 
Sorry, please excuse me for my mess
My heart's been pouring through my chest
I fell through corridors of broken floors
I'm sorry that I left
 
Fell asleep in my new bed
I can't feel happy in my head
I see two moons and nothing more
I close my door
I'm left with less