Thursday, March 28, 2024

"We're Lost" by Little Oil – A Song Feature

 

     The initial 21 seconds of “We’re Lost” share the tonal personality and charm of the guitars in The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” despite the melodies being fundamentally different. Then, the complexity and skillfulness of the instrumentation leap forward into the second part of the intro of Little Oil’s song. This two-part introduction establishes high expectations, and the entrance of an engagingly distinctive voice only serves to raise the bar higher.
 
     Still, there is more to the appeal of the song than guitar and vocals. Shortly before the one-minute mark, the harmonica enters with a warmth and elegance that aren’t inherent to that instrument. Similarly, “We’re Lost” showcases the ukulele played with the adroitness that isn’t typical.
 
     Victor Mitrani records under the performance name Little Oil. While talking about “We’re Lost,” he explained, “Very pretty finger-picked folk tune at least initially inspired by an attempt and ultimate failure, at moderation. Getting lost on a whim and paying the ultimate price for it.
 
     “We’re Lost” is a song from the album “Twelve Songs,” which was released on March 28, 2024, on Fountain Tapes Label. On the album, multi-instrumentalist songwriter Victor Mitrani is the vocalist and plays guitar, bass, piano, harmonica, ukulele, and percussion, although Mike DeVito provides the bass for “We’re Lost.” “Twelve Songs” is available via the Bandcamp site of Little Oil – CLICK HERE.

     Mitrani was born in Mexico City, but Little Oil is now based in the San Francisco Bay Area (Richmond, California). He is described as “A lover of Punk, Classic Rock, Indie, and old time Country & Blues; his music is a voodoo brew that sounds both familiar but fresh and original.”
 
     "We're Lost" by Little Oil
Lyrics of "We're Lost" by Little Oil
Just a little and I want it
Put my head in the light socket
 
It was easy to fly
After so long
Oh even I can't see
That I'm lost
 
Dumped the river of ice on it
Burnt that bridge but I'm still on it
 
It was easy to sigh
After so long
Oh even I can't see
That I'm lost
 
Just a little and I want it
Put my head in the light socket
 
It was easy to die
After so long
Oh even I can't see
That we're lost
 
Lost, lost, lost, lost
Lost. Lost, lost, lost
 

Friday, March 22, 2024

“In My Kingdom” by The Bogmen – A Song Feature

     "In My Kingdom" offers a rare fusion of sophistication and unfettered entertainment. It possesses the ability to grab the attention of listeners, urging them to prioritize checking out The Bogmen's tour schedule immediately; the song encapsulates everything that makes a favorite among gig-goers. It's intelligent yet uncomplicated, and is substantial yet exuberant and full of life. It's akin to a 1960s muscle car that can kick into another gear (or two) even after seemingly reaching its peak performance. Those extra gears are engaged after the three-minute mark of “In My Kingdom.”
 
     The Bogmen begin the song with a recipe for Utopia. Initially, the thought might be that it’s similar to John Lennon’s “Imagine.” But “In My Kingdom” doesn’t imagine that there’s no religion. To the contrary, the intro lists personalities from various faiths whose advice would be valued, although not necessarily for their views on theology. Moreover, there is a King; however, “In my kingdom, everyone would be King for a day.” Still, this potential Utopia has no law, since there isn’t a need.
 
     The band was originally formed in 1990 by lead singer Billy Campion and bothers Billy and Brendan Ryan. By 1992, bassist Mark Wike, percussionist P.J. O’Connor, and drummer Clive Tucker were added. The Bogmen disbanded in 1998. But they are now working toward an album release in May. “In My Kingdom” is the title track. The album can be pre-ordered at via Bandcamp https://thebogmen1.bandcamp.com/album/in-my-kingdom. The Bandcamp site explains:
   This is the first ever vinyl release by The Bogmen! Written in the heart of the pandemic as a way of coping with the loss of a good friend as well as being inspired by the unusual circumstances of the world being shut down - In My Kingdom, has everything fans of The Bogmen love about them, it is melody driven, poetic and seamlessly goes from sounding old-timey and rootsy to orchestrated and electronic, Americana with an ethnic flare, lyrical themes of grief, love, rebirth and transcendence through imagination, populated by old friends, animals and colorful mythological characters yet intensely personal so people can relate to it.”
 
     Bandcamp also lists credits. Clive Tucker and Mark Wike contribute to songs on the album, but the primary contributors are:
  Billy Campion: lead vocals, guitar, baritone ukulele
  Brendan Ryan: keyboards, accordion, trumpet
  Billy Ryan: guitars, mandolin, banjo, backing vocals
  P.J. O’Connor: percussion, backing vocals
  Paul Frazier: bass, backing vocals
  Mathias Bossi: drums, omnichord, marxophone     
 
     The official video for the title track is almost as entertaining as the song itself. Interesting information about the video includes:
   “The animated music video ‘In My Kingdom’ was created by Jack Powell (Opus Thimble, Hot Mustard). Musically, the song is classically Bogmen-ian, but could be considered a bold proclamation in today’s fractured times - a message of inclusion that reminds us of our universal desire for openness and kindness, one that illuminates a path forward. A path to the sacred, precious and always hard-earned love, compassion and understanding that has characterized The Bogmen’s music for more than 30 years.”
   “Jack Powell created a hypnagogic video by extracting album artist Gregory Stovetop’s artwork and turning it into animation. Campion and I discussed various religious iconographic images, natural and spiritual concepts with Gregory, as well as, like the Star Wars Bar, were all a little freaky and different. He nailed it with the album art and Jack took his work, ran with it to create this amazing phantasmic video.”- Billy Ryan


Wednesday, March 20, 2024

“Close Enough” by Stress Dolls – A Song Feature

 

      “Close Enough” embraces dualities, notably in the vocals and the lyrics. The lead vocals convey an emotional vulnerability with a passionate fearlessness in a vocal register that invites listeners to join. In comparison, the song from Stress Dolls is sprinkled with an almost angelic declaration of “I can’t keep running” in a challenging-to-join, high-register voice, where vulnerability resides in the voice, rather than the words. It’s an impressive combination from Chelsea O'Donnell.
 
     When initially focusing on the lyrics (included in this post), “Close Enough” comes across as a confession of the devotion to a romantic interest. There is a warmth in relating to the desirability of the romantic attachment, assuming it’s a mutual attraction. Then, reading the Stress Dolls’ explanation of the lyrics increases the relatability, but destroys the warmth. Celsea O'Donnell says that the song was primarily motivated by the isolation most of us experiencd during the “Covid lockdown:”
   I wrote ‘Close Enough’ in the midst of the pandemic, a period where I didn’t see some of the people who mattered most to me for weeks at a time. On a subconscious level I think that inspired the lyrics in the chorus about being “close enough” to someone, but the other half was me thinking about the process of falling in love, and how you can be so wrapped up in another person that, no matter how physically and emotionally close you are to them (“even if you were a part of me/ even if you were alive in me”), it doesn’t feel like enough to express how you feel.”
 
     The credits for “Close Enough identify O’Donnell as the providing guitar and the vocals. Other contributors are Sean Dougherty (additional guitars), Jim Wirt (bass), and Jacob Kirkwood (drums and synth). The song was produced by Jim Wirt, whose past credits include Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin, Fiona Apple, and Incubus. It's the fourth single from my upcoming album “Queen of No.” The album is coming out on Sun Pedal Recordings in May 2024.
 
     Stress Dolls is the moniker of Chelsea O'Donnell, a songwriter from Buffalo, New York. The band takes on several forms, including solo O’Donnell and a performance-ready “full” band.
 
     “Close Enough” by Stress Dolls

Lyrics of “Close Enough” by Stress Dolls
I can’t keep running
I can’t keep running
So we walk, we walk, we’re straddling the line
Between our thoughts and biding too much time
 
I can’t keep running
I can’t keep running
 
Stand down demons, we’re breaking even
I’ll give you my word if you hand me the knife
Twisting shoulders, we’re all getting older
 
So we walk, we walk, we’re straddling the line
Between our thoughts and biding too much time
And even if you were a part of me it would never be
Never be close enough
 
So we walk, we walk, we’re straddling the line
Between our thoughts and biding too much time
And even if you were alive in me it would never be
Never be close enough
 
Waiting softly, for someone to save me
It feels so wrong now but once I felt it was right
It only takes a second for us all to figure out
That no one’s coming and that’s what it’s all about
 
So we walk, we walk, we’re straddling the line
Between our thoughts and biding too much time
And even if you were a part of me it would never be
Never be close enough
 
So we walk, we walk, we’re straddling the line
Between our thoughts and biding too much time
And even if you were alive in me it would never be
Never be close enough
 
I can’t keep running
No I, I can’t keep, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t…
 
And even if you were alive in me it would never be
Never be close enough