Monday, March 31, 2025

“All Of Us” by Sam Roberts Band - A Song Feature

 
     Thankfully, the Indiesphere offers second chances to music lovers. Sam Roberts Band recently “reimaged” the title track from their album “All Of Us.” While the original 2020 version of the song is praiseworthy, this alternative take is captivating. The reimagining slows the tempo, better exposing the song’s sentiment and poetry in its “you’re not alone” message. Most notably, the recurring chorus features a rip-current harmony that pulls the listener willingly deeper into the song’s emotion.

     Instrumentally, the piano takes center stage in the reimagined version of “All of Us.” Its unhurried dignity complements elegance of the vocals, and provides a contrast with the power percussion entering around the 1:20 mark. The guitar has a lesser role than during the original version of “All Of Us,” but retains its appeal.
 
     “All Of Us” is one of the ten tracks on the album “Frequencies,” which is digital available on all of the popular platforms (see https://samrobertsband.ffm.to/frequencies). Vinyl and CD opportunities are scheduled for availability on June 13, 2025.
 
     Sam Roberts Band is based in Montréal, Canada. The band is comprised of guitarist and vocalist Sam Roberts, lead guitarist Dave Nugent, keyboardist Eric Fares, bassist James Hall, and drummer Josh Trager. “All Of You” was reimagined by fellow Montréaler Liam O’Neil (The Stills, Kings of Leon). Sam Roberts Band have been nominated for an incredible 14 Junos, winning six along the Sam Roberts Band have been nominated for an incredible 14 Junos, winning six along the way, and 14 MuchMusic Video Awards, taking home five.
 
     “All Of Us” by Sam Roberts Band
Lyrics of “All Of Us” by Sam Roberts Band
This ship is taking on water
Looks like the ocean
Is calling back her daughter
To the deep again
 
The kids out on the corner
They're making waves again
Another new world order
We need saving again
 
Where you go, I’ll go
No you’ll never be alone
Even when you lose hope
Waiting for a miracle
I will follow you
To the end of the road
No, you’ll never be alone
 
When the earth sounds hollow
Under your feet again
And when your heartbeat echoes
And skips a beat again
As the whole world trembles
On every street again
When your spirit stumbles
Come look for me again
 
Where you go, I’ll go
No, you’ll never be alone
Even when you lose hope
Waiting for a miracle
I will follow you
To the end of the road
Where you go, I’ll go
No, you’ll never be alone
 
I will follow you
To the end of the road
No, you’ll never be alone
 
Waiting for something to happen
Maybe a miracle
I took a look in the mirror
I swear I saw a ghost
I think I hear heaven knocking
It’s knocking on my door
Wonder what all of the fuss is?
Maybe we’ll never know
 
This is all of us, this is all of us,
Someone call the bluff
Bombs in the supermarket
This is all of us, this is all of us
It’s never enough
And we don’t want to talk about it
 
This is all of us, this is all of us,
Someone call the bluff
Bombs in the supermarket
This is all of us, this is all of us
 
Where you go, I’ll go
No, you’ll never be alone
Even when you lose hope
Waiting for a miracle
I will follow you
To the end of the road
Where you go, I’ll go
So you’ll never be alone
 
Where you go, I go
No you’ll never be alone
Even when you lose hope
Waiting for a miracle
I will follow you
To the end of the road
Then, you’ll never be alone
 
No, you’ll never be alone

Monday, March 17, 2025

“Chemicals” by Giant Hand – A Song Feature

 
    Even before knowledge of the emotionally stirring backstory of “Chemicals,” there is a strong draw to the release from Giant Hand. The verses of the song have a melodic bounce that is discarded when the vocals are slowed and opened to reverb, which first occurs with the phrase “Slow me down.” Does the reverb processing and slowed pace indicate the influences of chemicals?  The frame of mind is certainly different – at 1:02, the bounce-characterized verse states “Just keep on keeping on, and I’ll be okay,” which leads to the more dream-like, but less upbeat, statement “Well, I’m not okay.” Similar to other well-crafted songs, “Chemicals” allows personalized interpretations as to the meaning. 
 
     Still, knowledge of the explanation of the story behind “Chemicals” enhances its poignancy. Giant Hand is the performance name of Kirk Ramsay, who battles chronic physical pain from internal quirks, each year getting worse. Ramsay was originally not supposed to live past the age of three. He wrote “Chemicals” as a representation of the attempt to balance the internal and external risks around him while searching for a way to just be at peace in the moment. 
 
     “Chemicals” is a feature from an upcoming EP, “Oh, Hello Apocalypse!,” which is scheduled for release on April 11, 2025. The EP from the Canada-based (Toronto, Ontario) artist has been described as “an unflinching look at existential dread wrapped in a full-blown drone-gospel, indie-rock orchestra, crafted in the shadow of a world on the brink.” “Oh, Hello Apocalypse!” grapples with the weight of the world’s impending collapse as well as the weight of Ramsay’s health. 
 
     In the past, Ramsay has shared stages with Daniel Johnston, Chad VanGaalen, Handsome Furs, and Sam Amidon. 
 
     “Chemicals” by Giant Hand 

Friday, March 14, 2025

“Dying In The Moment” by FNF – A Song Feature

 

     The intro of the song from FNF is reminiscent of 1960s Psychedelia, and most particularly the Beatles’ processing during “Tomorrow Never Knows,” which is on the “Revolver” album. Following the intro “Dying In The Moment” launches into the band’s twist on the sound of The 1975 - the heavy drumming is a clear improvement. Then, during the chorus, the shouts of “Oh, oh, oh, oh” have a feel of Walk the Moon.
 
      FNF is from Portsmouth, UK. In talking about “Dying In The Moment”, they explained, “We wrote this song about being stuck inside your own head.”
 
     “Dying In The Moment by FNF
Lyrics of “Dying In The Moment” by FNF
It’s always over before it begins
I see the moment and then I get locked out
And you said, “Hey Mate,
Are we still running as fast as we can?”
Fast as we can
 
And how I got here I’ll never know
And all my footsteps are covered over
And you said, “Hey Mate,
You keep looking around for it
But you’ve already got it”
 
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m always dying in the moment
I turn upside down
In the here and now
Every time
 
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m always living in my own head
‘Cause I’m too shy to dance
And my life keeps passing me by
 
I wrote the words in the back of a book
Whispered your name after all the lights died
And you said, “Hey Mate,
What are you running from?
What are you so scared of?”
 
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m always dying in the moment
I turn upside down
In the here and now
Every time
 
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m always living in my own head
‘Cause I’m too shy to dance
And my life keeps passing me by
 
It’s like I’m broken inside
 
How I got here I’ll never know
And all my footsteps are covered over
Why are we still
Running as fast as we can?
 
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m always dying in the moment
I turn upside down
In the here and now
Every time
 
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m always living in my own head
‘Cause I’m too shy to dance
And my life keeps passing me by
 
It’s like I’m broken inside