“Florida” by Neon Pilgrim

 

     “Florida” begins with an inviting lyrical and vocal warmth. The song from Neon Pilgrim even begins with an urging - “Come on!” But while the warmth carries on, the inviting nature dies as the first verse eloquently describes the difficulty of the relationship – “You decided to fix your heart up with some glue,” and “I swallowed all the pride I could chew.”
 
     That first verse ends with a release – “Do what you wanna do” – which leads to a chorus during which apology stands in stark contrast to thunderous percussion. The chorus is the strength of “Florida.” The protagonist takes ownership of his share of blame, but the song concludes with a repeating pattern of “I’m so sorry to [leave you].” Is the troubled relationship with someone or with a location, such as the state of Florida?
 
     The lead vocals belong to Harry Williams, who drives Neon Pilgrim. Williams, a resident of London, composed “Florida.” The female backing vocalist is Amber Wilson. Other contributors are Dom Morley (producer and synth), Ed Harcourt (guitar and piano), Jason McGerr (drums), and Damon Minchella (bass). 
 
     “Florida” by Neon Pilgrim 

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“The House Was Haunted, But It Knew My Name” by Neo Brightwell

 

     The strength of the song is in the lyrics, which are poignant and open to interpretation. Neo Brightwell sings of entering a house that he remembers well, even recognizing the “same hinge squeak.” More significantly, the house remembers him. The house was haunted but it held me close - said my name like a psalm, although a psalm that no preacher knows.
 
      The house is a metaphor for the mind (or soul) of the person. We all have weaknesses, painful memories, and emotional damage of past experiences. And most of us have no desire to revisit where those flaws reside. But “The House Was Haunted, But It Knew My Name” represents a revisit.
 
     The song begins with acoustic guitar and articulate accounting of the visit. The texture is enhanced shortly after the one-minute mark, although the additional instrumentation carefully stays away from interfering with the lyrical description.
 
   And “The House Was Haunted, But It Knew My Name” ends with a degree of defiance and resilience – The house still knows my name, I’m home, I never left. Neo Brightwell says, “I don’t sing to the camera. I sing to the silence. Through walls, through ghosts, through time itself. This song was never meant to stay inside.” Appropriately, the song is the opening track from an album entitled “We Didn’t Survive to Be Quiet.”
 

     Brightwell is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He self-identifies with “Moonshine Disco” as he “writes scripture for the silenced and songs for the scorched.”

      “The House Was Haunted, But It Knew My Name” by Neo Brightwell

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Partial lyrics of “The House Was Haunted, But It Knew My Name” by Neo Brightwell
I stepped through the door
I swore I’d burn
Same hinge squeak
Same porch light turn
 
Dust in the lungs
Breath full of flame
And damn if that hallway
Still whispered my name
 
No screams
No chain
No holy blame
Just old wood knowing what I became
 
The wallpaper curled like it missed my shame
Yeah, the house was haunted
But it knew my name
 
The house was haunted
But it held me close
Said my name like a psalm no preacher knows
 
No curse in the creak
No fear in the flame
It didn’t haunt me
It just knew my name
 
I tried to run
But I stayed the same
This ain’t escape
It’s where I came
 
It didn’t flinch
It didn’t flame
The house was haunted
But it knew my name

“Autopilot” by Alexsucks

 

     The discography of the Los Angeles-based band Alexsucks shows a diversity of influences. For their single “Autopilot,” there are signs of Bloc Party, a standout UK band. The song carries an urgency similar to Bloc Party’s “Banquet.” Autopilot” travels at 155 beats per minute and lyrically asks “Why am I bleeding,” while “Banquet” is only a slightly less frantic 149 beats per minute while explaining “Cause I’m on fire.”
 
     The quick tempo of the Alexsucks' single belies the lyrical subject matter, which relate to the confusion with a flawed relationship. “Autopilot” is the title track of the band’s recently released album. The band members are Alex Alvarez (vocals, guitar), John Luther (guitar), drummer Jonny Ransom (drums), and Garrett Orseno, aka DJ Topgun (bass),
 
     “Autopilot” by Alexsucks

Website: https://www.alexsucks.com/
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Lyrics of “Autopilot” by Alexsucks
There you are, you sit around and all you got
Is yourself to talk and you go on and on
You bite your tongue, you bite your tongue
When your thoughts are loud, when your thoughts are loud
 
Don't wanna hear it
If I'm the one that holds the gun
Then tell me, why am I bleeding? I'm bleeding
So what? We lost control
Autopilot, I need you, I need you
 
And there you go, you're never one to take it slow
Where you off to now? Where you off to now?
You lost your touch and you've lost touch
And now you're freaking out, you're freaking out
 
Don't wanna hear it
If I'm the one that holds the gun
Then tell mе, why am I bleeding? I'm bleeding
So what? We lost control
Autopilot, I need you, I need you
 
I need it
If I'm the one that holds thе gun
Then tell me, why am I bleeding? I'm bleeding
So what? We lost control
Autopilot, I need you, I need you