“The Westside” by Maudlin Strangers

 

     Maudlin Strangers don’t shy away from real-world issues. Just within the last three years, the Los Angeles band addressed the need for self-care and recovery after experiencing severe burnout (“Don't Worry, I'm Fine”), intelligently delved into the difficulties of a troubled relationship (“Silver Stain”), and explored the psychological loop of recognizing an additive habit is self-destructive, only to seek temporary relief by returning to the habit (“I'm Not In The Right Mind”). Their songs often surface from deeply personal experiences.
 
   Now, Maudlin Strangers take aim at the pretentiousness of many residents of a specific metropolitan area that is known for its high-end shopping, gourmet restaurants, and opulent mansions. As an explanation of their song The Westside,” the band said:  
  “This song is a commentary on the plastic life of the westside of Hollywood, like Beverly Hills. Everyone is trying to look their best, wear the most expensive clothes, and give off the appearance of success and happiness, but is everything truly as it seems?”
 
     The lyrics are insightful, with perhaps the most poignant being a reflection on the feeling of isolation even in a densely populated city – “Off of your phone, now you’re alone.” The lyrics are included in this post.
 
     Sonically, the strength of “The Westside” is carried by the textured vocals during the chorus. The chorus vocals are charming despite the message. Additionally, the last line of the chorus is commanding, even though it’s delivered as a whisper.
 
     Maudlin Strangers originally were the solo Indie Rock project of Jake Hays. The project was born in 2010, but took a long hiatus before re-emerging as a band. The “About” page of their website states that, in 2023, drummer Richie Gonzales reunited with the band and new players completed the ensemble, namely multi-instrumentalist Alexander Morgan on guitar and keys and Drew Bruchs on bass. Then, in 2025, the lineup welcomed new members Blane Barker on bass and John Ashton on guitar.
 

     “The Westside” by Maudlin Strangers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaudlinStrangers/
Website: https://www.maudlinstrangers.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maudlinstrangers/

 

Lyrics of “The Westside” by Maudlin Strangers
Look who you are, look in the mirror
Do you really see yourself?
Hiding inside a luxury ride
Do you even drive yourself?
Off of your phone, now you’re alone
Are you enjoying yourself?
Look who you are, look who you ain’t
Can you believe yourself?
(Didn’t think so)
 
Living on the westside
Bet you wanna look nice
Gonna get your hair dyed
I can see it in your cold dead eyes
Living on the westside
Buy yourself a pretty life
 
Looking alive, beautifitized
Little lies about yourself
Hear what they say, get carried away
Trying to update yourself
Follow the page, click on the likes
Why don’t I go fuck myself?
Look who you are, look who you ain’t
Can you believe yourself?
(Didn’t think so)
 
Living on the westside
Bet you wanna look nice
Gonna get your hair dyed
I can see it in your cold dead eyes
Living on the westside
Buy yourself a pretty life
 
Living on the west side
Where everybody looks fine
But is really your life?
Even though you look fine
Something doesn’t feel right…
 
Living on the westside
Bet you wanna look nice
Gonna get your hair dyed
I can see it in your cold dead eyes
Living on the westside
Buy yourself a pretty life

“Bring All Your Lovers” by The Essence of The Universe

 

      “Bring All Your Lovers” is instrumentally anchored by an entrancing guitar riff that remains compelling through repeated listens. But the power percussion also deserves attention. At the start of the first verse, the drumming merely maintains a commanding pulse, allowing the guitar to flourish. Then, prior to the beginning of the second verse (around 0:42), the pulsing takes on an increased complexity in an engaging rhythm. Punctuating the arrangement is a striking synth interlude between the two verses, its otherworldly sweep mirroring an alien-ship invasion.
 
     Still, the contrasting vocal dynamics serve as the song’s most defining feature. As the single from The Essence of The Universe progresses, so do the vocal deliveries. The chorus features multiple vocal tracks. And a highlight is a near-tribal anguish at 2:17. The Essence of The Universe is the Swedish duo of Daniel di Porto Rosa and Nic Nikita. Quoting the Bandcamp site for “Bring All Your Lovers:”
  “At times, Daniel di Porto Rosa’s vocal delivery turns feral, sharp, confrontational and unhinged. Moments later it dissolves into a stoned, hallucinatory calm, as if observing the collapse of reality from somewhere far above it. The result is both primal and surreal; a chant for the end of the world where the only response left is simple:  Bring all your lovers.” 

     The content on Bandcamp is interesting and insightful:
  “’Bring All Your Lovers’ is a raw, hypnotic blast of psychedelic rock moving between aggression and intoxicated haze. Driven by pounding repetition and mantra-like lyrics, the song collides images of media spectacle, violence, spiritual paradox and cosmic fire.
  One half of The Essence of The Universe, Nic Nikita, has described Daniel di Porto Rosa as “the man with a thousand voices.” Daniel, in turn, considers Nic Nikita’s dangerous synthesizer work on ‘Bring All Your Lovers’ to be as essential to the song’s atmosphere as Angelo Badalamenti’s music was to Twin Peaks.” 
 

     “Bring All Your Lovers” by The Essence of The Universe

Website: https://www.theessenceoftheuniverse.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theessenceoftheuniverse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theessenceoftheuniverse/

Lyrics of “Bring All Your Lovers” by The Essence of The Universe
And the talkshow’s in the sun
Machine gun
And the world is losing touch
Machine gun
The fire’s in the sun
The fire’s in the sun
 
And the lie is true inside
Machine gun
And the truth is just a lie
Machine gun
The fire’s in the sun
 
Bring all your lovers
Hey hey hey
Beautiful time
Beautiful whine
Bring all your lovers
Hey hey hey
Beautiful time
Beautiful whine
Bring all your lovers
 
And the father of the son
Machine gun
Makes a wish to everyone
Bring your machine guns
The fire’s in the sun
 
Bring all your lovers
Hey hey hey
Beautiful time
Beautiful whine
Bring all your lovers
Hey hey hey
Beautiful time
Beautiful whine
Bring all your lovers
 
And the talkshow’s said and done
Machine gun
And The Wire is not that fun
Machine gun
The fire’s in the sun
 
Bring all your lovers
Hey hey hey
Beautiful time
Beautiful whine
Bring all your lovers
Hey hey hey
Beautiful time
Beautiful whine
Bring all your lovers
 
Who was I to find the one
Who was I to find the one
Who was I to find the one
Who was I to find the one
Who was I to find the one
Who was I to find the one
 

“When Will The Eyes Ignite” by Legacy Of Lovers

 

     The instruments, particularly the propulsive guitar drive, radiate urgency and forward momentum. Against that backdrop of immediacy, the recurring refrain - “It’s keeping me alive / Keeps me running,  Keeps me running” - becomes a declaration of purpose and motivation. Still, at times the lyrics take a “they” verses “we” approach. “They say” that we’re an easy target, that we are out of control, and that we are lost and broken. To each of these, there is a brief “show me” response voiced in shifted vocal processing. Legacy of Lovers tells us:
  “’When Will The Eyes Ignite‘ is a worldwide ignition for those who have felt dimmed for too long. It's about rediscovering our inner light, embracing our unique gifts, and realizing that no two people are meant to shine the same. Yet beneath it all, we share the same sky.”
 
     Legacy of Lovers is the musical project of Canadian Ryne D. Trevlon from Kirkland Lake, Ontario. After reaching rock bottom from his struggles with addiction, a telephone call gave Trevlon direction. Specifically, his friend and mentor Gary Taylor told him: "Record something that makes you content—and don't give us any of that cookie-cutter BS." Proving that musical creativity is not synonymous with technological complexity, Trevlon recorded his debut album, “Calm Cool Connections,” in the simplest, most unfiltered way possible—with an iPhone 7 and GarageBand. Both the singing and the guitar were captured through the earbud mic, preserving every sound exactly as it happened. Additional instruments and textures were shaped by performing directly on GarageBand.
 
     The extended title of his song is “When Will The Eyes Ignite {It’s Time For The Stars To Prize},” which is a combination of two heavy-reverberated lines from the verse that begins around 2:22. The 18 tracks on the debut album are available at the Bandcamp site of Legacy of Lovers - https://legacyoflovers.bandcamp.com/.
 
     “When Will The Eyes Ignite” by Legacy Of Lovers

Website: https://www.legacyoflovers.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Legacy-of-Lovers-61569710484026/
Bandcamp: https://legacyoflovers.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “When Will The Eyes Ignite” by Legacy Of Lovers
They say we're an easy target
(Show me your gun, show me your gun)
They say we are out of control
(Show me the way, show me the way)
 
It's time to let you go
It's been far too long
You're like a cold stone dragon eating at my heart
A world to call my own, like a fantasy
Unlike anything I have ever known
 
Been calling for some time
Feel it by my side
It's keeping me alive
Keeps me running
Keeps me running
 
Star shadows are aligned
Fire burns inside
It's keeping me alive
Keeps me running, keeps me running
 
They say we are lost and broken
(Show me the goal, show me the goal)
We say we will never stand down
(Show me the wave, show me the wave)
 
It's time to let you go
It's been far too long
You're like a cold stone dragon eating at my heart
A world to call my own, like a fantasy
Unlike anything I have ever known
 
Been calling for some time
Feel it by my side
It's keeping me alive
Keeps me running
Keeps me running
 
Star shadows are aligned
Fire burns inside
It's keeping me alive
Keeps me running, keeps me running
 
(Show me the way, Show the love)
{When will the eyes ignite}
(Show me the way, Show me the love)
{It's time for the stars to prize}
(Show me the way, Show me the love)
 
Been calling for some time
Feel it by my side
It's keeping me alive
Keeps me running
Keeps me running
 
Star shadows are aligned
Fire burns inside
It's keeping me alive
Keeps me running, keeps me running