Wednesday, April 22, 2026

“Miyazaki” by Paris Paloma

 

      The latest release from outspoken Paris Paloma is named for outspoken Hayao Miyazaki, who is famed for his era-defining body of work and who is unabashed in criticizing AI-generated art as “an insult to life itself.” Paloma presents songs as a commentary on societal imbalances and injustices. While talking about ““Miyazaki,” she explained:
   I wrote this song about art, about the burning, urgent desire to create art as my way of making sense of the world, and as my way of resisting darkness and hatred. It’s a defiant song, about defending the human need of artistic creation in a world that is increasingly devaluing it in the face of AI; that’s why it is named after renowned director Hayao Miyazaki. I wrote this song for everyone who has an urgent and unexplained need to express themselves through their art; it is for the painters, the dancers, the writers, the storytellers, the crafters, the directors, the singers, musicians, anybody who relates to this creative fire, and the threat that AI generated slop might take the place of essential humanity.”
 
     Paris Paloma is based in London. Originally hailing from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, Paris Paloma channels the experience of womanhood into her songwriting, speaking to the female experience, grief, love, death, and power.
 
     “Miyazaki” by Paris Paloma
Lyrics of “Miyazaki” by Paris Paloma
I have something to say
As has anyone who’s ever made
Anything worth enjoying
Nobody can destroy it
Left unchecked it mutates
Bleeding desperation to create
Collapses me like a star
Sickness inside my heart
 
Whenever I fear death I think of that which I would fear much more
Never dying Is that what you all are striving for
I leave a stream of greenery in every path I walk
Chased by a monster of a thousand voices that always wants
One more
 
Please don’t ever take it from me
Changes the color of the air that I breathe
 
In grief’s fertile land
The space in between clapping hands
They say it’ll pass
I used to pray that it would
But its absence never brought anything good
I wake in the morning
Do all of my chores then
Of thinking in silence
And drinking sweet wine
Putting my mind somewhere outside
Where it can feel the sun
Maybe it’ll connect with someone
 
The world’s the world
And I’m a person in a tiny body
I vow to live
I won’t let fear be anything that stops me
I’m not a violent person but I make things with aggression
I’m not a violent person but my work is one exception
 
I won’t let you take it from me
Changes the color of the air that I breathe
 
I wasn’t always tortured
I made art long before then
I call into the void until I lose my voice but
Sometimes a cry reverberates back
A child with mud caked hands
Or a prolific and obsessive older man
I’d do it unpaid, unseen, unthanked
It’s worth more than anything that I have
 
(You can never have it ever)
(You can never have it ever)
(You can never have it ever)
 
 
I won’t let you take it from me
Changes the color of the air that I breathe
I won’t let you take it from me
Changes the color of the air that I breathe
 
I won’t let you take it from me


Tuesday, April 21, 2026

“Familiar Faces” by Two Connors

 

     Familiar Faces” merges two storytelling approaches that are compelling on their own but become especially potent in tandem. In their song, Two Connors craft an aural portrait of their hometown, and in doing so unreservedly name names that bring the subject matter to life.
 
     Writing about one’s hometown radiates nostalgia that’s found relatable, even by listeners who have never visited the city. In the Indie Universe, our favorite is "Feather on the Clyde," in which Passenger crafts a lyrical painting of his childhood city of Glasgow. Looking back some decades, other hometown songs include:
   Mainstreet” - Bob Seger
   My Little Town” - Simon & Garfunkel
   My Hometown” - Bruce Springsteen
   Small Town” - John Mellencamp
But the song from Two Connors is most closely aligned with “My City Was Gone by The Pretenders, since both sets of lyrics lament the changes to the city. As Two Connors state, “This ain't the town we knew.”
 
     As noted, “Familiar Faces” doesn’t shy away from identifying people by names, although we suspect that actual names are avoided for legal and sensitivity reasons. Other examples of naming names in lyrics include:
   Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed
   "People Who Died" by The Jim Carroll Band
   We're All Gonna Die!!!” by Baby FuzZ
   Pepper” by Butthole Surfers
   Strange Friends” by little image
  The All Encompassing Need To Say Goodbye” by My Best Unbeaten Brother
 
     Two Connors are brothers Danny and Callum Connor. Their song is about Oldham, a hamlet in Devon, England.
 
     Familiar Faces” by Two Connors

Lyrics of “Familiar Faces” by Two Connors
The town that I call Oldham, so many characters I've seen
When a cold pint in the Scruples bar was a localer's big dream
And the lads all in the stolen cars of a run-down 1.4 Capri
 
From drinking on the corners with Pete Taylor and Craig Lindsay
When Spanner and Pete Grimley were hiding shotguns in the chimney
Oh, well, some hard times in this town, but it's the place that we loved
 
And Mick Taddy's in the pub again, and he's barred from every boozer
And the Durker Hotel's round again, we never thought much of the future
Oh, no, if I could go back in time, I wouldn't change a single thing
About these stories we wrote, 'cause that's when we were young
 
This ain't the town we know, this ain't the town we knew
Them young guns coming through, and I know that times are changing
But I still don't feel the same way that I do
When I'm here thinking of you and familiar faces
 
This ain't the town we know, it just don't feel like home
'Cause all of my friends that I grew up with, most are dead and gone
And I'm holding on to pictures in my mind
Just wanna spend the night with you and familiar faces
 
Well, the town that I call Oldham was born on childhood memories
And the legends' names are carved in stone on the graves in the cemeteries
We were singing to the Irish songs on the fairy tales of Yorkshire Street
 
And Glyn Gardner's in the cells again for doing grows up in his home
And the police outside of Pat's old house at 16 Pripy Road
Oh, no, some hard times in this town, but it's the place that we loved
 
And the council tax keeps going up, destroying our estates
The pubs we spent the good nights in are just buildings gone to waste
Oh, there were times I used to hold your hand and go see our favourite place
Those memories will live a lifetime once again, 'cause that's when we were young
 
This ain't the town we know, this ain't the town we knew
Them young guns coming through, and I know that times are changing
But I still don't feel the same way that I do
When I'm here thinking of you and familiar faces
 
This ain't the town we know, it just don't feel like home
'Cause all of my friends that I grew up with, most are dead and gone
And I'm holding on to pictures in my mind
Just wanna spend the night with you and familiar faces
 
Familiar faces
Familiar faces
Familiar faces
Familiar faces

Monday, April 20, 2026

Missed 2025 Releases - Buffalo Traffic Jam, The Vanns, Cassandra Coleman

      This post is dedicated to three missed opportunities in 2025. The songs were released last year, but we weren’t introduced until this year. Next month, Buffalo Traffic Jam will be at the BottleRock Music Festival in Napa, California.

      The core of Buffalo Traffic Jam comprises Frankie Cassidy (vocals, guitar, lyrics), Nathan Ross (mandolin, lyrics). Their sound is more richly textured by musicians on other instruments, including bass, drums, and cello. They are based in Bozeman, Montana.

     “Fool’s Gold” by Buffalo Traffic Jam
Website: https://www.buffalotrafficjam.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buffalotrafficjam
 
Lyrics of “Fool’s Gold” by Buffalo Traffic Jam
What do you say we leave tonight
We could leave it all behind
22 and wasting time
No, the silence ain't so kind
Hate being left alone
It reminds me no one's home
Rain is dancing on the roof
With these sober thoughts of you
 
Lovers talk late at night
Doing drugs to ease my mind
I'm not alright
You were there, now you're gone
Never thought you were wrong
We don't have much time
 
And they said, "Oh, no, don't go
I've been here before"
And she said, "Boy, won't you think twice?
You can't do no more"
But I know how this stories told
Bottled up my fear
And they said, "It's fool's gold it's got a hold"
I'm dying here
 
Lovers talk late at night
Doing drugs to ease my mind
I'm not alright
You were there, now you're gone
Never thought you were wrong
We don't have much time
 
Love is kind, love's not fair
Not your choice if you care
I'm down on hope
I can't do nothing right
Thought that I could make you mine
I tried and tried
 
Lovers talk late at night
Doing drugs to ease my mind
Well I'm not alright
You were there, now you're gone
Never thought you were wrong
We don't have much time
 
Love is kind, love's not fair
Not your choice if you care
I'm down on hope
I can't do nothing right
Thought that I could make you mine
I tried and tried
 
Lovers talk late at night
Doing drugs to ease my mind
I'm not alright
You were there, now you're gone
Never thought you were wrong
We don't have much time
We don't have much time

     The Vanns are an Australian Indie Rock band formed of Jimmy Vann (vocals, guitar), Tom Switlek (bass), Cameron Little (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, and Andrew Banovich (drums).
 
     “Accomplice” by The Vanns

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevanns/
Website: https://www.thevannsband.com/
 
Lyrics of “Accomplice” by The Vanns
Took a few years but we got there
Must've had the time for it
Nobody said you can't park here
And you bet I got fined for it
If all my anger could split in two
I'd give half to you
You'd never know
You just might see me on the news
Talking on the street to a stranger with a TV crew
Honey, how 'bout you
 
And I got it dead right
And I study the streets at night
You know, there ain't no use in sleeping
If you're dreaming in black and white
I justify all the time
Such a crime to walk a fine line
 
Hey, who knows
With you as my accomplice
We might accomplish something
I've waited all my life to want this
You're my accomplice
You're my accomplice
 
Now you're riding in the side car
I'm heading somewhere we shouldn't go
But if those bastards think they can take from us
Well it's up to us to let 'em know
Ergo, it's fair go
Go on and hit 'em with a counterblow
 
Hey, who knows
With you as my accomplice
We might accomplish something
I've waited all my life to want this
You're my accomplice
You're my accomplice
 
If all my anger could split in two
I'd give half to you
You'd never know
You just might see me on the news
Talking on the street to a stranger with a TV crew
Yeah honey, how 'bout you
Honey, how bout you
     Cassandra Coleman is an Indie artist from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee. She leans more Pop than we prefer, but her voice commands attention.
 
     “Bite My Tongue” by Cassandra Coleman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassandraColemanMusic/
Website: https://www.cassandracoleman.com/
 
Lyrics of “Bite My Tongue” by Cassandra Coleman
Up and leave it on the line
See you cuttin' down all the things you like
Smilin' like you're not spittin' out spite
I could hardly recognize you
No one's makin' you stay
No, I hate it when you look at me that way
Eyes shot
With your edges frayed
And you're holding your breath
Too scared of where it's gonna take ya
 
Feels like you're lookin' for a sign
Like a green light, green eyes
Everybody has what you want
Their body, somebody, nobody holding them back
 
Oh, I bite my tongue
Can you swallow your pride?
Do you really even want it?
Is it ruining your life?
When you gonna make up your mind?
Oh, you lose your grip
When you hold too tight
See you swingin' your fists but you're losin' your fight
It's not a crime to change your mind
 
Stalled out on the startin' line
Wonderin' at the reasons why
No one's comin' to make you try
Cut your teeth and grow a spine
Oh, it's too late
Can't be givin' all your life away
If time's the price you gotta pay
Are you gonna shell it out?
Are you gonna shell it out?
 
Oh, I bite my tongue
Can you swallow your pride?
Do you really even want it?
Is it ruining your life?
Talk it up
Play it down
When you gonna make up your mind?
Oh, you'll lose your grip
When you hold too tight
See you swingin' your fists but you're losin' your fight
It's not a crime to change your mind
 
Would you want it?
Don't you want it?
If you want it
If you want it
Would you want it?
Don't you want it?
No one's coming (would you want it? Don't you want it?)
To change your mind (would you want it? Don't you want it?)
No one's coming (would you want it? Don't you want it?)
To change your mind
 
Oh, I bite my tongue
Can you swallow your pride?
Do you really even want it?
Is it ruining your life?
Talk it up
Play it down
When you gonna make up your mind?
Oh, you'll lose your grip
When you hold too tight
See you swingin' your fists but you're losin' your fight
It's not a crime to change your mind
 
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, oh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, oh
No one's coming (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, oh)
To change your mind (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, oh)
No one's coming (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, oh)
To change your mind (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, oh)