“Wine in Bed” by Alexx Mack – A Song Review

     Her voice is impactful in carrying the pain of her experiences. An effective vocalist draws the listener into a climate and then wraps the listener in the appropriate emotional clothing. Alexx Mack is arresting in “Wine in Bed.” She explains the track as:

  "’Wine in Bed’ is about me learning that my coping methods were adding to the toxicity in my life and relationships. I would drink and cross my fingers to feel better, and almost every time I'd end up making another mistake. I thought that every sign was pointing to me needing to be alone, the truth was that I was pushing everything good in my life away."

     Alexx Mack begins as a solidary voice, aiding in the portrayal that she is isolated. But the harmonization that enters at the chorus is both powerful and delicate. The instrumental support is thoughtfully arranged, being minimalist, dreamlike and forceful at different times to suit the mood.

     Alexx is based in Los Angeles. According to her bio, she was born in Atlanta and raised in Florida. She started writing songs by the age of seven. Her parents were supportive of desire to pursue music. After graduating high school a year early, she headed to Los Angeles.   

     “Wind in Bed” by Alexx Mack (Produced by Alex Flagstad, guitarist of L.A.’s The Heirs.)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissAlexxMack/

Website: http://www.alexxmack.com/

Lyrics of “Wine in Bed” by Alexx Mack (some weak guesses here. Sorry)

I fly solo, so high

All I got, all I need, all I want is me and I

I had a mister, he wasn't right

But I fall for the same damn “Your eyes are…”, every time

Oh, sometimes I think that I've lost it

Truth is, I don't even want it

I ain't a moving target in my mind

I'm searching for me in the distance

Searching for more than existence

I'm alright

I'll just smoke a cigarette

Drink wine in bed

Tell another lie I can't forget

Slow dance in my own arms

I don't need you to be another false alarm

In this city, no one stays

But I fall for all the same shit anyway

Oh, sometimes I think that I've lost it

Truth is, I don't even want it

I ain't a moving target in my mind

I'm searching for me in the distance

Searching for more than existence

I'm alright

I'll just smoke a cigarette

Drink wine in bed

Tell another lie I can't forget

[I fucked up some shit

But I honestly don’t [?]

Alexx, it’ll fix you]

Oh, sometimes I think that I've lost it

Truth is I don't even want it

I ain't a moving target in my mind

I'm searching for me in the distance

Searching for more than existence

I'm alright

I'll just smoke a cigarette

Drink wine in bed

Tell another lie I can't quite get

I'll just smoke a cigarette

Drink wine in bed

Tell another lie I can't forget

Home – Andrew Galucki and East of My Youth

     For reasons we cannot identify, we have an attraction to songs that include “Home” or “Brother” in their titles. The songs will play longer or more often in determining whether we want to share them on Indie Obsessive. The bar isn’t lowered for being featured, but we do pay more attention. Here are two “Home” songs.

     East of Youth is an experimental Pop duo from Reykjavík, Iceland. They are Herdís Stefánsdóttir and Thelma Marín Jónsdóttir.

    “Go Home” by East of Youth 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastofmyyouthreykjavik/

     Andrew Galucki generates his magic from Nashville. He is a singer/songwriter with a comforting voice and gentle guitar.

      “I Know the Way Home” by Andrew Galucki

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewgaluckimusic/

Website: http://www.andrewgalucki.com/

“White Flag” by Bishop Briggs – A Song Review

     In “White Flag,” Bishop Briggs passionately presents her declaration of independence and refusal to negotiate terms. She lends her Bluesy vocals to a no-surrender anthem:

Won't wave my white flag.

No!

This time I won't let go

I'd rather die

Than give up the fight…

     In explaining the song, Bishop Briggs said, “White Flag is about pushing till there is sweat stinging your eyes, blood under your nails, and never giving up, no matter what the circumstances are.”

      The declaration is impassioned, the backing vocals are ear-catching, and the supporting instruments are almost as forceful. The instruments tend toward octaves and frequencies below the vocals (particularly the percussion), which textures “White Flag.” Perhaps the most attractive feature is saved for the final minute, when lyrical layering reinforces commitment to the message.

      Our preference for “The Next Big Thing” is a monitoring system that automatically adds songs to one or more personal playlists based on observed activity. To be most effective, the system should monitor all three of visual evidence (toe tapping, shoulder shrugging/swaying…), audible evidence (one-syllable sounds of appreciation, singing along…), and historical activity (putting a song on repeat, playing the song daily…). The monitoring system would have spread “White Flag” among our playlists. The commitment by Bishop Briggs is undeniable and infectious, so the listener is willingly recruited.

     Bishop Briggs was born in London, but now resides in Los Angeles. She will begin a headlining North American tour this spring, opening on April 27th at Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. The month-long tour of the U.S. and Canada will wrap up June 2nd at Metro in Chicago. For info on tickets (and limited VIP Tour Experiences), go to http://bishopbriggs.com/tour.

     “White Flag” by Bishop Briggs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatgirlbishop/

Website: http://bishopbriggs.com/

Lyrics of “White Flag” by Bishop Briggs

Take a hit, shoot me down, shoot me down

I will never hit the ground, hit the ground

Playing dead, I'll never do

Gotta keep an eye on you

Patience is wearing thin, paper thin

Promises broke again, what a sin

But it only feeds my energy

So don't expect no sympathy

Smoke, fire, it's all going up

Don't you know I ain't afraid to shed a little blood

Smoke, fire, flares are going up, flares are going up

Oh, won't wave my white flag.

No!

This time I won't let go

I'd rather die

Than give up the fight, give up the fight

Give up the fight, give up the fight

Won't wave my white flag.

No!

Oh, I won't go down slow

I'd rather die

Than give up the fight, give up the fight

Give up the fight, give up the fight

Put an X on my chest, on my chest

But I'm still standing cause I won't forget

The hell on earth you put me through

I'll save myself in spite of you

Smoke, fire, it's all going up

Don't you know I ain't afraid to shed a little blood

Smoke, fire, flares are going up, flares are going up

Oh, won't wave my white flag.

No!

This time I won't let go

I'd rather die

Than give up the fight, give up the fight

Give up the fight, give up the fight

Won't wave my white flag.

No!

Oh, I won't go down slow

I'd rather die

Than give up the fight, give up the fight

Give up the fight, give up the fight

White flag never going up, never going up

No, no

White flag never going up, never going up

No, no

White flag never going up, never going up

No, no

Oh, won't wave my white flag. No!

(Wave my white flag)

This time I won't let go

(Won't let go)

I'd rather die

Than give up the fight, give up the fight

Give up the fight, give up the fight

Won't wave my white flag.

No!

(Wave my white flag)

Oh, I won't go down slow

(Go down slow)

I'd rather die

Than give up the fight, give up the fight

Give up the fight, give up the fight

Raise my white flag!

Raise my white flag.

No!

“Life Through A Glass” by Curtsy – A Song Review

     

     When a band releases tracks with cerebral lyrics, it is evidence that they prize their craft over their wallets. We tip our hat to Curtsy, the five-member group from Ventura, California. But the usual tradeoff shouldn’t be an issue for Curtsy’s “Life Through A Glass.” The elegance in presenting their message, as well as the musicianship and song arrangement in supporting that message, make the track pleasing on multiple levels.

     The lyrics of “Life Through A Glass (included below) have a number of quoteworthy lines. Our favorite is “You can't blame a heart for the blood that runs through it.” The messaging is one position in the “nature verses nurture” discussion set to music. Many of the verses are repeated, but the song remains fresh because the treatments are dissimilar. As an example, the song begins with vigorous percussion and attractively straightforward guitar as support for the first verse, which is repeated in acapella at 2:02. The second treatment allows appreciation of the individual voices and the male/female harmonization.

     In stating the motivation for the song, Curtsy explained:

  "’Life Through a Glass’ was written in response to the idea that we are all disturbingly out of control of our own lives--a result of our circumstances, genetics, and chance. The underlying anger in the song expresses frustration with the illusion of individual choice and the judgement that we cast onto others for things which they have no power over. ‘You can't blame a heart for the blood that runs through it’ suggests a sense of universal empathy for everyone, regardless of the hand they've been dealt.”

     The members of Curtsy are Austin Knecht (vocals, guitar), Crystal Naploes (vocals, keys), Kai Dodson (bass), Tamara Simons (guitar), and Jonathan Palmquist (drums). It’s time to track/follow the band for future releases and live performances. Currently, their tour schedule identifies a show on March 8th at The Satellite in Los Angeles (see the inset picture). For ticket information, CLICK HERE. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curtsymusic

Bandcamp: https://curtsy.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “Life Through a Glass” by Curtsy

Ordinary words won't let you see

Life through a glass

Before you blame yourself realize that

Nothing is chance

You aren't in command

You're not lost

Cause you are the storm

Everyone alive

Borrows heat from the day they were born

I'm just a witness

I'm just a witness

You can't blame a heart

For the blood that runs through it

Before life even starts

The dust arranges to make you who are

To make you who you are

Ordinary words won't let you see

Life through a glass

Before you blame yourself realize that

Nothing is chance

I'm just a witness

I'm just a witness

You can't blame a heart

For the blood that runs through it

Before life even starts

The dust arranges to make you who are

[Repeat]

To make you who you are

“The Maze” by The Racer – A Song Review

     

     Take a “rad” song and make it better. Yes, the term rad hasn’t been popular since the heyday of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but the twist on the phrase from “Hey Jude” expresses our attitude toward the cover of “The Maze” by The Racer. The original by Manchester Orchestra is praiseworthy and deserving of attention. Somehow, the cover tops it.

     “The Maze” fortifies the position that The Racer will be one of the major breakout bands of 2018. According to the email submission for the song:

  “In 2017, The Racer took full control of their art, eschewing the album format for the time being and focusing on enjoying releasing single-format content more regularly. Fans should keep their eyes peeled through 2018 for fresh video/audio content and more!”  

     “The Maze” (Manchester Orchestra Cover) by The Racer 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theracermusic

Website: http://www.theracermusic.com/

Lyrics of “The Maze” by The Racer

I notice you when you're noticing me

Breaking the habit, you're watching me sleep

Oh, give me some time, let me learn how to speak

I'm a maze to you

I never mind about bothering you

I'm trying to decide if I'll bother with you

So, feed me your wisdom and breathe me your truth

I'm amazing

Wish me a wonder and wish me to sleep

You don't have to wander to hear when I speak

There is nothing I've got when I die that I keep

It's amazing

Somebody said it's unspeakable love

Somebody said it's unspeakable love

Well, you don't believe I can speak well at all

You're a maze to me

First of a thousand to write on the wall

It's only beginning, it's swallowing us

Somebody said it's unspeakable love

It's amazing

You lift that burden off of me

You lift that burden off of me

You lift that burden off of me

     “The Maze” by Manchester Orchestra

From Australia, Free Of - Free Friday/Saturday (“FL&R”)

     Free and Legal Downloads? Yes, at least temporarily. Bands often temporarily permit free downloads of their releases.  The end of an offer may be based on the expiration of a set period of time or on a limited number of downloads.  But at least for now, here are songs that qualify as Free, Legal and Recommended (FL&R) downloads.

     Finding songs that can be legally downloaded is easy. The difficult task is to find legally downloadable music that we recommend. Our plan is to post at least one FL&R song each Friday/Saturday.

     Each of today’s tracks is available via Triple J Unearthed, the outstanding Australian site.

     Borneo is a Sydney-based band with eclectic tastes. The song “Jesse” includes Blues harmonica, choir chant, Country hollers and appealing guitar hooks. The track is on the EP “Rebel Mindtricks,” which was released via Habit Music Company.

     The five members of Borneo are (with nicknames) Tim “Mark Hillter” Pembroke (vocals, guitar), Nick “The Proph” Colbey (bass, vocals), Jack “John Poseidon” Chapman (drums, vocals, Oliver “Wallace Cheddafunk” Dibley (keyboards, synth, vocals), and Harry “Scrout Gippsland” Glassborow (guitar).

     “Jesse” by Borneo - To access the free download, go to the Triple J site (https://www.triplejunearthed.com/jukebox/play/track/6819846) and click the download arrow.  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/borneoband

Website: https://www.borneoband.com/

     RACKETT is also from Sydney. They pride themselves on making “loud and experimental Punk-Pop. They are Rebecca Callander (rhythm guitar, vocals), Ally Gavin (bass), Astrid Holz (drums), and Kat Ayala (lead guitar).

     “Alive” by RACKETT – To access the free download, go to the Triple J site (https://www.triplejunearthed.com/jukebox/play/track/6753371) and click the download arrow.  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RACKETT.tv/

Website: https://www.rackett.tv/

      Death By Denim is from Perth. Quoting their content:

 “Tattoo” is the first single to follow Death By Denim’s debut E.P. Produced by Andy Lawson, the song demonstrates a melodic evolution in the band’s sound as they continue to explore their potential of defying genres, whilst staying true to their original elements and influences.

     

     “Tattoo” by Death By Denim -  To access the free download, go to the Triple J site (https://www.triplejunearthed.com/jukebox/play/track/6699276) and click the download arrow.  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deathbydenimband/

     Another gem from Perth is “Wonderland” by Georgia Reed, who describes the song as being “about an emotionally abusive relationship."

     “Wonderland” by Georgia Reed  – To access the free download, go to the Triple J site (https://www.triplejunearthed.com/jukebox/play/track/6725031) and click the download arrow.  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgiareedmusic

Website: https://www.georgiareedmusic.com/