“Incarnadine” by The Bottoms – A Song Feature

 

      The layered guitars during the intro give notice of the sophisticated texturing of “Incarnadine.” Shortly, the vocals enter with almost unmistakable proof that Grunge influenced the writing and performance by The Bottoms. The song appealingly blends sensibilities from various genres, primarily Rock and Grunge, but backing vocals often have the reverberated sonic texture characteristic of Dream Pop.
 
     Instrumentally, the highlight for many listeners is likely the soft layered guitars featured at the start of “Incarnadine,” as well as during the body of the song. Perhaps more praiseworthy is the Rock guitar that is first heard at 1:10, and that is most forceful at 2:30.
 
     The members of The Bottoms have diverse musical backgrounds. They are vocalist/guitarist Jason Rhein (Rotary Downs), keyboardist/vocalist Michael Girardot (Revivalists), lead guitarist Eric Nichelson (Midlake), drummer Eric Nelson, and bassist Charles Depret. During “Incarnadine,” the guest backing vocalist is Tif Lamson (Givers, Shania Twain). They are based in New Orleans, and describe their sound as “Fun, vocally driven Alternative Rock music.”
    
      “Incarnadine” by The Bottoms

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bottomsneworleans/
Website: https://thebottomsrock.com/

Lyrics of “Incarnadine” by The Bottoms
I found God
In the Crossfire
And I spoke in tongues
Like you said I would
 
Then I forgot
How to trust my voice
And I broke her heart
Like you said I would
 
Louisiana calling me to stay
On fire
But California showed another way
To God
It's quiet on the porch after the rain
I'm high
 
I found God
In the redwood forest
I smoked my lungs
And I played this guitar
 
Then I got lost
In your father's house
And I packed my car
While you lost your mind
 
Louisiana calling me to stay
On fire
But California showed another way
To God
It's quiet on the porch after the rain
I'm high
Echoes of the weight of yesterday
So high
 
I found God
In this moment now
As I sing this song
And I, I play this guitar
 
Sometimes I'm lost
When my mind runs wild
So I take a breath
To return again

“Powerful” by Reuben and The Bullhorn Singers – A Song Feature

 

     Reuben and The Dark skillfully explore lower frequencies that are chest-vibrating when played on a system with a quality subwoofer. The best example is the band’s cover of “What a Wonderful Life,” which is on the soundtrack of the 2020 film “Dolittle.” The band recently collaborated with The Bullhorn Singers in the release of another song, “Powerful,” with a strong presence in the low frequencies.
 
     Reuben Bullock is the lead singer and songwriter of the Canada-based Reuben and The Dark. The Bullhorn Singers are also based in Canada. They are from the Blood Tribe (aka Kainai) which is one of the four nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy. The credits for “Powerful” identify contributors as Reuben Bullock, Billy Wadsworth, Nevada Ouellette, Sam Harrison, Troy Delaney, Dino Soares, Sofia Eaglehead Baptiste, Benjamin Longman, Tisha Wadsworth, Clea Anais, Jarret Mayo, Ian Jarvis, Heather Kelly, and Mallory Meeks.
 
     “Powerful” by Reuben and The Bullhorn Singers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReubenAndTheDark
Website: https://www.reubenandthebullhornsingers.com/

Lyrics of “Powerful” by Reuben and The Bullhorn Singers
Started out with my head like thunder clouds
But the rain keeps coming
The rain keeps coming down
 
Wash away, wash away my pride
Wash away, wash away my tears
 
Wash away, wash away my fears
Wash away, wash away
 
Started out, two headlights on the highway, headed south
But the road keeps running, the road keeps running out
 
And wash away, wash away my tears
Wash away, wash away
 
If pain is power, I'm powerful
If pain is power, I'm powerful
If pain is power
 
Powerful
Powerful
If pain is power

No Disrespect – God-related Songs

      Among the songs that have drawn attention in 2024, there are three with titles that include “God." The first two are from 23-year-old artists.

     Jonah Kagen is from Savannah, Georgia. “God Needs The Devil” features a main portion that is rousing and an outro that is pensive. He is described as “a multifaceted artist with a deep and long-standing affinity for songwriting, performing, and producing.”

     “God Needs The Devil” by Jonah Kagen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonahkagen/
Website: https://www.jonahkagen.com/
 
Lyrics of “God Needs The Devil” by Jonah Kagen
Hm, mm, follow me
Said a long black dress on Halloween
If this is all just make-believe
It might not be real, but it's real to me
Hm, mm, let her in
If you love her, son, it ain't no sin
Where she ends is where you begin
If you run, you'll run right back again, hm
Yeah!
 
You can hide, but you can't stay gone
She'll find you, won't take her long
And she'll come on back with every dawn
And drag your ass where you belong
And you'll wake up all alone
On an old beat-down dirt country road
And you'll crawl back through fire and snow
'Cause there ain't no other place to go, hm
 
I need you like God needs the Devil, honey
Someday soon, this dust's gonna settle
Come real quick and get inside my mind
'Cause when I'm all fucked up, I don't feel no pain
Won't you run to me, run through my veins?
Baby, won't you come and get me high?
 
Hm, mm, I'm in love
In a nightmare, please don't wake me up
Got a bad case of making bad luck
It's who I am, not who I was
But that's life, boy, what can you do?
I need someone and I need 'em soon
I called the doc and got new shoes
But all roads still lead back to you
 
I need you like God needs the Devil, honey
Someday soon, this dust's gonna settle
Come real quick and get inside my mind
'Cause when I'm all fucked up, I don't feel no pain
Won't you run to me, run through my veins?
Baby, won't you come and get me high?
 
I said, I need you like God needs the Devil, honey
Someday soon, the dust's gonna settle
Come real quick and get inside my mind
'Cause when I'm all fucked up, I don't feel no pain
Won't you run to me, run through my veins?
Run to me, run through my veins
Baby, won't you come and get me high?
 
Baby, won't you come and get me high?

     Ellur is preparing to drop her EP on January 16, 2025. The title single is currently available. While talking about the title track, Ellur said, “'God Help Me Now' is the most honest song I've ever written. I approached co-writers Benjamin Francis Leftwich and Jack Leonard back in September with my heart on my sleeve, opening up about how I had so many things I wanted to write about that scared me. I joked with them about my dreams of writing that one song where people get on their friends’ shoulders and scream the lyrics. I wanted to write someone's favourite song. In a nice way, it's become my favourite song I've released so far and after taking inspiration from the likes of Sam Fender, The Killers and Sharon Van Etten, the fully produced version was born. The sonic world of this song is a true demonstration of exactly how I've always wanted my music to feel and sound. The perfect combination of synth, guitar and snare that, to me, makes an indie anthem.” Ellur is based in Halifax, UK.

     “God Help Me Now” by Ellur

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellurrrr
 
Lyrics of “God Help Me Now” by Ellur
I think too much
I’m all out of fucks
The worlds on fire
I’m just getting drunk
The fear is real
Tell me how to feel
Tell me how to heal
 
God help me now
God help me now
 
Get up
Go out
And
Pretend to be alright about
All the girls I know
Who never make it home
When the lights are down
 
And the boys
They hide
They ache until they die
They open up
Then blame it on the drugs
The cuts don’t lie
I see it all the time
Just another Saturday night*
 
God help me now
God help me now
God help me now
God help me now
 
The love
We make
Repeat
Replace
The signs of life
On a strangers face
I’d die to find
A simple place
Where you tell me your mistakes and I love you anyway
 
I think too much
I’m all out of fucks
The worlds on fire
I’m just getting drunk
The fear is real
Tell me how to feel
Tell me how to heal
Tell me how to -
 
God help me now
God help me now
God help me now
God help God help
 
I confess
I can’t face it
There’s solace in a
sorry state and
I hurry through another day
And flood all of my nights away
 
And try to find an easy pace
Cause being bored’s a safer place
Just show me love I swear I’ll change
I’ll be better, something great
 
God help me now
God help me now
God help me now
God help God help

    Lead vocalist of heavy wild, Wolfgang Harte, explained “Dope Gods,” “I wrote the song on the back of getting the news last January that an old friend had died. We were best friends around the ages of 15-17 and had so many crazy times wrapped up in that period of adolescence.” The project is based in London.
 
“Dope Gods” by heavy wild

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heavy.wild/
Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/heavywild

“The Moth” by Les Deux Love Orchestra - A Song Feature

 

     The tempo was slowed and the vocals made more deliberate. For the Season 2 Finale of Mr. Robot (2016), “The Moth” was covered by Les Deux Love Orchestra, with Bobby Woods featured on vocals. The original by Aimee Mann is appealing, but the lyrical message of “The Moth” is more compelling with the arrangement of the cover. 
 
   The story of the moth and its attraction to a flame is well known for its representation of a person who is irresistibly drawn to someone or something that is potentially harmful. In the song “The Moth,” the person repeatedly returns to and is burned by a relationship. It’s not purely an urge of self-destruction:  

The moth don't care if the flame burns low

The moth believes in an afterglow

And flames are never doused completely

All you really need is the love of heat

 
     “The Moth” by Les Deux Love Orchestra

Lyrics of “The Moth” by Les Deux Love Orchestra
The moth don't care when he sees the flame
He might get burned but he's in the game
And once he's in, he can't go back
He'll beat his wings 'til he burns them black
 
No, the moth don't care when he sees the flame
The moth don't care when he sees the flame
 
The moth don't care if the flame is real
The flame and moth got a sweetheart deal
And nothing fuels a good flirtation
Like need and anger and desperation
 
No, the moth don't care if the flame is real
The moth don't care if the flame is real
 
So come on, let's go, ready or not
'Cause there's a flame I know, hotter than hot
And with a fuse that's so thoroughly shot
(Away)
 
The moth don't care if the flame burns low
The moth believes in an afterglow (afterglow)
And flames are never doused completely
All you really need is the love of heat
 
No, the moth don't care if the flame burns low

“Overload” by Culk – A Song Feature

 

     “Take a sad song and make it better.” It’s a matter of perspective as to whether “Overload” is a sad song – Sugarbabes (the composers) explained that “Overload” reflects the angst that's almost inherent to a teenage crush on a boy. The reference to "strange fear" in the first verse represents the “tummy butterflies” that accompany an anticipated teenage romantic relationship.  Still, the Culk cover is better, since it’s unquestionably richer and more textured. Moreover, the mixing enhances the drive in the infectious rhythm, and Culk adds engaging Shoegaze guitar to the original R&B and Hip Hop-like stylings.
 
     Culk is based in Vienna, Austria. The members are Sophie Löw (vocals, guitar, synthesizer, artwork), Johannes Blindhofer (guitar), Benjamin Steiger (bass, guitar), and Christoph Kuhn (drums). In “Overload,” Löw’s vocals are purposeful and committed to the lyrical message. Instrumentally, the highlight is the tremolo guitar that is featured during the bridge at 2:23. An interesting description of the cover from the press materials:
  “Culk manage to intertwine the catchiness of the poppy original with their own distinctive post-punk spirit, arising from a bass-driven, distortion-laden, shoegazy soundscape and the determined and haunting vocals of band leader Sophie Löw.”
 
     It should be noted that the “Overload” is the exception for Culk, which typically writes its own material. The band’s discography can be streamed and purchased via the Bandcamp site https://culk1000.bandcamp.com/. “Overload” was released via Ink Music (Vienna, Austria).
 
     “Overload” (Sugababes Cover) by Culk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/culkmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culkmusic
Bandcamp: https://culk1000.bandcamp.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/culkmusic

Lyrics of “Overload” (Sugababes Cover) by Culk
Strange fear I ain't felt for years
The boy's coming and I'm close to tears
Oh my God, I can't say no
 
Imagination's playing round for free
In my world I take him out for tea
Oh my God, I can't say no
 
Skipping school, go walk for air
I just had to get out of bed
I'm on overload in my head
 
Train comes, I don't know its destination
It's a one-way ticket to a madman situation
Train comes, I don't know its destination
It's a one-way ticket to a madman’s situation
 
Life in a dream, time does come true
And in my sleep I think of you
Feather bed by myself
 
Basically probability
Says that fate's come side with me
It's been so long on my shelf
 
Train comes, I don't know its destination
It's a one-way ticket to a madman situation
Train comes, I don't know its destination
It's a one-way ticket to a madman's situation
 
The tension is incredible, boy I'm in charge
You know how I feel for you
Will you stop, or will you just keep going?
Please don't say no, no
 
Train comes, I don't know its destination
(I  don’t know…)
It's a one-way ticket to a madman situation
(Situation)
Train comes, I don't know its destination
(I know, I know)
It's a one-way ticket to a madman's situation
(Situation)
 

In Search of Complete Song Crescendos

     In January 2024, “A Man as Alive as the City” was released by The Boxer Rebellion. The song features numerous energy increases, without corresponding decrescendos. It’s not a “slow burn,” since it is energetic from the start.
 
     “A Man as Alive as the City” is one of our favorite singles of the year, and it triggered searches for other songs characterized by stepped intensity increases. The increases can be triggered by changes in tempo, expansions in instrumentation, vocal climbs….
 
     Below are the current results of the searching. They vary in qualifying as song-long crescendos. Even “A Man as Alive as the City” has a qualification flaw, since the conclusion is a decrescendo. But the conclusion is four minutes into the song and is preceded by intensity jumps at 0:58, 1:13, 2:23, and 2:38, as well as prolonged crescendos.

     “A Man as Alive as the City” by The Boxer Rebellion

     Shearwater’s “You as You Were” is 12 years old, but it withstands the test of time. The band is from Austin, Texas.

     “My Backwards Walk” is a cover of a Frightened Rabbit single. It was released on a fund-raising album for Tiny Changes, a mental health charity started in memory of Frightened Rabbit’s frontman Scott Hutchison.
 
     “My Backwards Walk” by Manchester Orchestra

     “Summer in America” by Dreamer Boy was released in May 2024.

Lyrics of “Summer in America” by Dreamer Boy
Who do I listen to?
Does anybody have a clue?
When you rip through your dancing shoes
And you're tiptoeing through everybody else's news
Say, "What you chewin' on lately?"
Elastic attention with no definition
No clear intention
I puddle jump, I puddle jump, reflection to reflection
Till I feel connection, my ego is a weapon
 
And I
Got the sun on my back, and it's summer in America
And I
Got the sun on my back, and it's summer in America
Oh, I
La-la-la, yeah
La-la-la
La-la-la
(Yeah, I told 'em I said)
 
I got a bad case of envy, been getting pretty skinny
I'm like a buck forty soakin' wet, need therapy within me
I'm a face and a body, a human, a human
"Oh boy, you need Jesus, what the hell are ya doin'?"
And I was going to the party, where the DJ would play
And Jonny said, "More parties in the USA"
 
And now I
I stumble the streets, and it's summer in America
And I
No, I can't feel a thing, and it's summer in America
Oh, why?
La-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la
(I was walking home)
 
The parking lot is vacant
Except a single car with two young lovers making vows on the tar
And I take a photo walking by, memorize their shape
It's a blurry mess of love and jest, it's all I'm left to trace
 
And now I
I stumble the streets, and it's summer in America
And I
The sun's on my back, and it's summer in America
And I
I can't find love, and it's summer in America
(Somebody take me in)
La-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la

     “All My Friends” by LCD Soundsystem 

     “Stay Alive” by José González

     “Known” by The Dramatics

“Bed Ridden” by Grayson Ratliff – A Song Feature

     The charismatic warmth in the vocal delivery of Grayson Ratliff pulls listeners into his music - and listeners willingly surrender. Then, the awareness and insights in his lyrics that provide the push into returning to the songs. Ratliff explains, “I’m trying to be something bigger than what I’ve been and leave my footprint on this world. I hope my music is as giving and healing to you as it is to me and thank you for tagging along with me on this journey!”
 
     “Bed Ridden” is arguably the most impactful release from Ratliff. The song references conversations with his sorrows, demons and feelings. The first verse is:

I question my sorrows and demons

Only to hear them say

“Boy, we ain't leaving”

 
     Without knowing what it would take to stand up and stop the bleeding, the best solution might be to stay in bed and patiently wait for the healing. The lyrics of “Bed Ridden” have the feel of wisdom that comes with age. But Grayson Ratliff is in his early twenties. Life insights arrive via many avenues – Ratliff freely talks about his past struggles with addiction.
 
     The bio on his website is interesting:
  Grayson Ratliff, at only 22, has emerged as a captivating force in Colorado's music scene. With his folk-infused rock sound, he's captured hearts and turned heads with his soulful lyrics and mesmerizing melodies. Hailing from the Rocky Mountains, Ratliff brings a raw authenticity to his music, drawing inspiration from the landscape around him.
     
     “Bed Ridden” by Grayson Ratliff

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grayson.ratliff.5
Website: https://www.graysonratliffmusic.com/
 
Lyrics of “Bed Ridden” by Grayson Ratliff
I question my sorrows and demons
Only to hear them say
“Boy, we ain't leaving”
 
I stare at the hallways and ceiling
Wondering what it would take
To stand up and stop my bleeding
 
And in my bed, I go through cold seasons
Patiently I guess I’ll stay
And wait for all the healing
 
Cause I reached out
To a feeling
And all that was said
Was “Toughen up
Get a reason
For the days up ahead”
 
But it ain't that simple now
With all the feeling I get
So this time
I think I'll just stay in my bed
Think I'll just stay in my bed
 
But I guess theirs still time for the good things
But it’s not measured by my days
But measured by the weight
 
And that weight I feel I carry with me
I'll cherish every word that you say
Still trying to make all of them stay
 
Cause I reached out
To a feeling
And all that was said
Was “Toughen up
Get a reason
For the days up ahead”
 
But it ain't that simple now
With all the feeling I get
So this time
I think I'll just stay in my bed
 
Bed
Oh
Stay in my bed
 
Cause I reached out
To a feeling
And all that was said
Was “Toughen up
Get a reason
for the days up ahead”
 
But it ain't that simple now
With all the feelings I get
So this time
I think I'll just stay in my bed

“In A Dream” by Trace Mountains – A Song Feature

 

     It isn’t difficult to maintain an energy throughout a longer than normal song – establishing and then sustaining a tempo will accomplish the task. But keeping the interest of the listener is the difficulty. “In A Dream” does so successfully. The rhythm of the song from Trace Mountains plays a major role, but so does the determination in the vocals. The lyrics are sometimes rhythm driven and other times melody-emphasized.
 
     The guitar is strong as it exhibits a degree of influence from War On Drugs. Trace Mountains is the project of Dave Benton (of LVL UP). Benton is based in New York. Other musicians on “In A Dream” are Craig Hendrix (drums, backing vocals), Jim Hill, (guitar), Josh Marré (guitar), Logan Roth (piano, synth), and Jill Ryan (backing vocals).
 
     “In A Dream” is a single that will be on the nine-track album “Into The Burning Blue,” which will be released September 27, 2024. The album can be pre-ordered at https://tracemountains.bandcamp.com/album/into-the-burning-blue. Trace Mountains will visit San Francisco on December 7 at Thee Parkside (for ticket information, visit https://www.theeparkside.com/live-music-2#/events).

 
     “In A Dream” by Trace Mountains

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracemountains/
Website: https://www.tracemountains.com/
Bandcamp: https://tracemountains.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “In A Dream” by Trace Mountains
late night
bike ride
sweat drips down through your helmet
 
world burns
take turns
leading on through the humid velvet
 
night time ride
you’re in a dream
and you don’t know what the fuck it means
you’re coming clean
the open heart ain’t the way it seemed
 
U.S. progress
what’s your name boy
i want you to see this
 
short fuse
true blue
blanketed in the utter madness
drifting on
 
you’re in a dream
you feel the world busting at its seams
you’re coming clean
but you don’t know what the fuck it means
 
you’re in a dream
in a town out west on a river
you sink a stone you feel it in you & you know
you’re alone while the world is on the run
 
the naked sun
like a stone sinks low and you wonder
where it goes will there be thunder
where it shines will the people suffer
 
do you have faith in it then
the way you always pretend
can a country be good
can a person learn
to be a part of the world
natural
human
animal
 
do you know what i mean
yeah you know what i mean
i think you know what i mean
 
you’re in a dream
you feel it all in a conscious stream
you’re coming clean
the open heart ain’t the way it seemed
 
you’re in a dream
making out on a couch in a burning house
taking turns in the lead & you’re running now
feel the weight of the world tipping over
on your shoulders
And in between we undress
And the stress of the past mess
dulling out in a breath from your rising chest
i grip your neck to pull you closer
you know i told you
you make me honey
make me pay for what i done
I don’t wanna be afraid of anyone
 
but i ain’t ever been afraid of knowing love
feels like a dream
loving you ain’t the way it seemed
i’m coming clean
i feel the world busting at its seams
feels like a dream
feels like a dream
 
the naked sun
like a stone sinks low & you wonder
where it goes will there be thunder
where it shines will the people suffer
 
the brilliant moon
on the rise burns bright in desire
like a flame that flickers higher
all the same as a loving fire
a burning desire
Like a loving fire
A burning desire
Like a loving fire
A burning desire
[Repeating]

“Concrete” by Lazy Day – A Song Feature

 

     The intro of “Concrete” is an announcement that the listener will be treated to a cascade of hooks and riffs wrapped as a rhythm-emphasized parcel. When the vocals enter, the phrasing is choppy and sometimes fragmented. But the vocals work well within the context of “Concrete,” since the instruments similarly briefly jump into the song from Lazy Day, attract attention, and then withdraw.
 
      Indie Obsessive is not typically in favor of a single person playing most or all of the instruments of a song. There is likely someone who can play at least one of the instruments as well or better. And if the song is going to be performed live, it will need additional musicians anyway. But “Concrete” proves itself an exception. Lazy Day is the London-based project of Tilly Scantlebury, who in addition to taking on writing, production and programming responsibilities, contributes the vocals, the guitars, the bass, and the synth. David Newington is the drummer.
 
     “Concrete” is the fourth release from an upcoming album – “Open the Door.” The album, which will comprise 11 songs, is scheduled to drop on November 8, 2024, via Brace Yourself Records. To pre-order the album in any of a number of formats, visit the Bandcamp site https://lazydaylazyday.bandcamp.com/album/open-the-door.
 
     In an explanation of “Concrete,” Scantlebury said:
  “Concrete was a helpful metaphor. It’s strong and sturdy, as well as being extremely heavy. It was a useful framework for thinking about relationships which felt stable, but at the same time weighed me down. Writing the lyrics like vignettes of memories helped me gain a sense of perspective, as I tried not to carry the full load of responsibility.”
  “This song is a big shift from what I’d made before. Written later in the album making process, I was gaining new confidence, realising that the record could be whatever I wanted it to be. At the same time, expectations I had held of myself for so long were starting to fall away. It was an amazing feeling, especially when the content of the song is about the breakdown of trust, my fears about someone coming true, and facing the collapse of it all head on. Writing ‘Concrete’ felt like making a massive mess before doing the most concise tidy up ever. A bit of destruction in the interest of creation.”
 
     “Concrete” by Lazy Day

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lazydaylazyday
Website: www.lazydaylazyday.com
Bandcamp: https://lazydaylazyday.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “Concrete” by Lazy Day
No use sleeping in
Gotta get my work done
Sitting on the sofa
Trying to keep my hopes up
 
Heavy when I tell you
“What's been going on?”
Sitting on the concrete
Smoking
Bare feet
Are we having fun?
 
Saw it happening
Felt it when the mood dropped
Meeting at the table
I never got hopes up
 
Heavy when I tell you
“It’s all going wrong”
Sitting on the concrete
Talking
Downbeat
We’re already
We’re already done
 
No, no, no, no — no use
I saw it happening
 
Concrete
Heavy
Heavy
Are we having fun?
What’s been going on?
 
Never got my hopes up
Saw it happening
Never got my hopes up
It’s already done
Sitting on the concrete
Downbeat, down, downbeat
Down, down, down — downbeat
I never got my hopes up
Heavy
Concrete