GRAB BAG REVIEWS, January 2022

About two weeks ago I put out the call on social media and that call was answered!  One of the hot things to do as a music reviewer is a Grab Bag Review, where you take song review requests from your audience and see what comes out.  We got a decent response, so let's dig in and see what our friends want me to check out (and surprise, there's quite a bit of music from the 20's):

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"You Are My Sunshine" by The Dead South (2021)

(requested by Joe C.)

About as maudlin as "You Are My Sunshine" should sound in 2022.  A minor-key treatment of the old Jimmie Davis tune, it takes the subtext of pleading desperation that's always made me feel a little sad when I hear a happier, major-key take on this song and makes it the text.  Sung with pathos aplenty.

"Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra (1980)

(requested by Emma P.)

I mean, first of all, let me just say a hearty "Fuck yeah!" to this one.  The movie is bonkers, and this is the theme it deserves.  Schmaltzy radio rock, but with a driving dance beat, syrupy sweet vocals from ONJ, ELO doing what they do best (which is be the most regal flavor of cheese possible)...what's not to like?

"Submarines" by Failure (2021)
(requested by Ryan S.)

It got by me until about December that Failure had dropped a new album (only their third since 1996).  This is my first chance to dig into it.  Production's a little cleaner than their older faire, but it's a reasonable facsimile of it.  (It's not jarring is what I'm getting at; just a little softer around the edges.)  Lyrically the first verse feels like it's comparing Trump to the character in Citizen Kane, which kinda fits, then the second verse is about reckoning with the new person the singer is, forged in the dumpster fires of 2020.  They're determined not to go back to the isolation of being in the Submarine; they're "never going down", but there's also the line "Submarines forever" just before that, so maybe that's not in the cards?  (The way 2022's turning out so far...)

"Honey" by Romero (2020)

(requested by Corey B.)

A nice slab of indie pop rock that sounds lifted directly from a 12 inch (and since that's the single cover, it's a distinct possibility).  This has vitality, hooks and charm.  It also doesn't follow a verse/chorus/verse structure: it goes verse/chorus/lead guitar bridge/solo/verse/chorus, and that definitely makes it stick out.  Some might complain about the hot mastering, but I think this is the right way to use that tool.  Tastefully.

"Never Say Never" by Romeo Void (1982)

(requested by Don L.)

To do my due diligence, I listened to the single version and the 12".  And yeah, this is some 1982 shit.  Left of the dial, drawing influences from The Pretenders, Blondie, Madness, Siouxie and the Banshees and X.  The song is a lot more straight forward than that amalgam of influences sounds: a goth-tinged, driving rock song, the kind that permeated the era.  It shows teeth but definitely doesn't want to be classified as metal.  The lyrics are a lot more straight forward (emphasis on "forward").  "I might like you better if we slept together" is the line that gets hammered home, and it feels like something else was about to get hammered home in the near future ifyouknowhati'msayin.

The 12" version definitely feels more complete; it actually has the word "fuck" in the second verse for one, and it doesn't fade out in the middle of the third chorus.  It also has another drawn out verse, separated by more echo and ambience.  If you're going to check the song out, make it this version; the other one stops too early.

"Under The Boardwalk" by Bruce Willis (1987)

(requested by Kyle R.)

Remember back when Bruce Willis gave a shit?  Yeah, me neither.

This sounds like John Travolta covering "Kokomo".  Three words: Cascio. keyboard. presets.

"Please Don't Fuck Up My World" by Sparks (2020)
(requested by Marc F.)

Apparently this is the first time this band cracked the Billboard Top 200 album chart since 1983, so congrats to them.  I've never heard of this group, but apparently they've done a lot of albums.  The production is kinda cheap, especially the drums (there is no body to them).  I imagine the ideal format to listen to this would be cassette; I think maybe it could work there.  The lyrics are at least something to get behind: a plea to literally not fuck up the world.  It's an earnest plea to take care of the environment, which I wish worked on more people.

"Atone" by Jerry Cantrell (2021)
(requested by Matthew S.)

The leadoff track to the new Jerry Cantrell album Brighten.  Kind of a dusty feel to it; lots of sound effects that read as "Western Movie background noises".  I like the chord progression in the chorus because it's almost "wrong" without being wrong, y'know?  It sets the unease without being blatant about it.  

"Candyland" by Unprocessed (2021)

(requested by different Matthew S.)

Another song with good chords and note choices.  The texture of the song works with the name as well: everything feels gummy and sugary, yet the center is like a hard root beer candy; kinda like an inverse Tootsie Pop.  Then halfway through the song dips into some Polyphia shit and goes all clean tone Youtube guitar showoff.  I would've liked the chorus to come back and repeat about two more times; it sort of trails off.  But it's a minor nitpick because its ear candy instead of physical candy, I don't have to worry about my teeth; chew this shit up.

"Right On Time" by Brandi Carlile (2021)

(requested by Nicole J.)

I've actually been meaning to check this album out.  Didn't quite get to it in the deluge of October/November releases, but here we are.  Showcases the vocal power and technique; there's a lot of different ultra-specific emotional tics and hangups she puts into the delivery so you know exACTly what she's going through.  I'm not a huge fan of torch songs as a vehicle, but she manages to make the emotion real enough where I don't just hear raw technique.

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"The Music Gets Us Thru" by Brad Vickers (2021)

(requested by @adamtebrugge)

Some 50's rock, but from last year (which is weird because the first line is "Been on the road since 1982"...).  Kinda reminiscent of "You Never Can Tell" by Chuck Berry.  It's a song about just...being glad music exists (rock and roll specifically).  Can't argue with that, or why would I be doing this blog?

"And When I Die" by Blood, Sweat and Tears (1968)
(requested by @romanatwin)

The band is remarkably tight through some unexpected meter changes.  It's kind of like a mashup of the band War (the slow parts and definitely the harmonica) and The Door's sense of swing (the fast part; reminded me of "Touch Me") built on the bones of Three Dog Night.  Definitely see why this was a hit in 1968; it ticks all the boxes.


That's gonna do it for this go 'round.  This was fun; we should do this again!  I'm always cooking something up, so stay tuned to this here blogospere and we'll see if I can come up with something less lame than that last sentence next time.

Love Over Fear.