Weekly Picks: New song releases students need to hear
4 min read
The Drums recently released their second album, “Portamento.” | @thedrumsofficial, Instagram
by DAVY WASHINGTON
Senior Writer
Every week, as I’m sure most people do, I get songs stuck in my head that I just can’t shake! With fall drifting in like the leaves falling on campus, Spotify follows suit with the perfect songs to listen to, showing up in both the Recent Releases and Discover Weekly playlists. These are just a few of the songs that stood out and fit the teenage coming-of-age feeling that comes with the autumn air.
“How It Ended” by The Drums
At the end of The Drums’ sophomore album “Portamento,” “How It Ended” starts off with a heavy-toned guitar riff and angsty vocals. The lyrics of the song speak of remembrance and good times with someone who’s no longer in the singer’s life, which is a sentiment I’m sure most of us can relate to. It could even be seen as remembering a place that the singer grew up in and has emotional memories attached to. The sincerity of the vocals come out as a desire to be missed as they recount their nostalgia with senseless hopefulness. Lead singer Johnny Pierce said on a commentary track for the song, “There’s a sense of hope in this song, musically. But uh, there’s something there I think and I didn’t want to end the album in complete darkness. When I wrote how it ended, I just knew when that song was finished, it would be how it would end.” Listening to The Drums makes me think of The Smiths because both bands have the same tone in music and lyrically, singing on themes of teenage angst and always being in a state of existential crisis.
“Boring” by The Brobecks
“Boring” by The Brobecks is the last track on their only publicly-released album, “Violent Things.” The song opens with weary, tired vocals and a soft piano backing that gives the air of a last call or waving of a white flag. The chorus, “Boring, all of us are bored. Every day’s exactly the same, exactly the same as before. Oh what, oh what are you boring me for?” revisits the listener throughout the song, and highlights the themes of sadness woven into this album, as it came out in the late 2000s and the emo scene was still ever-present. The song ends with a repeated, cascading electronic instrumental that gives a theme-park sense of whimsy that’s fun to listen to. It’s the type of song you’d wave a flashlight to in a concert.
“Close Your Eyes” by The Backseat Lovers
“Close Your Eyes” is the newest single released by the band The Backseat Lovers from their upcoming album, “Waiting To Spill.” You’ve probably heard some of their songs before, for this band is behind popular songs such as “Pool House,” “Maple Syrup” and “Kilby Girl.” Joshua Harmon, the lead singer of the band, opens with a steady guitar and the lyrics, “Do you wanna be like your father? … Where have you been? Jack’s been waiting in your room every night.” The song has an overall message of being in pain and needing to move on, whether that be through going home or coming to terms with the past. This becomes clear in lyrics like, “The clock it ticks, I have to get older, when I wake up, and the dream is over.”
“Another Try” and “Cold Turkey” by The Happy Fits
Lastly, The Happy Fits, a band from New Jersey, finally released their newest album, “Under The Shade of Green,” just a few weeks ago, and it is overflowing with crowd-pleasing songs. Two tunes that stick out instantly are “Another Try” and “Cold Turkey.”
The group sets themselves apart by incorporating a cello in all of their songs as a core part of their sound. “Another Try” shows the instrument off by playing staccato, sharp notes, under the vocals of guitarist Ross Monteith and Calvin Langman, who is the band leader, vocal front and resident cellist. Their songs are packed with harmonies and high notes, showing off their wide vocal ranges. “Another Try” has an encouraging overall message to try again, even if life sucks, because it’s worth it. The lyrics, “It’s just the madness of reality, Is that, nothing really matters, So through the chaos, sing your melody; let it out, You’ll find everything you wanted,” ring through my head non-stop and carry such a powerful message, especially considering the state of the world and how difficult things can be. The last song for this section, “Cold Turkey,” works with a steady cello rhythm and bass drum to give a marching feeling. The double-layered vocals in the chorus give a crowd-like energy and would work best when performed live. The hearty guitar sound carries the chorus nicely as well, giving the listener a way in to really feel like a part of music.
