I always try to understand why a musician affects me this way. This magic, why this narrow band of artistic expression – words, melody, chords, rhythm – makes me feel. Much better than having a perfect voice is having a unique voice. And this sleepy, cool, understated singer always seems to be tugging me closer. […]
I adore a pop song – and this is a pop song at it’s finest. This is an updating of the Duran Duran sound – which is my highest praise – since I was raised on Duran Duran. Specifically “Into The Daylight” evokes the “Come Undone” chapter of DD, when they knew exactly who they […]
Best of the underground, week of May 19, 2020: At least six, possibly seven, reasons to get out of bed. PLUS, more plans for our post-post-capitalist society. Plus music. Lots of music. (All podcasts and reviews are on www.hlycrp.com, and you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.) […]
Best of the underground, week of May 12, 2020: John reveals all of his tricks – and these are tricks – for being popular, including a detailed break down of the art of butt kissing. Be sure to write all this down (All podcasts and reviews are on www.hlycrp.com, and you can also follow us […]
Best of the underground, week of May 5, 2020: The REAL reason why John can’t do guitar solos. Anarchists vs. New-Agey people. Who Dolly Parton should and should not be friends with. (All podcasts and reviews are on www.hlycrp.com, and you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.) […]
So much haunting beauty and intensity in this open reverb drenched guitar and spare vocals. I don’t want to be lonely with anyone else but you. This is the intimate diary of isolation and disconnection and withdrawing – mirrored in both the beauty, the sluggish and languid reflection, and moments when the guitar and song […]
I’m a sucker for cello. Aggressive rock, punked out cello. And I’m a total sucker for the story of magical creatures, these giants, that used to roam our Ohio valley. This idea that there is a magic that we’ve lost, that has become extinct, is a fantastic metaphor for creativity. There is a magic that […]
This song is very close to my heart – evoking these post punk musical ideas of New Model Army, The Alarm, U2 (Sunday Bloody Sunday era) and even Bad Religion. It is music that should ring in the air as you march into battle (even if the battle anthem is Sunday Bloody Sunday and a […]
This was and will always be a massive track for me. This is distorted garage guitar and smashed drums and vocals that lean heavily on narrative and attitude. Alex Luciano sings the story of a boy from her hometown choosing the other girl, the girl who has her act together, who is going off to […]