I think this new Phoebe Bridgers album has been quite well covered by the proper music media and therefore there’s not that big of a need to write about on this little blog. I kind of try to focus on the artists that nobody else covers in this country, because I’m a horribly bad writer and don’t feel like I could offer a remotely interesting angle to these fairly well received releases. However, Stranger in the Alps by Phoebe Bridgers is so phenomenal, riveting and beautiful that I have to briefly tell the world or the 23 regular readers that I love the album. I first heard her name when PAX AM released her 7”, but didn’t really properly start listening until my twitter feed started getting crowded with praises in early 2017. They were so right. She is amazing. This is Smoke Signals from her new album that is out now on Dead Oceans.
The daylight is vanishing and year is getting close to the end. Some are probably already sketching their aoty lists, but I still have a whole lot to do to even mention all the albums I’ve enjoyed during the year. So I’ll carry on sharing songs and my love for the songs.
William Matheny’s debut album Strange Constellations is one of those that I’ve failed to mention even though I really like it. The album came out on Misra Records back in February and I bought a download soon after and it has stayed with me throughout the year. If all my beloved sad bastards have temporarily overstayed their welcome in my heart and depression tries to grow too much, this album is a damn fine kick in the ass. Sure William Matheny also delivers some gorgeous country-tinged ballads, but this one contains a whole lot of energy and rock’n’roll and even a softie like me needs that occasionally. There’s a little bit everything actually. The man has the ability to create beautiful pop melodies, convincing folk storytelling and Hold Steady-ish indie rockers. Maybe some songs fall into good-but-not-that-special category, but doesn’t really matter at all. 99.99% of albums have some of those, but only a selected few have such awesome ones like Blood Moon Singer and Teenage Bones.
Canadian The Burning Hell wrote the song that I’ve loved the most during the past decade, but let’s not get into that again because there’s a brand new The Burning Hell album Revival Beach available on BB*Island. My early favorite song is this great combination of warmhearted smiles and nostalgic tears and it’s called The River (Never Freezes Anymore).
Simon Joyner from Omaha, Nebraska is one incredible songwriter and he is now back with a new album Step Into The Earthquake that is out now on Ba Da Bing Records (USA) and BB*Island (Europe). I completely fell in love with his previous album Grass, Branch & Bone and these days it’s one of my favourite albums of this current decade. Step Into Earthquake probably doesn’t become as important to me and quite frankly that’s pretty much impossible. However, this new double is also a magnificent album and a master-class of songwriting. I’ve had most of these songs on rotation for months, because I bought the Phoenix demos during the ACLU benefit on Bandcamp, but they’ve kept their magic throughout the year. This is Earthquake from the new Simon Joyner album.
