Almost Twins – Puppeteer
Similar artists: José González, Kings of Convenience
Genre: Indie Folk, Folk, Indie Rock
Staying in control is exhausting. Making decisions all the time leads to fatigue. And taking responsibility for your actions, as you should, will eventually burn you out. Nearly everyone is looking for a way to shed that load. Almost every person is looking for someone or something to show them the way because they can’t stand always having to discover the road for themselves.
But it’s tricky. Many people lost themselves in religious practices. The rituals are built on the tenant that they must surrender control. But who are they once they do? Many others lose themselves to chemicals. It numbs them and helps rid them of the burden of responsibility. But who are they once it stops? Finally, some try and use music and other art forms to achieve the same.
Almost Twins’ brand of psychedelic folk-pop heard on “Puppeteer,” has the air of music meant for a religious ceremony. What needs to be achieved during it? Perhaps it is a sense of freedom from needing to make so many choices. “Puppeteer” is a song about voluntarily relinquishing control. The hypnotic groove of the song will certainly help you appreciate the tune for what it is. Afterwards, the choice of whether to continue is yours alone. And choice, as we talked about, can be a mighty tiring thing.
Kyle Andrews – Old Fashioned
Similar artists: Matt and Kim, Why Bonnie, Wilco
Genre: Alternative Rock
There are music producers who have worked with famous heavy metal bands that have one simple trick to determine if a song is worth being included on an album. They have the main songwriter play the tune on an acoustic guitar and softly sing it. Is it entertaining? Does it also strike an emotional chord? If it does, sure. Go on and stick that on an album.
Naturally, those songs are then treated to the full band arrangement and to all sorts of studio trickery. Why not gigantic electric guitars or drum solos? Why not have the sound a wolf howling in the middle of the tune? All of that can be done, but the songs that have survived over decades have the same thing in common. They can be reduced to barely a whisper, and they hold up.
Kyle Andrews’ “Old Fashioned” is looking to reach you without any glitter bombs or special effects. If it’s meant to make a connections, Andrews believes, it will do it with the strength of the words, the gentle vocal melodies and the clear, clean orchestration. Andrews is, no doubt, taking a chance here. But if you find yourself really listening in, you may find out that it’s all paid off.
