Mikey Demilio – Schulmans
You’ll have to make sure that you always have the cash to pay for the bar bill. Being an artist ain’t cheap, and drinks are an almost guaranteed expense. I’m sorry, but it’s just the way it is, and you’re unlikely to find companions willing to understand why you don’t want to set foot into one of these places where souls get lost and are never retrieved. Mikey Demilio.
But nobody said that the life of an artist was going to be easy. There’s plenty of expectation involved. Nah, I’m not talking about selling records. I’m talking about the truth and how the people staring at the artist expect to receive it. With so much at stake, naturally, artists can’t be blamed for doubting themselves each time they make an incision, hoping to get to the heart of the matter.
Mikey Demilio makes The Strokes sound like well-behaved cousins who had enough sense to become responsible individuals early on. Demilio is still sniffing up some thrills, looking for a fight and balancing himself on a bar stool at “Schulmans,” the title of this song and establishment where the singer’s seen many lose their way. But what’s the result? Convincing indie-rock that’s easy on the ears and just contains a sprinkle more grit than its competitors.
Handsome Midnight – Breakdown
Rock music’s filled with surprises. At least, that’s what it used to be and what we can only hope that it will be ready for us in the future. It’s a type of entertainment that only works by contrast. It’s a thrill that’s only worth having as long as it’s not what everybody else is using as a means to pass the Summer. It’s only worth hearing if it brings as much passion to the music as Handsome Midnight does.
Frankly, if you stare at any random list of the greatest rock artists and bands, you’re bound to notice a lot of unusual behaviour from people who seem otherworldly. Rockstars tend to either be colossal bastards or lords of the world who are not touched by the things that most of us are forced to navigate. That’s precisely why good guy rock stars are few and colossally beloved.
Nobody ever had Bruce Springsteen or his modern emissary Brian Fallon for villains. They’re not. They’re hard workers from humble backgrounds trying to inspire the world through song. This is precisely what Handsome MIdnight bring to “Breakdown.” A musical attempt at getting someone off the ledge and into the old, comfortable chair, “Breakdown” shines in its imperfections, letting soul be its compass. Good guys, sometimes, have the last laugh.
