Riley Oak – Cigarettes and a Diet Soda
Rock stars aren’t like you or me. When was the last time that you saw a rock star buying groceries in the same supermarket as you? And if you ever did, they were probably missing their hair-piece, glitter and make-up, which made the encounter very disappointing indeed and hardly worth remembering.
Rock musicians are supposed to be otherworldly. They’ve the reputation of people who can’t bother to care about the things you or I waste our time worrying about. But what if they did? What if rock musicians could be just like Riley Oak, making bad decisions, and taking detailed notes of all the events that lead to their downfall?
The world would be a more entertaining place, for one thing. The world would have more songs like “Cigarettes and a Diet Soda,” a well-worded communique about the slim pickings of the dating world and the dietary habits of the heartbreakers out there. Alas, Riley Oak might be a little too clever to be ordinary. Never mind!
Vetro – Paramnesia
You’re at a much greater risk of being murdered by someone you know and, possibly, even, love than by a complete stranger. Now, that may be a statistic that you’ve heard before. But what that piece of information does not mention is how swiftly, or, indeed, how slowly, the crime is likely to occur.
Rock music tends to shy away from the things that don’t allow the musicians to sit on a pedestal and look enviable for all the people watching them. Rock stars want to be adored, first, and, only if absolutely necessary, do they want people to feel sorry for them. Vetro, on the other hand, has the bravery to dig into uncomfortable territory.
“Paramnesia” is a nicely crafted alternative-rock song about making bad choices for the right reasons. It’s a song about love being exploited and trust being broken. Musically, this is also a powerful number, with Vetro blending the influence of 90s grunge with modern rock trends.
