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It sure seems like every single day there is something going on in our country that needs to be discussed. I never intended E2TG to be a current events or political blog - I have felt compelled to write about certain things from time to time, but I don't want you to take my silence here for approval or acceptance of the unacceptable. I vacillate between hopeful and hopelessness, and I ponder the path forward with so many people seemingly having dropped even the pretense of common human decency.
But, it is too easy to let writing about these things overwhelm the blog, and I do not want to do that. For me, E2TG (and more generally music) has been a refuge from the troubles of the world. Although, I have always loved topical and message songs, even in those cases, the melodies and the instruments, and the beats and all - are a shelter from the storms of life.
I have been thinking about my tendency to be a bit of a contrarian but I sometimes wonder if it is intentional or just a part of my DNA or if it matters. Just an example... I have been a fan of roots music of some kind almost as long as I have been interested in music - but I have also had a pretty wide-open attitude toward music. Especially, over the last five or six years, a lot of "Americana" music has come my way, and many of my favorite artists and bands fall somewhere along the spectrum of sounds that fall under that wide umbrella, however, at the same time I have actively took steps to keep from being pigeon-holded as an Americana music blog. Now, there is this voice that says, maybe if you focused on just Americana you would have a bigger base of readership. Maybe, I don't know. But, somehow, I think if I had put such limitations on my self, I would have tired of this thing and quit blogging a long time ago.
The fact is - although I love a good folk song and a great folk song can move me to tears, I need my punk, post-punk darkwave, electronica, hip-hop, rock, hard rock etc. music to s sustain me. Think of it as a balanced diet.
Onward!
Today, we wrap out of recap of this week's Feat. Friday Playlist! Tune in tomorrow for a brand new list... a bunch of new music is on the way... (Songs 30-37 today)
30. "Drunk" by Parker Lee
In typical fashion, we save some cool music to round out our weekly playlist. This segment of music begins with the lead off single ahead of the Scrundle EP due out on September 4 by this indie band from New Yorkshire. I really dig the sound of this track.
31. "Fire in the Rain" by The Hengles
From the UK, we cross the channel and head to Amsterdam for the new single from The Hengles. The band's members have been active in music since the 80s and 90s. They came together as The Hengles in 2015. "Fire in the Rain" was supposed to be released as the band's eighth single in June, however, with the lockdown, they took the opportunity to strip the song down and basically reinvent the song. For anyone who ever wondered how to set a fire in the rain...
32. "Moonlight" by Viewfinders
Next up, we have a track from this Denver, Colorado based indie rock band. This was a direct artist submission that caught my attention and my ear. Cool stuff.
33. "Niin kuin se ennen oli" by Bad Sauna
Bad Sauna are a relatively new rock band from Finland - recently signed to the All That Plazz label. I really like this song a lot. Substantive music that rocks sufficiently.
34. "Evolution" by Julian Shah-Tayler
Aka The Singularity, Julian Shah-Tayler is based in L.A. by way of Leeds. The music has a fascinating electro rock/new wave sound. The Singularity has had a great deal of success with film and television placements. If you note a touch of Bowie or Depeche Mode or The Cure - it might be becauser Shah-Tayler is part of successful tribute bands to all three artists. He has worked with some huge names as well as co-founding the Art Angeles charity which teaches music to underprivileged kids in Watts.
35. "Quimeras" by La Cigarra
Via the Columbian label Discos Infante, we have this relatively new project from the mind of producer Mateo Esquivel. I know very little about this band/project - translated the information was imaginative and beautiful, and I absolutely love the music.
36. "Trials - Origin Mix" by Dissonance
Following an only slightly intentional pattern, we close out this week's playlist with some heavier sounds - first we have a track from the Dallas, Texas based darkwave band Dissonance. Dissonance featuring vocalist Cat Hall began in the early 90s and revived in 2015. This is the second of three maxi singles being released by the band this summer.
37. "Slaves to the System" by The Veer Union; Defending Cain
We close with some socially conscious hard rock from The Veer Union based in Vancouver, B.C. - this is the first single ahead of a quarantine themed EP set for release early next year. Here they team with Defending Cain - a hard rock band from West Virginia. Interesting that we close with darkwave from Dallas and hard rock from West Virginia a good reminder to let go of geographical stereotypes when it comes to music.
