If you’ve ever been to Montreal, you might remember the water. To fly over the city is to look at a maze of tiny tributaries and substantial streams – the water sleepwalking beside bustling streets to St. Lawrence river. Montrealer Matthew Azrieli captures this movement in his new song “I Thought I Saw You the Other Day.”
With a voice like a country road, Azrieli sings of a broken bond with an old friend or lover. The track runs for just over a minute and thirty seconds, but feels longer. In the brief time he has you, Azrieli wraps you in warm guitar and thoughtful lyrics, gently leading you along each turn of phrase. It’s a simple tune, but “I Thought I Saw You the Other Day” is the kind of song that leaves its door open for revisiting again and again. It wants you to sit with it and it wants to stay with you.
“I Thought I Saw You the Other Day” holds itself with certainty – capturing its sentiment with confidence. The memories revisited in it are reminiscent of the water, steady as it drifts away. Azrieli doesn’t mourn this, but rather accepts it. “I’m not quite sure if it was you, but even if it were there’s not a lot I would say,” he admits. The track is one of bereavement without grief.
The instrumental of the tune dances easily with the lyrics. Nothing but a guitar weaves around the words. This simplicity gives the track its charm. It also creates a stronger sense of intimacy with the listener. At times, you have the sense Azrieli is talking to himself. Others, it seems he’s reaching to hold your hand.
On both this record and his others, Azrieli feels like an old friend. The wit and vulnerability of his lyrics resemble that of Bob Dylan or Nick Drake. Perhaps this parallel to the cherished folk tunes of the ‘70s is what makes Azrieli appear so familiar. Listening to him croon through his buried thoughts makes being alone your own thoughts more bearable. Clearly, his songs are best suited for long drives and longer nights.
As you listen to “I Thought I Saw You the Other Day,” think of the waters of Montreal, the same waters Azrieli grew up singing to. There, you can see the memories drifting away, without resentment or pain, but simply with the inevitable passing of time. There, you, too, may see someone you used to know.
Portland-based artist Care Again (Brandon Kerrigan) has just released an inspired new album titled Sit Outside. The album consists of 12 songs, all characterized by their eclectic tunes and catchy choruses.
Sit Outside is a culmination of ten years’ worth of music. The long-time musician shares that many of the musical components used in the album were written at the City College of San Francisco, using an upright piano in the music wing’s practice room. The music was produced by Dylan Magierek in the Badman Records Studio in Portland. A fun fact is that Kerrigan is a big-time fan of Magierek’s previous work STRFKR, released in 2008; he and his friends would listen to it religiously in high school.
My personal favorite is “Allergies”. In the chorus:
The way you love me, the way you love me, it’s too disturbing, I need to rest in peace. The way you love me, the way you love me, it’s too discerning, I need some room to breathe.
Kerrigan compares his lover’s affection to that of seasonal allergies. This person is suffocating him with love, so much so that he would rather be left alone. If this song was a fable the moral of the story would be that too much of something, even if it is good, is a bad thing. I love the metaphorical meaning behind these lyrics. Everyone can relate to these lines, whether the affection is coming from a significant other, parent, or clingy pet!
And I cannot write a review on this album without mentioning the cover art. Most notable is the large tree in the middle of the cover, surrounded by yellowing leaves with a backdrop of a clear blue sky reflecting a pond below. The transparent font of the album title lets the background art do the talking. This psychedelic yet fresh and earthy cover is a perfect representation of all of Care Again’s songs.
You can listen to the album on July 12th via physical copy, Spotify, Bandcamp, and careagainmusic.com. Follow Kerrigan on Instagram and subscribe to his YouTube channel to show some extra support!
The headliner of night 1 at Boulevardia 2024 was Milky Chance, a band the event’s organizers had been trying to contract for years. They were giddy as they introduced them, as the night set in on the streets of downtown Kansas City. The band was as fun as ever and the music created an entirely standalone vibe in the main stage. Milky Chance kind of sprinkles magic where they go with their feel-good energy. Photos below to prove it.
For two decades, Scott Fisher has crafted musical fusions of his own design, with works featured in popular TV shows such as Shameless, Parks & Recreation, and Gossip Girl. His groovy rhythms are infectiously catchy and are right at home in these comedies and dramas. If his new single “Still the Same” were in a show, it would accompany a protagonist returning to their old hometown, expecting friends and family to have changed—only, they find that everything has stayed the same.
Funky jazz chords and a guitar riff hook the listener from the start, evoking 1970s production styles. Fisher’s voice echoes with reverb, infusing the song with a contemporary indie-pop spin. The lyrics are contemplative, as the speaker observes the inherent constancy of people despite ever-changing surroundings. Fisher observes that “the same old thoughts” are “in different brains” and “the gray in your beard is all that changed.” It’s a timeless feeling, as we move from one place in life to the next and realize that human emotions are, at their core, changeless.
“Still the Same” is the third single from Fisher’s upcoming album, Kingdom of Ego. Fisher is currently based in Los Angeles, where he has worked on acclaimed television shows (Shameless, Parks and Recreation, Better Call Saul, The Good Doctor, etc.). He has opened for Brandi Carlile, Augustana, and Pink Martini, in line with their genre-crossing musical styles.
St. Louis’ Story of The Year has been making the rounds in 2023. But their announcement as the opener at Yellowcard’s first show in New York in years helped to secure the lineup of the summer. Our emo nostalgia minds were absolutely blown from the very first chords, and we are thrilled to have been present for this magic.
Step into the enchanting realm of Luna Aura, where cosmic melodies and electrifying beats collide. With her ethereal voice and magnetic energy, Luna defies expectations and creates a sound uniquely her own. Brace yourself for a sonic journey like no other, as Luna Aura’s latest single, “Candy Colored Daydream,” paints vivid musical landscapes that transport you to a world of vibrant imagination.
In “Candy Colored Daydream,” Luna Aura delves into a realm of self-discovery and empowerment, navigating the highs and lows of life’s journey. The lyrics “The highs, the lows, the fast, the slow. It’s plucking at my feathers, I just wanna let it go” poetically express the emotional turbulence experienced, symbolized by the metaphorical plucking of feathers, as Luna longs to release and find inner peace.
Musically, the song is a masterful fusion of genres, blending elements of pop, electronic, and alternative sounds. Luna’s innovative approach to production and arrangement infuses the track with an infectious energy, making it impossible to resist moving to the rhythm.
The song reflects Luna Aura’s quest for liberation and confidence in a world that can be overwhelming and filled with challenges. It serves as a call to embrace one’s vulnerabilities, allowing for personal growth and the pursuit of authenticity. Through “Candy Colored Daydream,” Luna Aura invites listeners to join her in letting go of burdens and embracing the freedom to be true to oneself.
Upcoming Tour Dates: 9/15 – Wallingford, CT @ The Dome at Oakdale 9/16 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount 9/18 – North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues 9/19 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues 9/21 – Huntsville, AL @ Mars Music Hall 9/22 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life Festival 9/24 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues 9/25 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues 9/27 – Albuquerque, NM @ Marquee Theatre 10/1 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues 10/3 – Riverside, CA @ Riverside Municipal Auditorium 10/5 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern 10/8 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival
