Should you ever wonder what makes a pop song in the days immediately preceding Armageddon then look no further than “Listen Up” by Tawny K. The computer is carrying the freight yet there is still the mark of humanity to be found in the lyrics.
Although the band, like me, are clearly far too young to have first-hand knowledge of the psych pop influences that liberally season “Rip It Off”, it is nonetheless obvious that taking the listener on a guitar powered trip comes easily to Parsnip. I’m a believer.
“Talking To Yourself” plays out like a pop song from a time when such things were the norm and Dante Matas does his best to fill the obligatory three minutes with enough in the way of hook and melody to take your attention into tomorrow.
Pulling the stick back on seventies retro rock moves allows “Treat Ya Better” to gain some altitude and duly gives The Criticals the chance to fly their song on to the bridge in order to impress both the youth of today and their gran.
Guitars turned up to the max? Yes! Sleazy streetwise attitude present and correct? Oh yes! God bless Keys for making “I Only Want You For Your Rock and Roll” into the kind of song that actively encourages delinquent behaviour. Play loud.
Minor key melancholy sets the mood for “The Wolf” and Freja Frances weaves enough metaphorical ambiguity into her words to make her song seem deeper than even the shadows in her heart. Worth a second or even third play.
OK, so Weston Rd dig up all the best moves from rock history to power their song “Take You Down” but it is undeniable that they do so with notable style. Powerhouse lead vocals from Joe Blanks polish the song off nicely.
Winning this weeks’ award for best song title, Go Go Ponies kick it up with some flair and duly turn their song “Sharknado Circle Pit” into a punk meets hard rock hybrid destined to damage the walls anywhere that they might play.
Melodic metal gets some Scandinavian style with Sublime Eyes doing their Norwegian best to turn their song “Med Tiden Gror” into the kind of anthem that destroys stadiums. With the volume turned, you might well believe that this song will do just that.
Despite, or perhaps, because of, the low key retro electro intro, Emily Breeze manages to take her song “Work” on a journey from the computer to the heart and that heart is that of a literate, and ironic, songwriter.
Looping insistently might seem like taking the easy way out but Zeke Finn knows where he is going and he duly takes his song “What You Need” straight down the laptop indie pop with a purpose road to deliver his simple message to you.
As was always the case, polished pop music needs a good song and Katie Toupin gives us just that with “Magnetic Moves” oozing commerciality whilst hiding a deeper message in the sharp edged lyrics. Ears and brains blessed with maturity will appreciate this one.
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