October-December 2017: What’s new in music?
Hey everyone! A new month brings a new kind of music article for FSWL. This time, I shall take you through a bunch of awesome tracks released between October and December.
1. U2’s Songs of Experience: “Summer of Love” & “You’re The Best Thing About Me”
“I’m sick of living in the shadows / We’ve one more chance before the light goes / for a summer of love.”
U2’s new album is prominently mellow, melodic and seems focused on the experience of one thing: love. “Summer of Love” is tingling with its steadily creeping instrumentation, and would be a great song for a calming drive by a beach during sunset. Sorry Brits, but I shall be enjoying this imagery as I spend an evening by the beach at the height of the Aussie summer. “You’re The Best Thing About Me” is a playful and jovial love song garnished by the unique indie rock sound that has become synonymous with U2, especially in the chorus.
“I have everything but I feel like nothing at all / There’s no risky thing for a man who’s determined to fall.”
2. “Santa Baby” cover by Wolf Alice
Hey, I thought it was a good time for some Christmas music to creep into FSWL. Wolf Alice’s cover of “Santa Baby” is a beautiful acoustic rock number! The rock edge on Ellie Rowsell’s voice gives the cheesy Xmas number an awesome, gritty touch.
3. Weezer’s Pacific Daydream: “Weekend Woman” & “Sweet Mary”
“I’m getting stuck in the weekday traffic / All I want to see is her / All I want is my weekend woman.”
Released in October, Pacific Daydream is a summer and spirit-fuelled treat for the ears. The alternative rock/pop punk band really did a great job with this album, and I would recommend listening to all of it! Being the soppy girl I am, I have picked out of the really cute romantic numbers of the album. “Weekend Woman” starts of as mellow, but then becomes very catchy and leads to an electric chorus. Really, the kind of music I’d probably jump around the room to… Listen out for the awesome bridge too! “Sweet Mary” is a really sweet number – a song that is catchy enough to also sing along to.
“I don’t know what I would do / Without my Sweet Mary love / To help me make it through.”
4. “Stand Up Tragedy” by The Fratellis
“If I was the melody you were the symphony / Honey loving you took the very best of me / I don’t need your red wine covered sympathy / Just another punchline in your stand up tragedy.”
A world away from “Chelsea Dagger”, “Stand Up Tragedy” gives us a foot-tapping insight into In Your Own Sweet Time, their upcoming 2018 album. Jon Fratelli puts on a high pitch voice here, which really gives the Fratellis sound a new, chic feel.
5. “I Love You But I’m Lost” by Tears for Fears
“In a dream, at the edge of a river / Where they swam, and I watched you shiver / Came to life in my arms and then turned to dust / I love you but I’m lost.”
“I Love You But I’m Lost” is Tears for Fears’ first single in 13 years, and it is an absolute belter! The band has thrown themselves into 2017 with a new style and electricity, yet have still retained some of their new wave feel. A cool fact about Tears for Fears? They influenced The 1975. Also, much like the cover for Weezer’s Pacific Daydream, the cover for this single is of children playing above Earth. Careful, kids!
6. “As You See Me Now” by Jools Holland & José Feliciano
“At the bottom, from the top / Now I love the single life I’ve got / I have not always been as you see me now.”
Okay, now would be a good time to express how much I enjoy watching Later… With Jools Holland. The boogie-woogie pianist Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra does wonders, whether they are reinventing classics (often with the original artists) or creating new material. “As You See Me Now” is fun and full of jazz magic, and José Feliciano really brings the song to life with his vocals! Both men have had stellar music careers, one in the UK and one in Puerto Rico. They have created magic with their musical partnership!
While we are on the topic of Jools Holland, I would love to share one of my favourite performances from his show: when he performed Soft Cell’s “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” with Marc Almond:
From Sophia with Love x
P.S. During the last 2 months, I have written music reviews on the new albums of Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, The Killers and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, only to name a few. To check some of them out, click here.