Andy's Songs of the North Playlist Reviews - April 2024
Reviews by: Andy Ellis, Writer @andysmileyjay
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, owner/editor @PlaylistTC
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Happy April! Don’t worry I’m not going to post a playlist article without the songs and say “April Fools,” because that would be ridiculous. I’d much rather fill you in on the new music I discovered within our state lines of which there is no shortage of, and, let’s be honest, I’m much more skilled in that area.
As always, if you hear a song you like remember to check the artist out live and buy their merchandise. It’s the best way to keep our lovely independent music scene alive.
Check out the playlist embedded below, tell your friends, and lets show the world the music being made in Minnesota.
sach!e “1NCE!”
sach!e’s “1NCE!” Gives off a very technicolor vibe. The beat has a fluid feel, almost like you’re hearing a colorful watercolor painting. And while vocal effects can be distracting, on this song it puts him in the painting with that perfect final stroke of the brush.
Kevin Bowe & The Okemah Prophets “I Hate Falling In Love”
Bowe is singing from the perspective of an observer, and the topic is love. You can hear the frustration from his experiences, but the Tom Petty slow country shuffle calmness of the song lets you know he’s got plenty of distance from it. He understands why it sucks and drives you crazy, but he also knows that when it works — it’s completely worth it.
Samuel Wilbur “Home”
If you ever wondered what that ‘hop, skip, and a step’ feeling sounded like - it’s what drives this song. Wilbur tells the story of finding his version of home. It’s a fun, energetic, and everlasting adventure with that special someone no matter where you two go.
Helen “New York City”
It’s a song about escaping and needing a new start, and I can hear the two energies in the music. The string section is that small town part of her that will always be back home no matter how far she travels. Then the low, thick electric guitar, and solid drums that drives home that big city spirit of New York that will certainly supply you with some thick skin to help you survive no matter where you are.
Admiral Fox “west chester, pa”
The more I listen to this song the calmer I get. The mix of a very simple, slow snare and kick drum combination, electric guitar, and calming vocals puts me in an almost Zen-like state of mind. I’ll figure out the lyrics once I snap out of this trance.
Humbird “Child of Violence”
It may touch on serious subject matter, but this song is filled with hope. But it’s that politically tinged, work-needs-to-be-done hopeful feel those songs from the 60s had - it takes more than prayer to achieve. I felt some influence from Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” as I soaked in the song, and, with Humbird’s aura of optimism, I believe this change is certainly within our grasp.
Floodwater Angel “Plato’s Cave”
Within 10 seconds I realized I was going wherever this lazy river of a song was taking me. It’s warmingly welcoming, and while you may feel like you’re on mind altering substances, you know you’re in safe hands. It’s escapism music at its most relaxed.
The Controversial New Skinny Pill “Deeper Than Feel”
I’m not sure what I just heard, but I want some more — a lot more. Any inclination of one genre was obviously thrown out the window, and this piece of music was the result. You want to both dance and just sit back and listen to what happens next.
bugsy “soup”
After a relatively quiet intro the band throws down into a controlled rock out that gives me hope for the future of grunge. The lead vocals and harmonies provide that layer of heart complete the song for me. I can feel every bit of what’s happening.
Lauda La Artista “Liberation”
An uplifting anthem just needs the right parts to get into your soul, and this song has it all. You’ve got the vocals that are clear in their feeling and messaging, an a cappella background choir, and some additional production that provides that perfect amount of “get up” feeling. Sign me up.
