Underground Sounds with Chad Miller: April 2024
By Chad Miller - Summit FM Music Director
What's everyone been listening to out there? There's been an AVALANCHE of great new songs coming at us to start the new year, as per usual, with STILL more to come! Easily the most exciting time of the year in our world of music, that I get to sort through and play them for you on the radio. So much new music coming at us, so little time...however, these songs that might fly under the radar to most are what I've been diggin' most especially these past few weeks!
Like what you hear? Please email me at chad@thesummit.fm and let me know what you think!
Alejandro Escovedo "Bury Me"
One of the more interesting ideas for beginning to write an album was the thought that 73 year old Alejandro Escovedo had recently, where he decided to do things a little bit differently. The new album he's just released, "Echo Dancing," out now on Yep Roc Records, came from changing his mind on going about it in a conventional sense. He was planning on writing a record of new material, but then changed his mind, and realized that instead revisiting songs from various past albums would be far more interesting. Almost a way of turning old songs inside out to get a new sense, and understanding, of them. The lead single from the album is "Bury Me", a song he wrote while in his 40s, for his 1992 debut album "Gravity", but now is looking back at himself as a younger man. The almost menacing and mysterious vibe this song gives off is terrific, and one that I haven't been able to get enough of as of late. See this legend performing live on September 10, opening for Jason Isebell & the 400 Unit, at Jacobs Pavilion, in Cleveland.
Bully "Atom Bomb"
After releasing one of my favorite albums of a year ago, "Lucky for You," hard rockin' Nashville based band Bully, the project of Alicia Bognanno, really started to get out of a comfort zone. She started performing more concerts solo, which forced her to confront her nerves and anxiety about just the simple act of presenting herself onstage. It was an incredibly vulnerable thing that led to other challenging things for her personally, and in her music career, as ways to better herself. The new single "Atom Bomb," via Sub Pop Records, showcases that in a different way, and one that few probably saw coming. A piano ballad from someone who's known to rock so hard, and with a rough around the edges sandpaper-y sounding voice? It's true, and she totally pulls it off. The candid lyrics in such an unexpected stripped-down setting, only makes the raw emotion of this song stand out even more so, especially toward the end, where she just lets it all out. So powerful, and a song that'll stop you in your tracks upon hearing it. We'll all be very lucky to see her making a return appearance to northeast Ohio as the headliner for the tenth annual Federal Frenzy Music and Arts Festival, in downtown Youngstown on Saturday, April 27.
Faye Webster "Lego Ring"
It can be really fascinating to see how the ever-growing buzz can manifest itself around an artist on the rise, lifting them to new heights, and forcing people to take notice. This has certainly been the case for young 26-year-old Atlanta based indie-rock singer-songwriter Faye Webster, who is most certainly poised for a breakthrough in 2024. This new song, off her new fifth album "Underdressed at the Symphony," available now on Secretly Canadian Records, also shares an understated vocal delivery from Atlanta based hip-hop artist Lil' Yachty, two luminaries, in their respective musical genres, who actually went to high school together. Things are very much happening for this young woman, but her music is still so grounded in a low-key manner that combines rootsy sounding indie-rock along with modern sounding production from the world of R&B that has made her a huge favorite amongst younger crowds, who've come of age seeing those genre lines blurred. As an artist who's kind of blowing up in an "under the radar" sense, having sold out her entire tour last fall, your next chance to see what the fuss is all about will be July 29 at Stage AE, in Pittsburgh. I plan on being there myself.
Iron & Wine "All in Good Time"
There's always been something so comforting and soothing about the music that singer-songwriter Sam Beam creates with his project known as Iron & Wine, and with his upcoming seventh album due out on April 26 titled "Light Verse," via Sub Pop Records, we will thankfully be getting more of that goodness soon. One of the big surprises that came recently, was this new song that includes backing vocals from the great Fiona Apple! This is no small feat as Apple has been somewhat of a recluse in recent years, really only surfacing for her 2020 album "Fetch the Bolt Cutters,” which was her first album in eight years. The combination here is truly striking as Beam and Apple engage in a sort of call and response duet, that brings to mind well known examples of the past like Kenny and Dolly, but in this instance, one for the cool kids! It's a stunning song to begin with, made even better with the trademark husky sounding vocals of Fiona Apple, that are delivered in such an effortless manner, that it all just melts together so flawlessly, and is a joy to listen to and take in. Much credit goes to Beam for reaching into his rockstar Rolodex to coax Apple out of hiding. Iron & Wine also have a summer tour planned, which will include a stop at the Agora Theater, in Cleveland, on August 20.
MRCY "Lorelei"
This brand new soulful duo, out of the UK, has got quite a feel for easy going comfort on this debut single "Lorelei," available now via Dead Oceans Records, and is introducing themselves to our world of music in grand fashion. With a very similar sound to that of the Austin based duo Black Pumas, who are in fact opening for them on their current tour, MRCY is the duo of producer Barney Lister and vocalist Kojo Degraft-Johnson, both coming from different parts of England, and different cultures as well. Coming together with a shared musical vision, these two evoke comparisons of Marvin Gaye, Khruangbin, and some of those soul classics that you're sure you know, but might not be able to put your finger on necessarily. The two of them connected over Instagram during the pandemic, then met up in Brixton, between lockdowns, to discuss ideas, get to know each other, and see how each other's previous work and connections in the music industry could help draw them together as artists, while cultivating their own sound collectively. After hearing this debut single, I'd say they nailed it, and I can't wait to hear more!
Warpaint "Common Blue"
The ladies of the indie leaning dream-pop band, Warpaint, have sort of slowed down in recent years, save for the release of their fourth album "Radiate Like This,” in 2022, which came after a hiatus of six years, prior to their previous album, where they all sort of took a pause to focus on life and other pursuits. Still very much beloved in their home city of Los Angeles, and by indie rock fans alike, Warpaint have emerged once again to essentially acknowledge and celebrate their twentieth anniversary as a band, by releasing this single, via Rough Trade Records, perfectly combining their psychedelic, low key post-punk, and chill dream-pop influences. The band even noted the occasion themselves by saying, "With these [two] new songs we tie a bow around this time in our lives, and all the experiences and songs we've shared over the years. It's been an incredible journey and taken us all over the world sharing good times with beautiful people. Our hearts are full!" While a quote like that makes me apprehensive that it may sound like an unofficial way of saying goodbye, I really hope it doesn't, as Warpaint really do sound better than ever!