There’s something incredibly compelling about a song that can tell a story, and while dystopian futures and deals with the devil are all well and good, often the best tales (if told well) are about ordinary people. In ‘The Gospel According To Carl’, taken from Rich’s debut album Life Ain’t That Long, we follow the downfall of a crooked used car salesman as he has a crisis of faith, finds a conscience, and subsequently loses all his ill-gotten gains. To sum up Carl’s story in one sentence though does this song a great disservice, as there are scores of Oscar-winning movies that lack the kind of depth and character development that this song excels in. With the droll humour and brilliant storytelling of Randy Newman, and the soulful passionate delivery of Van Morrison, Rich Krueger can weave wonderful tales with the best of them.
top tracks
Top Tracks: Anne Haight – Clarity
This new song from Berlin based songwriter Anne Haight really lives up to its name. ‘Clarity’, the title track from her new acoustic EP, is as clear and pure as the finest crystal. Her angelic vocals are the kind that could instil silent awe in any crowd, and her delicate yet definite fingerpicking folk guitar catches your attention as notes fall like water droplets in some serene mountain stream. In fact, it’s hard not to picture mountains, footprints in the snow and the feel of the icy breeze as her rich lyricism is enough to take you away if you simply close your eyes and get lost within the song awhile. This song is simply beautiful from start to finish and perfect for those quiet cosy nights.
Top Tracks: Elemantra – Low Dose Of Irony
This alt rock quartet from Salamanca, NY have captured the reckless abandon of youth with this track from their forthcoming third album. Recalling the likes of Slowdive and The Smashing Pumpkins, ‘Low Dose Of Irony’ embodies everything that made rock in the 90s so keenly relatable to a lost and angst-ridden generation, but at the same time giving it a modern indie twist. The central breakdown, conjuring up emphatic bass tones, adventurous drum fills and soaring guitars, really shows what Elemantra can do. As well as being the highlight of the track, it’s the epitome of what songs like this are all about. There’s a unique kind of freedom woven into the fabric of the music that makes you feel like there are endless possibilities all within your grasp if you’re willing to take the plunge, and this is the soundtrack that will take you there.
Top Tracks: Overjoyed – Taxi Driver
Though they don’t often make an appearance on the site, I listen to a lot of long songs. I’ve lost count of the number of times someone I know has been baffled as to how someone can come up with enough ideas to fill a song that’s ten, even twenty minutes long. In a bizarre twist of fate however, Swedish band Overjoyed have given me a taste of my own medicine, and have left me wondering just how they can pack so much content into a mere two minutes. ‘Taxi Driver’ takes everything you need for a compelling indie hit – bright uplifting riffs, relatable lyrics, oodles of energy and an infectious chorus – trims it all down and refines it, leaving us with this pure and concentrated indie anthem. This diamond of a track is a real crowd-pleaser in the making, and I doubt you’ll hear a more engaging two minutes of music all year.
Top Tracks: River Fury – Jewels Of The City
Radio airplay does its best to wear us down through a war of attrition, hoping that if they play a song often enough that the hook will stay with you. Sometimes it works, but the truth is that a good hook doesn’t need it, after just one listen you’re… well, hooked! The debut single from London based indie pop outfit River Fury does just that, delivering a killer chorus that is sure to leave you wanting more. The band cites a wide range of influences, and I myself hear hints of early Kasier Chiefs in the verses, Matthew and the Atlas in a few of the melodies, and even the lighter side of Coheed and Cambria in the backing vocals. The band are clearly keen listeners, embracing new ideas and sounds and feeding them back into their own music. In doing so they have crafted a debut single that carries universal appeal and an infectious positive energy. It’s one hell of a first impression and I look forward to seeing where their music goes next.
Top Tracks: Native – Don’t Forget Me
Do you ever find yourself doing the “soundtrack test”? You stumble across a song that feels like it should play a part in something important and your mind starts to wander. You imagine how it would fit in your favourite show, you create your own story in your head as you listen to it while watching passers-by. Songs like ‘Don’t Forget Me’ make the dull drudgery of the everyday feel extraordinary, make even the quietest introspective nights seem like part of some greater plan. This track from Swiss artist Native, with its bittersweet vocals, chilled out vibes and dramatic build towards an emotional climax, doesn’t whisk you away from your life to some other place like so many of the songs that tug at our heartstrings. Instead it pulls off a more difficult feat; it makes you feel like right here, right now, is a place worth being and an adventure worth taking.
Top Tracks: Woods End – Lanterns/Allhelgona
There’s something special about bands that capture the very soul of their homeland, whether it’s Americana artists embodying the sparseness of the desert or surf rock bands sharing the playfulness of the waves. Swedish band Woods End are one of the finest examples of this that I have ever come across. With ‘Lanterns/Allhelgona’ they paint a scene of the frozen north at twilight. The sparse folk arrangement conjures an image of somewhere isolated and at the mercy of nature, the harmonies rise and fall like they are echoing across the frozen expanse for only the mountains and forests to hear. The haunting melancholy of this track has a timeless feel, like it has been shared by the fireside for as long as there have been people to sing it. There’s an ancient magic at work here, as this song draws you in and you find yourself never wanting to leave.
Top Tracks: Edenthorn – Mind Like A Minefield
Some sounds are just built to last. The tried and tested alt rock approach of Durham quartet Edenthorn tears it up with simple yet solid riffs, proving that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel just so long as you give it everything you’ve got to compensate. ‘Mind Like A Minefield’, taken from their new album Exist out 20th April, certainly doesn’t hold back. The driving intro riff is reminiscent of Metallica while the whirlwind solo has Pearl Jam written all over it. The energy of this track alone is more than enough to make this worth your time, but the lyrics take this song to another level. Dealing with the trials within that many of us face on a daily basis, fighting against your own thoughts as you overthink every little detail. This song perfectly captures that feeling and at the same times makes you feel like you can one day overcome it.
Top Tracks: The Martyn Crocker Band – Everything They Want and More
In this more politically aware time that we find ourselves in, it’s easy to forget that for most people it isn’t about drawing battle lines or making moves on a chess board, for most of us it’s simply about keeping on keeping on in the hope that brighter days are on the way. With this latest single Belwood favourite Martyn Crocker and his new band have perfectly captured the struggle; slaving away to make ends meet while those at the top live the high life, all the while wondering how long this crooked system can last. From the slick production to the trenchant lyricism, Martyn has really upped his game with this uncompromising indie powerhouse. ‘Everything They Want and More’ is the kind of track that everyone, no matter their background, can unite behind as they commit to moving towards a better future, one step at a time.
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – Tearing at the Seams
Belwood Music 