East Harbor – “Exosphere”
-Fans of folksy rock music are going to find a lot to like about the crisp, pop-flavored sound of East Harbor. There’s an instant likeability factor to this song that I can’t quite capture, but you just feel like you can connect with the lead vocal. The key lyric, “by the time you find me I’ll be in the exosphere” I think is about being gone after a breakup. The lyrics have a unique quality to them. The best part of the track, for me, is the rock energy and the overall emotional core of the sound.
Joe Jenneman – “Bring Me Back”
-I really like the structure of this song. The opening lines introduce the concept, but the repeated “bring me back to you love” line has an emotional connection right away. I like the way the natural imagery propels the song along. The methodical unfolding of the song allows the dynamics to really “pop” in each section of the tune. This is the kind of music I’m talking about when I tell people I like lyrically driven folk-influenced pop. There’s not mushy-mouth lyrics on this; the listener can feel the desperation, love, and sincerity of each carefully crafted line.
John Constantine – “If I were a tree”
-I don’t really believe in such a thing as “pure folk” music, but if I did I think Constantine’s music would be a part of that category. The sound echoes folks like Simon and Garfunkel. The Paul Simon-esque guitar and harmony work on this track just feels delightful. I haven’t interviewed Constantine, but I’m pretty sure Paul Simon would be a key influence. I appreciate how the lyrics hold space of classic mid-20th century philosophizing. I am quite certain this song is from 2023, but there are moments in it that make me equally convinced it could have be from 1963. I adore the style and am glad to have discovered Constantine’s emerging talent.
