Angelou Sereno – “Now It’s Over”
-From the time I pressed play on this track, I knew that I was hearing a gifted songwriter. Sereno’s vocal is genuine, but it’s the pop folk vibe that really works for us on this one. The lyrics are about the genuineness of feeling a breakup. There’s a sincerity in the performance that’s hard to mimic. You might find a song with more grandiose production, but you’d be hard pressed to find a song with more sincerity than this. It captures the raw authenticity of life (in all its disappointments) in 2024 quite well.
Sam Haiman – “Babylon”
-I am a huge fan of the acoustic guitar work on this song. The melodic line itself is really good and there’s a sense of space in the fingerpicking that connects for me. The lyrics are about having a challenge in yourself, but pressing on “until the fall of Babylon.” It seems to have a few meanings about both personal struggle as well as, perhaps, a spiritual meaning. I’m not certain on the meaning, but I definitely appreciate the quality of the musicianship, vocal, and production. It’s the total package and I can’t help but see the image of “Babylon” as being quite appropriately 2024, given the headlines.
Sweetshirt – “Let’s Watch the World End (Acoustic)”
-I guess this one hits the theme of 2024 a bit too… on the nose. But yes, the song is ostensibly about a relationship more than the world itself ending (I think). That said, sometimes the rebuilding is more rewarding than what was originally in its place. The question is — can we survive a restart of the world? Anyways, back to the song — I appreciate the quality of the melody and the overall mood of the song. The understated vocal blends beautifully with the cinematic string work in the background. Taken together, the track feels like a cathartic, peaceful way to lull watching the world collapse around us.
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