New Music Rundown: An exciting playlist of some of our favorite new tracks this fall

The Pairs – “Honey I”
-At this point, I think I’ve covered every track on The Pairs album, just one at a time. I should pull them together for an album review. The harmonies here are as rich and beautiful as any song on the album. It’s a delightful, satisfying sound. The lyrical content is rewarding, too, with an element that features romance and having someone who wants you to be your best self. The acoustic, the snapping, and the vocals… feels delightfully minimalist in our current music landscape. I can’t bring myself to singalong, though. It’s too pretty!

Mt. Gribley – “Mourning Light”
-There’s a real sense of adventure to the way this melody unfolds… and I’m not exactly sure how to explain that other than just saying it. You feel like you should be walking through a meadow or on a hiking trail when you listen to this. The acoustic work feels comfortable, like a bygone era of folk music, then the vocal enters and feels like talking with an old friend. One of my favorite aspects of the song is the subtle, almost understated reed work in the background (I assume a clarinet?). The full composition feels like a warm hug on a chilly fall day… and I’m here for it.

Flora Falls – “Young 75”
-If you’re a fan of the intersection of pop rock and folk rock, definitely check out this new track from Flora Falls. The vocal here sits right in the pocket of the production, allowing the listener to really connect with the vibes and the message. The lyrical concept is about being a “young 75,” still a spry person even in your seventies. I appreciate the optimism of this message and the way it feels so accessible. There’s an vibey indie rock style to the composition that feels almost eternally young, so maybe that’s just the right energy to convey this type of message. It’s a lot more existential than one might imagine, but trust me when I say this sound really connects. It’s well worth a spin.

Hotel Draw – “When You Go”
-Some call it Americana, others probably folk, and still others might call it a version of country… maybe even real country music. Call it what you will, this is the type of music I want to hear in my speakers at my place. Hotel Draw have a style that anchors itself in the electric guitars and some unapologetic, expressive vocals. It has shades of honkytonk and late 20th century Americana (a la Mavericks), but overall it’s just a satisfying storytelling narrative style of music. The piano here might be the star of the whole production, a sound that feels like it transcends genre in the best way possible. Lyrically the main concept is simple; it’s a call for someone to take you home. It’s comfortable and engaging in that way, but when you pair it with the instrumentation it’s a full on adventure track. I’m super happy to be supporting music with such quality in this day and age!

Eva Snyder – “Turkeys”
-Maybe it’s a bit passe to share a song about turkeys the week before Thanksgiving, but honestly this is such a wonderful song I wanted to share it as soon as I could. It’s a really wonderful blend of genres, bringing together what I love about indie pop with a solid rooting in folk acoustic instrumentation. I find it to be a deeply satisfying sound, one that I can lean into comfortably. It’s perfect for a walking/resting/meditating style playlist… while also having a seriousness in the lyrical content that you could really focus on it and contemplate the concept of identity. Are you the kind of person that your loved ones can be proud of? I’m going to throw out a comp here, the YouTuber Marianne Beaulieu. I think both Snyder and Beaulieu have this delicate delivery that I really admire; this is definitely a track to be widely considered and shared.