Daniel James McFadyen – “Diamond”
-The acoustic guitar captured my attention with this song, but what held my attention with the early line about being made in the shape of his parents. As I listened and the vocal harmony entered the track, I was sold. Something about this sound reminds me of the band Water Liars and the gritty reality that they reflect. As someone who grew up in a mill town and saved up for a ring for my bride, I can relate to this in many ways. The line about going “down by the river it’s quiet…” is literally something I used to do on the Beaver River in western PA. It’s almost unbelievable how many of these lyrics I can connect with; it’s a wonderful song and definitely going to connect with a lot of indie folk fans.
Fleeland – “Ain’t as Pretty a Blue”
-I’m a sucker for a good rhythmic guitar element and a solid lead vocal; this song captured my attention right from the start. The lead vocal is clear and engaging, so when the harmony vocal enters it pops even more. There’s something about the phrasing on this track that I really admire; the lines are poetic and they roll really well into one another. There’s a flirty tone to the lyrics, “I see trouble and I want him to come my way.” It’s a song that just makes me feel young again listening to it; there’s a real sense of perspective to the way the song features the obsessions of young love. “Here comes trouble staring down the barrel of a heartbreak…” What a line! Tell me you’ve never walked right into a relationship knowing it wouldn’t work out, but you did it anyway. This is romantic, it’s cute, it’s foolish, and it’s perfectly well delivered. If there was justice in this world, this would be a hit country record.
Cat Rose Smith – “Haunted House”
-If you’ve been around my writing for the past few years, you’ve seen my coverage of Cat Rose Smith. There’s a reason I keep saying “yes” to her work and you can hear it in about one line per song. The vocal is stellar, but it’s really the delivery and smoothness to the style that I like the most. It’s got this charming lightness to it, all while expressing these emotional lyrics. I know it’s not the same style, necessarily, but the vocal puts me a bit in mind of a Stevie Nicks style of delivery. The overall energy of this track is chill, folksy rock music that might be summarized as “adult contemporary” by some. Call it what you will, I’m always a supporter of great songwriting like this and a lyrical theme about the desire for love. There’s a genuine longing through this song that feels like the real deal and I am all about supporting that type of art. Smith is a rising star and I feel privileged to get to feature her work here.
Image courtesy: Cat Rose Smith IG
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