Alexander Gallant – “Fishes for the Seabirds”
-If you’re a fan of dynamic fingerpicking and acoustic guitar excellence, definitely click play on this track. It’s a sound that feels both subtle and richly rewarding. Gallant’s vocal is also delightful, straightforward without being overzealous. Gallant sings like he wants you to lean in and experience the joy that’s he’s sharing. The lyrics are about seabirds, sure, but it’s also about love and distance. The layers of metaphor here are definitely worth exploring, but even if you don’t want to think that hard about it you can just enjoy the way this beautiful song feels. This is cathartic and wonderful; you should listen to it and share it.
Cat Rose Smith – “Green”
-If you’re a fan of delicate, timeless folk music then you’ve come to the right place. Cat Rose Smith writes with a tender style that captures me with every listen. I don’t mean to oversell it, but I always think of Joni Mitchell when I listen to Smith’s style. There’s a sophisticated, almost artful folk quality to the sound. This isn’t some jangly folk style (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but it’s more of a Greenwich Village style of folk. The orchestral element on this track add even more layers of depth to the composition, making it feel like something that could have been released during the golden age of the folk revival in the 1960s. There’s something inherently restorative about the lyrics, the belief in green, which I take to mean rebirth and reawakening in the restorative season of spring. I think it’s alluding to a relationship, but it feels like it could be just as much about the restoration of nature itself. This is a beautiful bit of songwriting and well worth your time and consideration.
James Isaac – “Wendall White”
-I’ve always been a sucker for songs that are about a person. It always makes me wonder what makes someone so special that they deserve a song about them and, almost every time, they are worth the song. In this case, the track features some magnetic fingerpicking lines that set a solid base for the song. Once the kickdrum enters the track, it captures a forward momentum that definitely makes the listener pay attention. The lead vocal has a storytelling precision that feels seasoned while sounding quite fresh and new. Lyrically it’s a song about moving on from bad decisions, leaving “that life” behind. I appreciate how musically there’s a break from the opening storytelling about the rough life, then the freeing “leave that life behind” section has a brightness to it that stands out. This is a sad, tragic story overall, but it’s captivating and worth a listen. Actually, if you’re like me, you’ll want a few listens. I pick up something new each spin (and I’m ok with that). This is next level.
Image courtesy: Cat Rose Smith IG
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