Jerry's Picks: “Coffee Ritual” and “She Never Stops for Anyone”

“Coffee Ritual” and “She Never Stops for Anyone”-The Broken Radios

Exploding on social media over the past few weeks is a mysterious rock trio out of Britain known as The Broken Radios… a group which did not exist anywhere on-line last February. In fact – as of this posting – they have no Wikipedia page.

What’s especially incredible is that there have been a total of four The Broken Radios albums -- all released since last March -- each with around a dozen new tracks. The collections to look for are “The Sound of Almost,” “Frequency On the Ruin,” “Machine Fail, Dreams Remain” and their latest -- dropped just two-weeks ago -- “The Age Of Broken Wires.”

I’m highlighting the songs “She Never Stops for Anyone” and “Coffee Ritual,” but you should also check-out “High On Pressure,” “Fading Echoes” and “Shadows On the Wall…” all superb alt-rock recordings.

Each are exotic, mesmerizing, highly-captivating, perfectly produced bangers featuring in-the-pocket drums, soaring guitar riffs, perfect-pitch vocals… all with no frills.

When a new artist emerges on the pop music scene, you always try to find some band from the past with which you can draw parallels. The very first comparison to pop into my head was the 1976 release of Boston’s self-titled album. (Remember “More That a Feeling,” “Long Time” and “Smokin’?”) These recordings were carefully constructed over years by MIT grad Tom Scholz in his basement studio which became a multi-million selling surprise hit. I also hear echoes of King Crimson and Montrose.

Okay, here’s the dig. Because of their incredibly massive album release schedule and heavily filtered/digitally-generated artwork, some listeners have speculated about the band's mysterious background and the potential use of AI in their creation process. (Speaking of mystery, this also reminds me of the cryptic Klaatu album release, also from 1976.)

If there is an actual The Broken Radios entourage, the names listed are Jack Miller (guitar, piano, vocals), Tom Harris (drums), and Daniel Moore (bass).

Real or not, there ain’t nothin’ broken about this band!

Jerry's Pick: "The 6th Of January (Yasgur's Farm)"

 

The 6th Of January (Yasgur's Farm)-Amy Grant

Here’s a beautifully-sad yet haunting new song about some of those of the Woodstock generation who morphed into MAGA.

It's an Amy Grant recording titled "The 6th Of January (Yasgur's Farm)" which gently asks of this once idealistic crowd... "What the hell has happened to you?!"

Grant's new single opens with nostalgia for the hopeful spirit of the late 1960s -- referencing Marvin Gaye, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon, Woodstock -- and goes on to suggest the events of "the 6th of January" marked a symbolic break from the peace-and-love spirit of the '60s counterculture.

The song’s title referrers to that iconic music festival held on Max Yasgur's farmland near Woodstock, New York, and the date of January 6, 2021 when Donald Trump supporters staged a violent riot at the United States Capitol in an attempted self-coup.

In her single, Amy sings, "Where's the road to Yasgur′s Farm?"

But the reply is disappointing...

"He stares at me with pity and alarm/Says, 'That crowd left here long ago/Scattered all to Hell and Harpers Ferry/On the 6th of January'..."

"The 6th Of January (Yasgur's Farm)" was written by Sandy Emory Lawrence who is the mother-in-law of Jenny Gill, the daughter of Amy Grant’s husband and country music star Vince Gill. (Did you get all that?)

My favorite lyrical metaphor in Sandy’s song is the reference to hearing Muzak playing in a supermarket where she only hears the melody but not the important words to Lennon’s “Imagine.”

This track also emits lots of Joni Mitchell vibes, especially while Amy plays that odd-looking dulcimer-sounding strumstick.

As the ballad closes, Amy sums-up today’s political climate with the matter-of-fact words, “I look ahead and realize/We’ve lost out way…”

Jerry's Pick: "Smiley"

 

Smiley-Between Friends

Okay, I’m not a reality show guy, so I did not catch Brandon and Savannah’s performance on “America's Got Talent” in 2013. But, I’ve been a fan of this brother-sister duo since I first heard their single “Suburban Wonderland” when they were known as The Heirs in 2017.

Although they may have changed their moniker to Between Friends the next year, the two brought along their alternative laptop-pop bop which is clearly evident in the tracks “affection” and “better friends.” Both are worth checking out.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when the siblings released the album I Love My Girl, She’s My Boy which spawned several songs of note… “Self Destruct,” “What’s Up” and “Redlight.” But the standout track is their enchanting, effervescent, decidedly flirtatious “Smiley” with lyrics which reflect both of their memories of that early-teen dating scene.

Brandon explains to Office Magazine’s managing editor Sahir Ahmed, “’Smiley’ is about new beginnings, something new.” Savannah added, “And you can tell by the sort of playfulness and the innocence of noticing little details about somebody. You’re there with these blossoming feelings, where you’re uncertain whether you’re in love with someone or if you just care about them.”

It's not just the song’s words, but more-so the way those lyrics are presented. Savannah delivers the frolicsome hook in the same bouncy cadence her insecure 13-year old self may have once teased her middle school crush.

“Do you like the way/I talk about you all day/Wanna hear you say/You talk about me all the time…”

Like a couple other selections found on this album, the pair have been experimenting in post-production. “Smiley” starts with the sounds of someone changing stations on a radio while it ends with an abrupt tempo shift as if someone suddenly hit one of the device’s pre-select buttons.

Sure, it’s light but cute and fun. And it offers listeners a brand new pick-up line...

“I really wanna tell you this/You’re like a song I can’t resist…”