Jerry's Pick: "Suburban Wonderland"

"Suburban Wonderland"-The Heirs

If it's possible to get high by just listening to a song, I think found that song.

The aural substance in question is "Suburban Wonderland" and comes from a relatively new LA quintet known as The Heirs. After a couple of spins you'll find its ethereal aesthetic will eventually find its way into your limbic system slowly inducing you into a dreamlike state.

Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but "Suburban Wonderland" does radiate a hypnagogic vibe that flows effortlessly from the needle-on-a-spinning-piece-of-vinyl beginning through its easy but steady guitar/synth groove to a gentle reverbical but somnolent ending.

According to siblings Savannah and Brandon Hudson of The Heirs, "Suburban Wonderland" was a demo they were sitting on for nearly two-years before someone from their label enthusiastically encouraged the band to record and release it as a single. Good call. Brandon explained to Satori Radio, "It's a song we had written basically about just growing up in suburbia and trying to find your way out but essentially finding beauty in the madness that is normality."

"Are you looking for drugs?/Just for a little thrill?/Are you looking for love?/My body can be your pill..."

"We just wanted to make it about youth culture," adding, "We just wanted a song that kind of summed that up and felt like a good first debut track."

For me, "Suburban Wonderland" was The xx meets Polarheart -- a couple of inspiring and inventive alternative bands that live far on the left side of mainstream pop. Although "Wonderland" has been out since July there have only been a small group of enlightened programmers smart enough to have already added The Heirs' creation to their on-air rotations. And with Sony Music finally beginning a promotional push to radio, hopefully the number of stations will grow exponentially lending to greater and much deserved exposure. That's where you come in. Go ahead, give it a shot! No prescription required.

Warning: Listening to "Suburban Wonderland" may cause drowsiness and quite possibly mild euphoria, and while under its influence it is recommended that you do not operate heavy machinery. Actually, forget about moderation and liberally enjoy this track on repeat with the volume up and headsets or ear-buds firmly in place while seated in a relaxed position with eyes firmly closed and ears wide open.

You are now ready, and I'll take you there.

Welcome to your Wonderland!

Jerry's Pick: "Timebomb"

"Timebomb"-Post Precious

"Love, you're fucked."

When it comes to writing about a post-problematic relationship, the collaborative duo know as Post Precious immediately gets to the point.

"I mean it, I've grieved enough."

Sure, "Timebomb" is a love song, but not in the Barry White sense. Vocalist Alexandra Leigh Winston sings of finally breaking free of someone she really cared about, an unfaithful lover who drained her heart to the point she wonders if she'll ever be able to trust again.

Turns out, this composition was sorta personal, partly influenced by bittersweet relationships that were still fresh in the minds of both Winston and Post Precious partner Max Hershenow.

Hershenow  explained to Billboard, "We were inspired by a sort of collage of individual experiences, but I had recently come out of a particularly dark and heartbroken period of my life and I remember feeling this immense sense of catharsis at being able to put some of that experience into lyrics. To me, putting that sadness and frustration over a euphoric, driving dance beat is almost a reminder of my recovery -- I'm finally over him, or at least I'll keep dancing till I forget."

And dance you can, if you so wish.

What makes this three-minute "Timebomb" tick is its melancholy message delicately layered underneath an upbeat instrumentation featuring an oscillating synth reminiscent of a Visage or Berlin type of groove from the MTV era. The song's fuse sizzles for the first 50-seconds and then -- following a descending staircase of lonelies -- the song explodes.

"Now I can see, this wasn’t enough/I was just wasting my nights on this sinking timebomb..."

I first became familiar with Hershenow through his indie-pop band MS MR, specifically the single "Criminal" from 2015. Apparently it was because of issues with his record label Columbia that spurred Max to take a time-out with MS MR, a move which led to his pairing-up with Winston in LA and the formation of Post Precious.

Columbia's loss, our gain.

So, your mission -- if you decide to accept it -- is to audition this Post Precious track, then save it... (to your iTunes playlist).

But click now, as this "Timebomb" post will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim.

("...five... four... three... two...")

Jerry's Pick: "Oh Devil"

"Oh Devil"-Electric Guest

Anyone remember the Timmy Thomas hit single "Why Can't We Live Together," a wonderful one-hit-wonder top-tenner from 1973? It's a single notable for the simple, soulful rhythm Thomas taps-out on his Lowery organ. For me, that was the musical memory brought to the fore immediately after first hearing the Electric Guest single "Oh Devil" (the last song recorded for the band's latest project, Plural).

Later I read that Electric Guest's lead vocalist Asa Taccone referred to the track as a "throwback song." He told Patrick Green of Crave, "It has traces of nostalgia. It may sound familiar, but... you don’t know exactly where it came from," adding, "I love that!"

If you're familiar with Electric Guest, then there's a very good chance you already know the band's first hit, "This Head I Hold." Like that 2012 single, Asa puts his falsetto to work, this time over a tasty hypnotic reggae-inspired Latin-like groove.

The fantastic finishing touch on this 2017 Electric Guest production was most definitely the inclusion of the (Shaggy-like) vocal jams supplied by a talented young Jamaician who performs under the alias of Devin Di Dakta. Devin explained to Billboard, "They reached out to us about the feature on the song after they saw my work on the Internet and fell in love my musical style."

But there was another key yet intriguing layer in "Oh Devil" that took a bit of investigating to decipher exactly what it was and where it came from. Turns out the high-pitched "Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh"s heard throughout this production is a sample borrowed from an obscure track called "N.F.F.A. (No Fake Friends Allowed)" from Austrailian Kota Banks. Very nice touch guys!

I still have this bouncy-yet-haunting rhythmic jam in my iTunes recurrents despite the fact I discovered this Electric Guest song months ago.

And don't worry, listening to "Oh Devil" won't condemn you to eternal damnation... just three-and-a-half minutes of heavenly delectation.