New music playlist for your weekend
By Tyler Asay
Secret American – “Here Comes A Man”
I love a “Here Comes ___” song. There’s a long history of them in rock ‘n’ roll: The Velvet Underground started it with “Here Comes Your Man.” Tom Petty has “Here Comes My Girl,” Pixies have “Here Comes Your Man,” The Gaslight Anthem has “Here Comes My Man.” The list goes on. There’s something conversational and looming about a “Here Comes ___” song, like a scary movie with a happy ending.
Philly psych-pop supergroup Secret American are the latest to join the “Here Comes ___” canon. Over “Be My Baby” drums and an aching Clapton-inspired slide guitar, singer Derek Krzywicki sings “I’m gonna grease that pan / I’m gonna call you a woman, You’re gonna call me a man.” “Here Comes A Man” brings some California sunshine back to the east coast.
The Lunar Year – “Chimes”
Philly-based Indie-folk band The Lunar Year released their newest song, “Chimes,” on Friday. Fronted by Katie Burke, “Chimes” transforms and introduces new elements throughout the course of its runtime. Starting with meditative bells and reverb, Burke’s voice breaks through the haze and strings with visual cues such as “dusty crystals” and “frost blankets.” The song breaks open halfway through with the entrance of the drums, snapping you out of the dream and erupting like a sunrise.
Commonwealth Choir – “Treehouse”
“Treehouse” is the second single from Philly indie-rockers Commonwealth Choir’s new record, No End, which follows previous single “Light.” “Treehouse” is an up-beat power-pop jam with soaring hooks and fervent guitars, recalling local punk greats like Restorations and Balance & Composure. No End is out June 19th on Know Hope Records.
Francesca Blanchard – “Make It Better”
I saw Burlington, Vermont-based singer-songwriter Francesca Blanchard perform at Dawson Street Pub back in February (now that I think about it, it was probably one of the last concerts I saw pre-quarantine). At the show, she covered Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets Of Philadelphia,” which makes her an honorary Philadelphian for the sake of this column.
Blanchard has a new album coming out on June 12th, and released the title track, “Make It Better,” earlier this week. “Make It Better” talks about the healing power of music (and maybe the lack thereof). “I know it’s not the song that’ll make it better,” Blanchard sings over pulsing drums that give heartbreak a perspective, “and take away the pain.”
Grocer – “Troubleshooting”
Philly punks Grocer released their debut album, Little Splash, late last week. It’s a reckless and fun collection of off-kilter pop, a la Dirty Projectors or Talking Heads. The band (formerly known as All Boy/All Girl) made a record that whips back and forth between tender ballads and unleashed punk fury. A highlight for me was “Troubleshooting,” a forward-moving strummer of a song, launched into the stratosphere with it’s addictive synth line.
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