Our world seems in shambles in many ways. One can easily lose hope when you look at all of the issues facing us. Casii Stephan’s anthem for dealing with life is found in These Hard Days (seen/heard here) and it is an anthem worth taking to heart! Stephan’s beautifully natural alto vibrato says it’s OK to scream in frustration, to let your emotions out, but calls on us to remember that no matter how hard these days are, “they are still our days.” The message here is that you…
Read MoreJust a little bit bluesy, Vodka newcomer Emily Henry’s wonderful The Sound suffers just a tiny bit from some instrumental over-production, particularly later on in the track (somewhere around 1:58). It wasn’t bad enough that it meant that I could forgo reviewing this little gem, however. I’m always a little put off when the music is pushed too far forward or too loud in the mix. That’s what volume controls are for, but luckily Emily Henry’s vocals are strong and shine through clearly, so she gets a pass-this time…
Read MoreVodka favorite rocker Courtney Barnett, has been releasing singles furiously for the past couple of months in preparation for her new long-player Things Take Time, Take Time due out November 12th, 2021. Enter Write A List Of Things To Look Forward To (seen/heard here). Vodka has been following Barnett since the beginning (2012) but I’ve been sidetracked with other things of late and haven’t been keeping up. Though Courtney Barnett doesn’t fit neatly in the Vodka philosophy of shining a lite on…
Read MoreVodka has blown hot and cold Von Boyáge Laissez Faire (seen/heard here), which is why it has stayed in my to-do queue for several months without action. Yet there is something about the track that keeps me coming back. It’s not because the track breaks any new ground. No, in fact, it is pretty formulaic. What keeps me coming back is the sheer will of the song to insert itself. Every time I hear it, it is an ear-wig for at least a few hours after. That, in…
Read MoreFile this beautiful piece under cinematic pop-rock. Ragnar Ægir, now based in Germany, expounds on missing his homeland, Iceland, with this magnificent video tour along with his single I’m At Home (seen/heard here). At just over three minutes, it’s a brief tour, to be sure, but so beautiful. With travel restrictions firmly in place during the pandemic, the song echos that feeling of disconnection from a home country that you love. Ægir sings: “Your silhouette is coming closer flashes of light in my brain I’m so moved by all your beauty Finally weʼre…
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