August 2022 (SINGLES)

Going into August, I had no idea what to expect and never thought if anything would top my extremely packed Top 10 albums; let alone my Top 50 tracks of the year. The start of the month brought in a laundry of singles that I would keep on replay for multiple reasons and the month ended with me surprised...and disappointed.

These are my highlights from August. The alternative scene got a healthy dose with a more vibrant single from The 1975 in Happiness, The National teaming with Bon Iver to deliver Weird Goodbyes, Arctic Monkeys' return with ...Mirrorball, and The Killers with boy. It's hard to determine the direction of these bands as they have changed and are coming off some interesting projects to say the least. The 1975 brings several aspects of jazzy instruments, peppy lyrics and a very polar opposite sound in Happiness to their first single which streamed in the same vein as artists like Bon Iver and Ben Howard. This song feels like dancing alone, looking around you and celebrating the good things you have. The repeating mantra of the song being, "I'm never gonna love again." doesn't come across sad. It shows a happier side to Healy's writing expressing a deep love for either someone else or himself. Overall, A sound that fans are familiar with molding an interesting 5th album from the band about love and happiness.

The National comes back with a collaboration with Bon Iver in this melancholic single talking about overthinking and limiting what we can and can't control. Matt Berninger and Justin Vernon's harmonies on this track are phenomenal and the song coasts by just as feelings do; depicted in its lyrics. "Move forward now, there's nothin' to do...It's crazy the things we let go of..." The track took me a few listens to fully embrace it. In the end, these artists have worked on the same street for years now and I'm just very excited to see them working together like this. Arctic Monkeys has come back after four years with Tranquility Base Hotel... with There'd Better Be A Mirrorball. This all feels like coming from space and stars to reality where dreams are crushed. Instrumentally, the band keeps the strong use of pianos from their last album here and creates a melody that really sounds like 007 in La La Land. Lyrically, the song is very melancholic like a relationship whose light was bright but burned out too soon. Alex singing, asking for one last wish; closure in the fallout. "Can we please be absolutely sure, that there's a mirrorball?" It progresses very nicely perfectly with gorgeous strings bringing the weight of the situation to your ears. I'm just very excited to be getting more music from this band in October. The Killers are continuing from what I think to be their best album in some time. boy was meant to be on the very personal Pressure Machine, as this single, conceptually turned into the title track. This song has turned into one of my favorites of the year with excellent use of synths, soaring lead guitars and Flowers' distorted voice but strong and empowering lyrics feeling almost like the conscience speaking and echoing in your head. "White arrows will break; the black night." Whether this is a B-side or a single for an upcoming 8th album; The Killers are reaching some very high points and impressing both critics and audiences. While I'm never huge into country, there are a handful of artists I follow; among them is Mitchell Tenpenny, who is one of the few upcoming artists that know how to use his voice. Without blending and getting lost in the sea of the genre endlessly talking about drinking and trucks (yes I know he still has songs that follow that). Always Something With You and Good and Gone; a 2nd single towards the end of the month. These both check off the boxes of what makes Tenpenny special with strong guitars, catchy harmonies, and crisp production; but hasn't reached the highs from his debut just yet. Regardless, Mitchell Tenpenny is an artist that demands to be in front of a giant amphitheater and hopefully can attest to it with his 2nd album, This is The Heavy due in September. Quinn XCII following great work in A Letter to My Younger Self and A Change in Scenery II released his first song of 2022, Backpack. It could've been my expectations after delivering infectious and well-made songs in Stacy, Stay Next to Me, and We Don't Talk Enough. This new single is more quirky especially judging by the artwork but seems to follow Quinn as he finds a new love interest; a bad drug influence as he stays for the drugs using them to hide the real version of himself, borrowing time with her. "I only said it 'cause I'm trying to get lucky like a four leaf clover; I'm a lot less cool when I'm sober." Not a bad song at all but I think this is retreading different grounds Quinn has done already in his more personal songs and story telling shows he is capable of something stronger. On the more heavy side of music, Slipknot released their 3rd single for their upcoming album, The End, So Far. Through all the unsettling and crackling introduction, one of my favorite aspects of their last album continues here; taking time to build an atmosphere and utilizing Craig + Sid more. The songs suck you in more before Corey's creepy vocals kick in, almost channeling Type O Negative. Lyrically, it follows tracks like Vermillion and Killpop with the chorus showing Corey's range of belting vocals to sung melodies, "I wanna know I was dying for you; I died for you." Along with a majority of fans, the song is a great slowburner and shows the range of songs following the relentless Chapeltown Rag and anthemic Dying Song. All to be revealed on September 30th with their 7th album. Not too far from Slipknot in the "-core" scene, there are some big standouts that are paving the way for the metal genre. With artists like Fit For A King, Chelsea Grin, Dayseeker, and Currents; releasing some of their best songs yet! Starting with Fit For A King, their 2nd single is endearing, heartfelt but also hopeless and existential in End (The Other Side). The vocalist, Ryan Kirby proves to have a phenomenal voice balancing menacing lows and gorgeous harmonies on the soaring chorus, "Will you stay with me?...I don't think I'll survive; The other side." All ending with a wicked breakdown that drops you in the atmosphere, this band really defined the genre almost ten years ago. Now they are among a list of bands that just get better and better with every release; building my anticipation for The Hell We Create when it releases in October.

Tom Barber has become an idol and one of the most watched vocalists in the scene, breaking ceilings with his side project become household name, Darko US but where is Chelsea Grin? Until years later, the band came together kicking the door down with Origin of Sin and to make up for lost time, announced a double album to be released within the next few months, Suffer In Hell, Suffer in Heaven. The single comes out with strong angry orchestral horns mixing with violent vocals and chugging guitars. Even without Pablo's drumming and backing vocals, the band sounds just as fantastic as they did over the last few years. Lyrically, Tom shows his philosophies dating back centuries, "From Egyptian times to modern rule; We asked for truth, but were only fooled." Time will tell how this album stacks as we come closer to it's release in November. Next up is Currents, the band that is somehow on every tour on Earth! These guys don't stop working at their craft and I can't even describe where they are at musically. Both of their albums have great recognition in the metal community and they just casually drop one of their strongest songs, The Death We Seek. Just as chaotic and heavy while being gorgeous; all depicted in the glorious artwork, the band is now at the peak of their game and it's only up from here. Lyrically, there are several lines to pull from here. "The sky, it swells and sings, begging for death at the hands of our misery." I just hope to get more material from Currents sooner than later. Finally, Dayseeker comes out with a melodic and "mainstream-esque" single in Without You. I don't say mainstream in a bad way either, the song feels like it was built for radio. It's the one everyone likes with the extremely infectious chorus, "How do you feel the sun without me?". Rory Rodriguez vocals here are still among the scene's best. Showing off his range, ability to carry an entire song, and adding depth to the genre. Hoping these thoughts carry into their upcoming album, Dark Sun releasing in November. Round-Up The round-up is meant for other tracks to mention for better and for worse. Starting with Joji's release of Yukon (Interlude) which feels like...well an interlude. The piano is cute and is very reminiscent of Canon to me, Joji is still melancholic as he drives around in many cars to calm his nerves. While announcing his upcoming album due November 4th and with Glimpse of Us still pulling my heartstrings still, there is plenty to look forward to from him. Next up is Nicki Minaj with her release of Super Freaky Girl, and I found myself enjoying it. This feels like a self-aware track as the first song I thought of from her discography was Anaconda which was very tongue-in-cheek and "over the top". Nicki needs to continue the momentum from here, hoping she can comeback with more strong singles like this; get Nicki off the bench and back in the spotlight! The trailblazing German metal band, Electric Callboy still got it with their new (short) single, Hurrikan. The track really hits you like a hurricane with strong and parodied german "schlager" music. The music is not only hilarious but is extremely well done then it goes totally left field. Developing into a wild and hilarious breakdown wanting the significant other to take everything they have metaphorically and physically.....Just go watch the music video.

Oceano came back with their first single in 5 years with Mass Produced. To me, this hand was just a beatdown heavy music and their best asset was Adam Warren, the vocalist. This single however changes the pace, comes out swinging and then delves into a more melodic guitar section that really adds a new level for the band followed by one of the most violent breakdowns I've heard in a while.

Finally, I'm wrapping up with Turnover, a band I have closely followed since Peripheral Vision which stays as the "lightning in a bottle" moment for the band. Two albums later, they're here to deliver a new album with a lot of funky; almost disco sound to them. Guitars dissonant and crowd up the rest of the production as each single feels psychedelic and mellow. The most recent single for the month is Ain't Love Heavy which really feels like an interlude showing the prominent sound of the upcoming album. I think the sound works great for the band and I have more optimism this time around compared to their last album cycle. Myself in the Way releases on November 4th.