So why has this month's Waking Life become a relationship column? It relates to the fantastically catchy new song from Warpaint. "New Song" is the first single from the L.A. quartet's forthcoming "Heads Up," and the simple, insistent chorus bounces along with the declaration: "You're a new song/ You're a new song, baby/ You're a new song to me."
Is it and ode to an actual song? A person? A conflation of the two? Any of those are reasonable, but I like the idea that the two feelings come from a similar place and, as we know, can both change lives.
Romance is in the air. Teenage Fanclub, The Wedding Present and Kishi Bashi are all singing about it -- though not necessarily always in the positive: Dent May's "Face Down in the Gutter of Your Love" leaves little to chance.
I had the good fortune of seeing Ezra Furman last month and I'll take this opportunity to tell you that one should never miss him given the chance. "Teddy I'm Ready" from his new EP is the kind of life-affirming, sax-buoyed burner that's also perfect for raging against the dying of summer's light. Same goes for Femme's driving "Fever Boy" and Geowulf's euphoric and breezy "Saltwater," as long as we're on the subject.
Truth is, there are a lot of highlights here. Some of them you'll even have a chance to watch live in Colorado soon. We'll be hearing an OpenAir session from Denver's own Lillian this week, and she opens for Mirah Sept. 7 at Larimer Lounge. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings' new and autobiographical "I'm Still Here" is as moving as any ballad: They're at Red Rocks Sept. 12. And the aforementioned Warpaint comes to the Gothic Sept. 27.
Reactions? Want to chat about any of these? Send me an email (jpetersen
