Better late than never, right? We made it all the way through december before I’m finally here to present some hot hot singles released in the month of November. think of it like a Christmas present that doesn’t show up at your house until January 5th. I’m just an incompetent santa. anyways… enjoy unwrapping some audio below.
Reviews by TJ Foster
Frank McGinnis - “The Entertainer”
The undeniably talented Frank McGinnis has a knack for telling a story, and his latest solo single, "The Entertainer," sees him doing so in Nebraska form. As much as I want to cite one of the memorable lyrics from the song, it's hard to pull any out of context. My recommendation? Treat yourself to four and a half minutes of immaculate folk-tinged music from one of upstate's finest. Simply can't get enough of this one.
Sabrina Trueheart - “Alice in Videoland”
On her Bandcamp page, Sabrina describes her latest single as "an ode to all the gullible + vulnerable girls like you and I." This nylon-guitar led arrangement featuring poetic lyrics delivers an obvious nod to the classic Lewis Carroll book --- its naturally dark undertones are impactful, and the spot-on harmonies are the icing on the proverbial unbirthday cake.
Nocturnne - “Enough is Enough”
Nocturnne's latest is a powerful lament on the modern news cycle and general state of the world. Sonically, it bounces in and out of folk-rock and '90s-era alt-rock sections, keeping listeners on their toes in the best way. Most delightful is the Alanis Morissette quality to Nocturnne's vocals (which also makes the line "It's a jagged pill to swallow" feel like a bit of a wink-and-a-nod... I'm here for it).
Reality Distortion - “Rat Race”
Released all the way back at the beginning of the month, newcomers Reality Distortion's "Rat Race" is an electro-pop tune reminiscent of acts like fellow Saratogans Phantogram. The sibling duo hits all the expected adjectives here: dreamy, atmospheric, gritty, you name it. It's a catchy as hell song that's well worth your time.
Margo Macero - “Mama, I’m Coming Home”
Why yes. Yes this is an Ozzy cover. And it's a delightful one, with its setting of delicately finger picked acoustic guitar and lone violin. Simply put: Margo does the classic justice.
LiketheAstronaut and B. Francis - “Driftwood & Jetsam”
To answer your question... no, there isn't a thing that John Glenn (LiketheAstronaut) can't do. Here, we find him collaborating with B. Francis on an acoustic-led, pop-adjacent track called "Driftwood & Jetsam". The two vocalists mesh incredibly well together and we can only hope there's more collaborating to come in the near future, because this is just lovely.
Red Lennon - “Welcome Home”
"Welcome Home": two words we'd love to say to one of Capital Region's finest musicians, Josh Morris. For the unacquainted, the multi-instrumentalist was in a number of bands in the area before moving to Nashville, but thankfully he's still sending music our way. His new project with longtime collaborator Zane Agnew is Red Lennon, and it's laced with those 1975, chorused-pop guitars imbued throughout making for quite a catchy number. Goddamnit, guys. We miss you.
Shannon Tehya - “Soldier’s Last Goodbye”
Written by her guitar player Neil Goes for his son who passed away from leukemia after serving in the military, "Soldier's Last Goodbye" --- as you'd expect --- is a bittersweet tune full of heart. Both the storytelling and the arrangement are captivating, making for a really gorgeous piece of folk music that might even make you shed a tear or three.