MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 7/10/2024
Reviews by: Alexandra Haynes, Writer @xalexonlinex
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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YYY “Good Hands”
I was introduced to this song on a rainy day, and it brought a pensive comfort to my gloomy afternoon. Listening to YYY’s “Good Hands” with headphones is a particularly good idea, as the stereo mixing is thoughtful and expertly done. When listening to works under this solo project, is easy to see how this artist is an Emmy nominated composer. There is a pulsating beat to this track, ricocheting between each ear, as swells of atmospheric instrumentation carry the listener gently through YYY’s gorgeous soundscape. The band’s beautiful message here is a gentle acceptance of one’s grief - lyrics lament on how the song’s muse is in “Good Hands” now as their energy returns to “the everything” in death. Reading those lyrics along with your listen is sure to bring a tear to your eye. Poetic and brilliant, a subtle, intentional fuzziness sizzles beneath YYY’s clean production, adding the right amount of grit for the track’s subject matter without ever breaking their somber, peaceful ambience.
MorningBird "The Wind"
Acoustic guitar and subtle, steady percussive elements dance together to create a classic country sound while the MorningBird’s lead vocalist paints a picture of political corruption, starting strong with subversively quoting the Star Spangled Banner - “Land of the free, home of the free/A myth fed to all, generationally.” This is a track that doesn’t shy away from telling the unfortunate truths of late capitalist, modern day America. MorningBird’s reclamation of the country genre in an age of otherwise vapid, mainstream hits brings Americanan folk back to its impactful roots - singing the stories of this country’s people… all of its people. This is a beautiful and meaningful track with traditional instrumentation carrying its necessary, progressive message. MorningBird will next be performing live at the Sawmill Saloon, Virginia, on July 15th.
snakeworld! "Heatwave"
In “Heatwave,” tongue-in-cheek lyrics purposefully barely mask snakeworld!’s real and nihilistic fear of the future under spunky, indie-kid vocals. The band never skimps on their brutal imagining of a world surrendered to climate change, despite the cheery, garage-rock sound of the track. Playful lyrics with simple, catchy rhymes like “Heatwave has got me going insane/Fry my brain!” have an artistically disturbing edge, appropriate for the nature of the song’s inspiration. Their slightly off-kilter, talk-sung harmonies on each chorus are full of character, which color “Heatwave” as a true punk song. “Heatwave” was released by the band in January, 2024.
Ginny and the Fizz "Just Like Bliss"
“Just Like Bliss” has a slow, steep introduction with sweet vocalizations that ease you into the track and lulls you into a sense of false security. Truthfully, this song sprawls outwards so much from its introduction, with unexpectedly delightful and aggressive percussion turning “Just Like Bliss” on its head halfway through. Ginny and the Fizz released an EP of the same name in June 2024, “Just Like Bliss” has a constant, progressive build with delicious guitar riffs and a tantalizing bassline guiding every ebb and flow of their tempo. Subsequent listens becoming increasingly exciting as warm embrace of its starting point feel like the beginning of an epic journey. Ginny and the Fizz have masterfully crafted an expansive, psychedelic adventure with this cleverly winding 6 minute piece.
Larry Wish "Being There"
Larry Wish’s “Being There” is jazzy in a theatrical and postmodern way. It starts hot, multilayered and purposefully discordant, unfurling in waves of complex sound which are unpredictable but melodic. Low toned vocals underscore the unusual, offbeat vibe, where everything feels quirky and jester-coded. The track’s jovial bizarreness carries incredibly poetic lyrics which dive into metaphors of metamorphosis to tell a love story (“To connect within that area aglow/A warm cocoon of laughing, smiling/Two butterflies awaken in vibrance/And now I say, Ivy/You are my light and you are my sunshine…”) “Being There” was released in February 2024, but is featured on Larry Wish’s The Mind is the Builder EP, which dropped in full in April.
Sharma Boy “Laftii Nagaa”
If you like club bangers with a message, international hip-hop star Sharma Boy should be on your radar. His East African electronic beats are high energy, danceable, and good fun, with smooth rapping in Somali telling a story each track. “Laftii Nagaa” is dance-hop, with a consistent upbeat tempo peppered with brief slowdowns that encourage the listener to whine their waist and lean in to the beat. Sharma Boy’s flow is unrelenting throughout as he flexes on us in “Laftii Nagaa.” Minnesota gets a special mention in this one, due to our connections with his international career.
