May Music Review

Welcome back! This is the second installment of my monthly music review; just in time, considering May is coming to a close rather soon. I'm finding that my music taste doesn't change dramatically from month to month, but I'll do my best to provide some interesting new finds for you guys to try out.

Artist Highlight: Dire Straits

I so easily could have talked about R.E.M. more here, but I'll save them for later. Dire Straits made a resurgence recently, at least in my mind, and I owe it entirely to an Instagram post where people gave one album they would listen to straight through on a desert island. Brothers In Arms was mentioned; of course, I was already familiar with a few songs on that album, but I had yet to give the entire album a try. It's a masterpiece, and I cannot believe that I missed out for so long. Here's a few of my favorites, all off of Brothers In Arms.

So Far Away

A tender tribute to a lover. Mark Knopfler, guitarist and lead vocalist extraordinaire, sings passionately on So Far Away, accompanied by simple guitar with a unique tone. The track is remarkably simplistic, following a basic bluesy structure with minimal instrumentation. Guitar, bass, and vocals stand out the most; the song is very clearly intended to showcase the Knopfler's guitar and singing abilities, primarily his singing. The passion and longing are visceral and supported by the backing vocals and rhythm guitar. If you've heard the hits and want to add some solid Dire Straits tracks to your playlist, So Far Away is a fantastic place to start.

One World

Knopfler decided to pull out the funkiest bass/synth combo he could find for One World, and it pays off beautifully. He returns to his frustrated ways, singing about how he "can't get no antidote for blues". One World is driving, aggressive blues at its finest, once again showcasing the guitar, but this time alongside powerful bass and keyboard. The guitar solo is top notch. Again, a great way to expand your Dire Straits listening.

Ride Across the River

The fact that the last two songs and Ride Across the River are on the same album is a testament to the versatility and artistic ability of Dire Straits. This track utilizes shaker and unique percussion more than a typical drum set. The bass comes in for one out of every four beats, creating a slow-moving shuffle that evokes an image of a renegade crossing a river, "deep and wide", in the middle of the night. Oh, yeah, did I mention the trumpet? Ride Across the River is long, slightly monotonous, and never repetitive. Seven minutes of time well-spent, at least in my opinion.

Honorable mentions: Money for Nothing, The Man's Too Strong, Sultans of Swing

Song Mentions

Expect more R.E.M. Sorry!

Superman & Radio Free Europe -- R.E.M.

I'll save you guys a little extra reading by grouping two R.E.M. songs in the same place. Both are fast-paced, high-energy tracks that demonstrate the power of simplicity. Both are made excellent by strong guitar and vocals. Both are ridiculously fun. Seriously, if I haven't gotten you to try one R.E.M. song by now, I don't even know why I keep writing on this page.

Untitled #4 -- Avett Brothers

Major change-of-pace here. Untitled #4 is the only song on The Third Gleam that caught my attention, but it quickly became one my favorites. If you thought R.E.M. was simple, the Avett Brothers are another level. Untitled #4 is literally Seth and Scott Avett playing guitars and singing while providing percussion by hitting the guitars, accompanied by an upright bass. The beauty of this song is the lyricism. "I am happier with nothing" is such poignant yet basic songwriting that it's impossible not to relate on some level. If you haven't listened to the Avett Brothers when you're sad, I highly recommend you give it a try (not that I want you to be sad, but they're a great option!)

supernatural thing -- M. Ward

M. Ward was clearly tripping off of something when he wrote this song, but it turned out very well. I love a lot of his older stuff, but his recent albums haven't appealed to me; he redeemed himself a bit with the first single released off of his upcoming album, which I am now extremely excited for. supernatural thing is lowkey but nuanced, relying on M. Ward's remarkable combination of vocal and instrumental skills. The guitar is laid-back and solid, supported by good lyricism evocative of a bizarre yet empowering dream. If the rest of his album sounds similar, it'll be a good one.

Touch of Grey -- Grateful Dead

Deadheads, rejoice! Touch of Grey is the perfect representation of human resilience while maintaining a realistic view of how life often looks and feels. The song sounds light and airy, representative of the relentless optimism conveyed by the lyrics despite the difficulties of daily life. The keyboard/bells/synth/other is a breath of fresh air, accompanied by solid songwriting. Touch of Grey is a good reminder that life goes on, even if a touch of grey gets thrown into the mix every once in a while.

See y'all in June! (probably, assuming my music taste evolves enough within the next month.)

Emory