You want beautiful chords? Elegant storytelling? Uplifting messages? Let me introduce you to Mat Hunsley.
The Newcastle singer-songwriter’s specialty is delivering all of these things via singles like “Dropping,” which went live a few days ago. The artist’s skillful blending of vocals and music with influences such as Bon Iver and Nathaniel Rateliff culminates in a glorious 4-minute track you can enjoy – so enjoy!
It’s labour day, a day dedicated to honouring workers by giving (most of) us the day off. In recognition of this day, here’s a bunch of songs:
Hazel Dickens – They’ll Never Keep Us Down
Labour day has its roots in the labour movement and one of the first groups to organize was the coal miners, because of course such dismal and dangerous work would inspire people to fight for better working conditions. If you’ve ever seen the films Harlan County USA or Matewan (both about coal miners), you might have noticed the music of Hazel Dickens in their soundtracks. Hazel is a boss, though not in the sense of her being on the side of management, just to make things clear.
Dolly Parton – 9 To 5
Dollay Parton is, like Hazel, a strong Southern woman singing about the plight of the worker who is “barely gettin’ by” because it’s “It’s all takin’ and no givin.'” Amen, sister.
Dolly Parton plays the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre this Friday, September 9, which everyone should go see, because it’s Dolly.
Geto Boys – Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta
Keeping with the theme of soundtracks to films about people who hate their jobs and hate their boss, here’s a classic from the Office Space soundtrack. Got a case of the Mondays? Listen to this:
Loverboy – Working For The Weekend
You want a piece of my heart? You better start from the start … by giving me a fair wage and decent working conditions. OK, that’s likely not what Mike Reno and co. were singing about, but everybody loves a good ’80s rock song, so just go with it. Not sure what the first two and a half minutes of pointless band chit chat in the video is all about, but once you make it past that point? C’mon baby, let’s go!
Carly Rae Jepsen – Store
Sure, most of us have the day off today, but there are a few stores still open – this one goes out to the folks working in those stores. Here’s a video someone made for “Store” using footage from Mannequin, I guess because that movie takes place in a store.
Rihanna – Work
One more song going out to all of you that work so hard every damn day:
Let’s face it, we all get downhearted sometimes, but not all of us will up and move to Austin and end up writing a song about that very downheartedness. That’s just what Molly Burch did and the resulting song is an examination of such feelings all bundled up in a nice package of old school, soulful country sounds that comes across as surprisingly lighthearted in it’s presentation.
Burch cites such luminaries as Patsy Cline, The Everly Brothers, and Dusty Springfield as influences, though I find her voice also reminds me slightly of a more upbeat sounding Hope Sandoval.
“Downhearted” will be released as a 7″ single on September 16 via Captured Tracks. Here’s hoping a full length will follow not too long after that.
Every once in a while everyone needs to hear a classic love song, preferably steeped in the wisdom of southern music style, ideally with a happy ending. Enter Melodime.
Melodime hails from (close to) my hometown in Northern Virginia but the quartet has mastered and reinvented the southern-flavored alt rock style you may associate with New Orleans or Nashville. Lead singer Brad Rhodes’ has a hypnotic voice that calms while it energizes – soothes while it sings. The rest of the talented group supports Rhodes with a lovely combination of keys, drums, and strings – and nowhere (in my opinion) do their talents come together better than in their recent single “Little Thing Called Love.”
The song testifies to the power of love, be it on the road, under the moonlight, or in one’s dreams. It’s simple in its lyrics and its rhythms, making it instantly recognizable and enjoyable. And with that, enough said. Let’s keep it simple. Take a listen and you’ll see what I mean:
