
The Bright Light Social Hour - Sun King
Following their 2016 cover of The Beach Boys’ “All I Wanna Do,” it’s clear that The Bright Light Social Hour is unafraid to tackle the untouchable icons of the ‘60s with their modern take on that era’s own psychedelia. The Beatles, to say nothing of Brian Wilson’s genius, are a cultural touchstone comparable to little else in the last century, and their songs often stand-in for the very definition of pop songs themselves. While we see new geniuses tear down those very definitions, The Beatles’ catalogue remains almost sacred to many. In “Sun King,” The Bright Light Social Hour celebrates Abbey Road’s 50th anniversary with a cover of a side-two classic, using it as a vessel for their signature groove. It could have been any Beatles song, or even any other song if not for the instantly recognizable nature of The Fab Four track. They choose not to honor the original note-for-note, nor do they claim that their song is the way it should have been. The track is right there in the source material, and their chops are evident in the performance.
— Daniel Shanker on November 1, 2019
Henry Jamison - The Wilds
Henry Jamison is a storyteller at heart. It may be in his blood — his father, a classical composer, and his mother, an English professor — but Jamison is a writer and artist in his own right, evidenced by his debut album The Wilds (released October 27th). Beyond writing, recording and arranging the album all on his own, Jamison has a special ability to bring each track to life. Take his song, “The Wilds”: it’s instrumentally rich without being overbearing, letting Jamison’s narrative whisk you away. “The Wilds” sounds like an old-time American love story - unassuming and familiar, but nevertheless, still surprising.
— Natasha Cucullo on January 7, 2018
Moses Sumney - Plastic
Los Angeles genre-bending artist Moses Sumney released his gorgeous and ethereal debut album Aromanticism into the world this September. Sumney has made a big impression on artists like Solange and Sufjan Stevens for good reason. His infusion of soul and folk come together on this album in a way that leaves us begging for more. A prime example of this heavenly blend is found on the third song of the album, “Plastic.” A previous version of the song can be heard on the first season of Issa Rae’s HBO series, Insecure. This new version serves as one of the more simplistic songs on the album, featuring just a fingerpicked electric guitar, a synth and Sumney’s captivating voice. The hook of the song repeats the line “my wings are made of plastic,” each time sung in a slightly different way than it was before, continuing to imbue the phrase with new meaning. This song of vulnerability, self-awareness and secret-spilling is the kind that you can leave on repeat and get lost in for hours.
— Dara Bankole on October 22, 2017