Friday, October 5, 2018

Singles Roundup: Elvis Costello, Greta Van Fleet, Holter, and Weezer

The October slate of albums hasn't been as daunting as I was anticipating, so with a free day to play with, let's take a look at a few of the singles that have been coming out, and see if we can draw any conclusions from them.

Elvis Costello - Suspect My Tears

The third song released from Elvis' new album, which I hope to be talking about next week, this one finds Elvis playing with more of a soul feeling. The album is shaping up to be an eclectic affair, much like "Imperial Bedroom" was, which is a record this song would have fit right in on. I do wish the chorus was a bit more developed than repeating the title line so often, but there is a charm to the track that mostly overcomes that flaw. It isn't a classic, but it mostly hits the right marks.

Greta Van Fleet - Watching Over/Lover, Leaver

The next tracks from the most anticipated rock record of the year (to the mainstream charts), these tracks finds Greta Van Fleet softening things up a bit, and losing a bit of what makes them special. They are at their best when they sound like you-know-who, but do so in a way that is hookier and slightly more modern. These songs don't have any of that. Instead, while the guitars are still doing some interesting stuff, the vocals are left to howl atop the music, essentially doing nothing. Of the three songs we've heard, only one is encouraging for the record.

Holter - I'd Die For You

My favorite metal record of the last five years was the "Dracula: Swing Of Death" concept record put out by Jorn Lande and Trond Holter. It was ludicrous, ridiculous, and still remains an absolute blast. This is the first single for the follow-up, a record abotu Vlad The Impaler. The song lacks some of the campy fun of the original, but the biggest issue is Nils K Rue replacing Jorn as the vocalist. Nils is a fine singer, but he lacks the sinister edge needed to play such a part. And anyone being compared to Jorn is going to look weak. It's a fine song, but it has me worried the new album can't possibly live up to my expectations.

Weezer - California Snow

Oh, Weezer. There was a time in my life they were as important as any band, and now I shake my head and wonder how that could have been. Rivers Cuomo has been desperate to get back his mainstream success, and it shows here. He hops on the trends of 'rock', and has cobbled together a song that manages to be terrible for that style, and terrible for Weezer, all at the same time. Some artists mature as they age. Rivers becomes more and more child-like. It's sad to see. Weezer is all but dead now.

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