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Summer is in full swing -- but the year is officially more than halfway over, and we are on the downhill slope towards fall and winter. It's not quite time for fall tunes, though. Here's some more summer music:
The People -- OK
Goodnight
I've written about this band before, specifically their previous album, The Fox and the Bird. Well, they have a new album that just came out, and I am here to once again tell you to give them a try if you like progressive rock -- or just good music in general.
This album is a little more peaks-and-valleys than their last effort. While it has a couple absurdly good songs, it also has a few that I consider misses, while their last album was more consistent but didn't reach quite as high of highs. I view this more as them experimenting than anything else -- with this genre of music, that's kind of to be expected, honestly, and it means that not everything will always land. This song is one of the ones that did, at least for me.
Twilight of the Thunder God -- Amon Amarth
The song might be almost 20 years old now, but it still absolutely rips. I can't say that I've ever enjoyed Amon Amarth much outside of this song -- perhaps odd, since I like melodic death metal as a genre and can vibe with the more folksy, Viking stylings from time to time as well.
My guess is that it all comes down to the breakdown. For about thirty seconds, starting at 2:30, the staccato, repeated "twilight…of…the thunder god" lyrics never fail to give me frission. Most of the rest of the song is just setup for that section -- but that section is absolutely worth listening to if you enjoy things on the heavier side.
Dulaman -- Celtic Woman
One of those classic Irish tunes which has approximately infinite different covers and versions, this one is performed by famous -- and iterative -- megagroup Celtic Woman, in their 2007 form. There's something about how playful and fanciful this version is that I quite enjoy. It's very faerie-like and feels like a summer breeze.
If you prefer a completely different take on the song, another I would recommend is Broceliande's version, which is far more even-keeled and steady. The difference between the two version is actually quite striking, listening to them one after another.
Elephants Never Forget -- Haken
What can I say? Summer is a very progressive season for my listening habits. Smooth and creamy, Haken's sound is a snowcone on a hot afternoon, and that hits the perfect spot for the month of July.
First coming to my attention with 2016's Affinity, Haken have been a consistent treat to the ears for a good while now. I also believe they have a new album coming out sometime this year, which is exciting -- this song is from 2023's Fauna, which also has one of the best album arts I've seen in a long time.
Priest -- William Crighton
Off my Southern Gothic playlist, this steady tune has a decidedly autumnal feel to it that combines an up-tempo beat with that feeling of summer winding down.
As we head into a transitional time of year, I think I gravitate towards these types of songs -- the ones that combine two elements that I associate with different seasons. Here, it's what I can only describe as campfire Appalachia -- that folksy, foot-stomping summer roots -- with fall's lilting, mourning melancholy.