NEWS4U SEPTEMBER 2021 | MUSIC REVIEWS
JOHN MAYER Sob Rock
Columbia Records
TONES AND I Welcome to the Madhouse Bad Batch Records
His vocals are so sweet you don’t even need
Tones and I’s single “Dance Monkey”
a raspberry scone at the coffee shop where his music is playing over the speakers. John Mayer is back with his eighth studio album, romancing us with his easy, breezy tracks once again. The truth is, when you put him on it’s a whole mood. And this latest collection of sexy, bluesy treats for the eardrums passes the vibe check. To some, it might just be lounge chair rock, but Mayer manages to titillate all the senses with “Shot in the Dark” and “Why You No Love Me." “Last Train Home” is an ode to 80's romantic comedies with electric guitar and cheesy lyrics: “I’m not a fallen angel, I just fell behind/ I'm out of luck and I'm out of time/ If you don't wanna love me, let me go/ I'm runnin' for the last train.” “Shouldn’t Matter But It Does” is an instant, soothing classic. Mayer performed it gorgeously on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, guitar in hand under a periwinkle and dreamsicle background. If albums were the weather, this one would be sunset. - Marisa Patwa
went to number one in over 30 countries in 2019. This summer, we finally got the treat of her debut album. The addictive electric beats and sick singing interlaced in her breakout song are back. Throughout the album are dance diggities and beasty ballads. The Australian rookie is a jack of all trades when it comes to her singing styles. The tracks are mostly self-produced with no collabs just yet. It always helps to add some extra sauce as a newbie but truthfully, she doesn’t need any more on her menu. “I Won’t Sleep” takes you on a wild ride, from the spooky fun music video to her chilling vocals and tongue-twisty lyrics: “You know you're never too old for the kingdom, 'cause the kingdom's in your vein/ I'm not a queen, but you know that I'm the kingpin/ If you're a freak, then come and play.” “Fly Away'' is absolutely breathtaking with a powerhouse chorus: "'Cause I had a dream that someday/ I would just fly, fly away/ And I always knew I couldn't stay/ So I had a dream that I'd just fly away, away, oh.” Simple, but beautiful. - Marisa Patwa
TIMES OF GRACE Songs of Loss & Separation Wicked Good Records BILLIE EILISH Happier Than Ever Darkroom / Interscope Records Breakout “bad girl" Billie Eilish is back with her second studio album. This beauty is just as eclectic as her first which captivated the world and garnered her almost 90 million followers. The title track is a grungy, soothing ride. It also has an inspiring music video. Eilish’s house gets flooded and she claws her way out through the dark water. As she floats to the top, she belts out, “I could talk about every time that you showed up on time/ But I'd have an empty line, 'cause you never did/ Never paid any mind to my mother or friends, so I/ Shut 'em all out for you 'cause I was a kid.” Other knockouts include “Getting Older,” “Everybody Dies,” and “Billie Bossa Nova,” a surprisingly seductive song showcasing the best of her breathy vocals. The whole album is passionate and vulnerable and full of self-reflection. Co-written by her brother - and tried and true collaborator - Finneas O'Connell, Happier Than Ever was developed
in quarantine. I'm happy it’s finally seeing daylight. - Marisa Patwa
54 | SEPTEMBER 2021
• www.evansvillemediagroup.com
If you’re going to wait a decade between your first and second albums, then the follow-up better be good! Fortunately,
the
sophomore
effort
from Times of Grace is everything that (some) fans hoped for and more. Times of Grace is the side project of guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz and vocalist Jesse Leach (both are founding members of Massachusetts-based Killswitch Engage). When KSE isn’t delivering their signature “metalcore” sound and touring, Dutkiewicz and Leach explore deeper, more melodic, ethereal material that they cannot play otherwise. Many KSE fans wouldn’t accept such a departure from the signature KSE sound to which they’ve become accustomed. As a KSE fan, however, I was thrilled to hear the pair do something different. The songs are slower, with a focus on creating a musical moment and building to something powerful, emotional and meaningful. There are also positive themes – redemption for the hopeless and finding purpose and identity in this life. Strongest tracks: “To Carry the Weight,” “Cold” and “Bleed Me.” - Matt Alschbach
