Visual Sound: Issue 18
Bruce Springsteen
“Addicted To Romance”
From the movie She Came To Me, here’s Bruce and Patti on this romantic beauty of a brand new song.
Patriarchs In Black
“Dead Or Dying”
The second Patriarchs In Black album, My Veneration (MDD Records, Germany) comes out October 6 but, in the meantime, here’s the lead single/video. Helmed by our favorite Paramus riff-happy Metal Monster lead guitarist Dan Lorenzo (Hades and Non-Fiction) and eight-armed octopus drummer Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative and Quiet Riot), this time it’s with vocalist Karl Agell (Corrosion Of Conformity) and bassist Dave Neabore (Dog Eat Dog).
Lorenzo: “I played this song to a couple of my friends after Karl finished it and they all said he’s singing better than ever. I agree. He’s been touring with Legions Of Doom so I guess it made him stronger,” to which Karl adds, “death is the great equalizer. It comes for every living thing. Life is short and precious. It’s up to us to make the most of it. The countdown to death begins the moment we’re born. We’re all either dead or dying.”
Nils Lofgren
“Ain’t The Truth Enough”
We’ve always loved E Streeter Nils Lofgren from his Grin to his Neil Young work. Here he steps out from his E Street duties to compose, self-produce and ask that musical question, “Ain’t The Truth Enough” with drummer Ringo Starr, vocalist Cindy Mizelle and bassist Kevin McCormick. It’s from his Mountains album. One could only wonder who he wrote it about as he asks “who filled your head with lies? You’re kool-aid hypnotized/I coulda saved your mind/Truth ain’t that hard to find/Man, you’re pissin’ on your soul!”
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Lightheaded
“Mercury Girl”
Jersey City continues to be the playground of a bristling pop scene filled with talent, the latest of which is Lightheaded, young kids who weren’t even born yet when so much great pop came out of the Brill Building in New York City. Yet that’s the aesthetic they seem to be going for: a classic pop sound tempered by a folk-rock vibe (they call it “garage-pop”). They obviously take their melody seriously!
The Gumbo Gumbas
“Can’t Go Back To New Orleans”
Because of The Gumbo Gumbas, the sleepy little hamlet of Ewing in Mercer County can now be called New Orleans North as this band dredges up that French Quarter Mardi Gras vibe with everything they do. This fifth single from their Zydeland album, “Can’t Go Back To New Orleans,” is influenced vocally by Tom Waits. It’s a tribute to singer Joe Grillo’s brother Alfie who passed in 2020. A lovely ballad, complete with string quartet, horn section and accordion, it’s right in line with their authentic Crescent City vibe.