Caught In A Catchphrase

Broken Spindles “I’ve Never Been This Afraid”

The most striking thing about “I’ve Never Been This Afraid,” aside from the fact that it boasts a central guitar hook that sounds sorta like Keith Richards reinterpreting Tago Mago-era Can, is the way virtually everything in the song’s arrangement rings out with precise definition and clarity. Only the vocals seem to be in soft focus, but as far as rhythmically murmured and moaned vocals go, these are front and center, lucidly narrating the singer’s awareness of his own terror as the music articulates his emotional state as it gradually shifts into full-on panic.

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The Shortwave Set “Glitches ‘n’ Bugs”

It’s sort of an odd thing to hear a groovy, somewhat anthemic rock and roll song with a fairly positive attitude about illness and injury. The lyrics take a rather cold, abstract view of sickness that likens most maladies to the glitches and bugs in computers, i.e., the sort of unfortunate setbacks that can help to identify problems in the system, and force us to adapt or upgrade. Both vocalists are a bit dry and aloof, but they nevertheless convey an optimistic outlook, particularly as the chorus offers comforting words without a hint of condescension or false hope.

Buy it from Wall of Sound.