What A Swell Time We Had

Ssion “Heaven” – First off, I definitely think you could trick someone into believing that this is a Gwen Stefani demo or something; the voice and melodic style at the start isn’t that far off. Once the chorus kicks in, we’re in a different zone altogether — it’s an underdog’s anthem, full of bitter optimism and hunger for success and validation. They’re singing about the desired result of success, but the joy in the music comes from the work, the hustle, the grind. This is really about the terror and the thrill of putting yourself out there, and believing in yourself and what you do enough to fight through every indignity on the way to…who knows, maybe total failure, but as long as the people in the front are dancing, it’s okay. (Click here for the official Ssion site.)

Nimbus Coleman “Fourth Grader” – There’s a hint of agitation in Coleman’s trebly guitar arpeggios, but his singing is almost absurdly gentle and relaxed, to the point that his lyrics get a bit lost in the fog that results when the warmness of his voice comes into contact with the brisk, chilly tone of his arrangement. Well, at least until the song takes an unexpected turn towards the end, and the vibe shifts from very mild nervousness to something a bit more perky and free-wheeling. (Click here for the Nimbus Coleman website.)