It’s Friday the 13th. Some might consider this day an unlucky day, but we feel pretty lucky that some great artists/bands have released music today.
"LAKE SUPERIOR" - TASHA
Tasha’s “Lake Superior” is a moving indie-folk song about being there for a grieving loved one. Tasha masterfully paints vivid images with her lyrics. You feel as if you’re there, at Lake Superior, seeing what she sees, feeling what she feels: Oh I remember the blue of that sky/ The water cool around our legs/ the way it never ended/ Couldn’t help ourselves we had to cry”.
In a statement, Tasha says: “I think this song is my way of being there for my mom and telling her I’m there for her, even if it’s a few years too late. The track goes through a whole journey, flashing through seasons and coming back to a rousing reminder of a chorus: “But I still/ Wish I told you/ You’re the bravest one of us all/ So much joy we must cling to/ Even when the missing don’t stop.”
MODEL CITIZEN EP - MEET ME @ THE ALTAR
The pop-punk renaissance is here and Meet Me @ The Altar is @ the forefront of this movement with their latest EP, Model Citizen. The EP approaches important topics such as depression and your overall mental health in an optimistic and empowering way. Songs like “Wake Up” (which briefly reminded us of System of a Down’s “Chop Suey!”at the very beginning), “Feel A Thing”, and “Brighter Days (Are Before Us)” are great examples of this.
An EP highlight would definitely be “Now Or Never”. It’s a fun, hard-hitting love song that will have you singing along to the chorus by the end.
In an interview with Spin Magazine, bassist Téa Campbell talked about what Model Citizen represents: “The message at the end of the day is that it’s okay to not be okay, but it’s also good to want to work on yourself, get better and have hope for the future because that’s what keeps literally everyone going.” We at For The Culture Zine are grateful for everything MM@TA is doing for young Black and Brown girls who are looking for representation in punk/alternative spaces.
SAY THINGS THAT MATTER - M.A.G.S.
The day we’ve waited for has finally come: M.A.G.S. album is here and it’s exactly what we wanted. Sonically, there are moments of lo-fi, shoegaze, garage-rock, electro-pop punk, and soul. The way the album flows seamlessly track by track demonstrates how much thought went into the making of Say Things That Matter. It’s a testament to his artistry and his growth as a musician.
“Wait” is an album highlight. This song’s energy is infectious. It draws you in and there’s truly a sense of urgency in the chorus: “I got a feeling that I should say this now/ Don’t wait forever/ I kinda feel like I should tell you/ Don’t wait forever”. The music video, which just came out, is a DIY masterpiece (it also was a great reminder for us to go water our plants). The lyrical dance moment during the instrumental breakdown and the last scene where M.A.G.S. watches clips of his music videos from this current era put together were a nice touch.
“Golden” has a hazy 90s alternative rock vibe that hits you with a wave of nostalgia upon first listen. “Forever” is a moment. The way this song steadily builds and becomes this powerful, emotional statement.
Say Things That Matter is the perfect album to drive around L.A. with no direction during the summer. There’s a reason why we highlighted him as an artist you need to know right now during our Black Music Month series: he’s a star on the rise and this album solidifies this fact.