Islands in the Stream: 9/11/24

Islands in the Stream is a periodic series that highlights songs I've liked by artists who have a relatively low number of monthly listeners. It's like a public service with a dash of the thrill of discovery. What more could you ask for?

"Part I 'Birth'," Jarek Smietana with the Chamber Orchestra of Galicja
Smietana is apparently very well known in his native Poland, which I'm glad for; after listening to this nearly 13-minute opus, I'd argue he should be far better known in other parts of the world as well, including the United States. Although I haven't listened to the rest of the record yet, this is a striking opening track — one that showcases his own instrumental dexterity while also highlighting his tremendous compositional skill. Set aside a nice big chunk of time to listen to this and thank me later.

"This Space Ain't Big Enough for the Two of Us," Adam Miller
There's a loping, Frisellian quality to this track that appeals to me. If you aren't the Frisell fan that I am, then I guess you might wonder what's so special about it, since in most if not all respects it's a pretty standard little guitar instrumental, but I find it as tuneful as it is tasteful, and that's enough to earn it a spot in today's post.

"Baited," Coast Arcade
These guys have picked up some monthly listeners since I listened to "Baited" and set it aside for the next Islands in the Stream; at 12,303 as I write this, they're technically too popular to be included, but this is my site and I can decide when to break my own rules, so I'm keeping it anyway. Based on this song, I think their stuff is such emotionally evocative mainstream rock that I suspect their numbers are only low because they're from New Zealand. Don't give up hope, Coast Arcade! Neil Finn broke through, and so can you.

"Head Over Heels," Pedal Steel Noah
I learned of Pedal Steel Noah's existence thanks to Instagram, where this sweetly unassuming Texas kid developed a following by posting a steady stream of instrumental covers led by his pedal steel guitar. The videos are charming in their simplicity; 99 percent of them show Noah at his pedal steel, with his brother playing bass and the family dog chilling on the floor. He has impeccable taste in his song choices, as evidenced by this soulful take on the classic Tears for Fears hit. Add him to your musical diet; you will not regret it.

"Get Off (My Mind)," David Brookings
I have done no research into David Brookings' career, so I have no idea whether he's released anything since putting out Mania at the Talent Show in 2021, nor do I have any idea whether he's the world's worst promoter of his own talent. All I can tell you is that when I listen to this catchy modern power pop ditty and I see that he has 69 monthly listeners (noice), I get angry. Check it out and see if you don't agree.

"Parallel Lines," Uncle Uncle
This might just be the bourbon talking, but "Parallel Lines" strikes me as what you might hear if you were suddenly plopped down in a universe where Lou Reed was an energetic, semi-cheerful frontman who enjoyed cutting songs with horn sections. There's a big part of me that doubts this is the best way to sell this song, but you've been bathing in my stream of consciousness for this long, so why stop now?

"Everything Is Summer," rakey
There are songs I set aside for Islands in the Stream because they sound fresh and different, and there are songs I set aside because they're simply easy to listen to; rakey's "Everything Is Summer" is decidedly of the latter variety, and there isn't a thing wrong with that. This is tunefully gauzy stuff, and I'm sure you've heard songs that sound vaguely like it a billion times — one could imagine hearing it blaring out of car stereo speakers just as easily as one could imagine hearing it while watching their favorite CW drama. It isn't original, per se, but it has its place, and that place is here.

"Mile Dive," Solstice
Well, here's another goddamn act that crossed the 10,000-listener threshold (if only barely) after I set their song aside for future coverage. I'm happy for Solstice, but I wish they'd held off until a day or two after I published this post — why isn't anyone thinking of me? Well, anyway, this is a pleasantly atmospheric track that's all wafting vocals and shimmering guitars.

"Hide and Seek," Croozer
Like the rakey song, this isn't anything I can even pretend to defend in terms of originality. That said, I think Croozer do what they do very well, at least based on "Hide and Seek," which is a pleasantly bittersweet, tastefully produced alt-pop number whose greatest crime is that it craps out shortly after crossing the 2:30 mark. What is it with these kids and their blink-and-you'll-miss-it songs?

"Sg," Fryderyk HD
We started out this post with a Polish artist, and we're closing it the same way — albeit with a twist, because Fryderyk HD is also Vietnamese. Full disclosure: I added "Sg" to the list because the melody strongly reminds me of Bob James' "Angela," and if you're a regular reader here, you know I love that song. Having said that, I would definitely describe "Sg" as a sort of sideways homage rather than a ripoff, and it's also rather great overall.