Islands in the Stream: 9/25/24

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?

"Together," Snacktime
This is a pretty great example of your standard singalong midtempo funk song — but it's also pretty great in general, specifically in the area of greatness one can only explore after assembling a kickass seven-piece band with an airtight rhythm section and killer horn section. More, please.

"Hurry to Me," Cordelia Blue
The title can safely be regarded as somewhat ironic, because there's nothing hurried about "Hurry to Me" — this song is built on a steady, slinky groove, with sweetly impassioned vocals, a savory helping of Hammond, and a guitar solo that sits expertly perched between "tastefully minimal" and "stank face."

"(Br)other," (BR)OTHERS
I've got a lot of brothers in my life, blood and otherwise, and I love 'em all. I'm also pretty fond of this bouncy little number.

"Perfect," Fat Mezz
"Perfect" starts off by traipsing dangerously close to "interstitial sitcom music" territory before nimbly detouring into one of the sweatier sections of Soulsville. This is nothing that comes close to eclipsing your favorite Stax records, but we should all be very happy that there's a young band — from Jersey, no less! — that's this solidly on the good foot.

"Got a Good Man," Omar Coleman featuring Eddie Roberts
Are you in the mood for some ass-shaking blues, rooted in the classic sound and topped off with stinging guitar and a dash of harmonica? Omar Coleman and Eddie Roberts are here to help. "Got a Good Man" indeed.

"Let Me Down Easily," Ramsano
Out of all the songs I tabbed for this edition of Islands in the Stream, I'm the least enthusiastic about "Let Me Down Easily" — I can't tell whether this is an affectionate tribute to the McD/Bobby Caldwell/David Pack end of the yacht rock axis, or if it's a deadly serious bedroom record made by an artist who needs to get out more. While I continue trying to make up my mind, listen to it and see what you think.

"Dangerous," Buffalo Stack
If the Allman Brothers had included a horn section, they might have given us something like "Dangerous," especially during the Haynes years. Of course, you could also take this sheet music, travel back in time to 1990 and hand it to Winger, and end up with something that sounds completely different, so I guess it isn't super useful to sit around theorizing like this. Bottom line: "Dangerous" is fun and funky.

"She'll Get Her Own," Heigh Chief
There's a strong Wood Brothers vibe to this stuff, which makes me quite happy — and also baffled/amused/delighted to discover that Heigh Chief are based in Oslo, of all places. We are truly all one nation under a groove.

"Now You Know," The Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr.
Traditional New Orleans music is kind of a weird beast. It's some of the best music on Earth, but once you've steeped yourself in the classics, it can be really difficult to find new stuff that honors those roots while also managing to do anything new. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. and the Rumble mostly pull that off with "Now You Know," which is a rollicking good time that only includes a few repetitions of "jockamo feeno." I want to hear more from these guys.

"bills," Lev UFO
Lev UFO's "bills" sounds like the best possible version of a world where Beck never moved past "Loser," Soul Coughing never broke up, and G. Love had more than a single goddamn groove in his brain. I realize this sounds like damning with the faintest of praise, but I'm being genuine here — this song takes me back to the golden moment when it seemed like the buzz bin held a rich vein of vaguely funky and occasionally machine-assisted music that had a cockeyed sense of humor.