Category: Modern Music

“Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi a Standout Song Offering Lasting Impression of Loss

“Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi is a song that instantly captivates the listener, and offers a lasting impression in the heart of the seriousness of loss. Evidently about some kind of breakup, the ache of Capaldi’s voice cuts through the noise of the normative pop music blaring in grocery stores. In a world where…
Brooke Fraser Pt. 1: What to Do With Daylight Album Remains a Solid Listen

New Zealand songwriting sensation Brooke Fraser, now arguably better known now by her married name, Brooke Ligertwood, released her debut album What to Do with Daylight in 2003. Signed to a record label in connection with Sony Music, her career skyrocketed quickly, notably accompanied by her involvement in the worship music scene via Australia-based church,…
Joni, 50: Reflecting on Joni Mitchell’s ‘Blue’ Album Decades Later

There are few albums that have transformed the creative music scene like Joni Mitchell’s album Blue. Known best for songs such as California, River, and A Case of You, the album continues to persist in influence to this day, decades down the line. Written and recorded at a young age where songs of confessional love,…
Things Recede: Songs About Loss, Memory, and Longing

Things recede under the deep waters of your life, and they never really go away. This phrase for a song came to me as I sat in the steam room at the gym after a heavy workout, processing some of the loss, memories, and longing I found myself still wincing over. I remembered someone wise…
“The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by W. B. Yeats Reminds Us of the Real Needs of the Human Heart

One of W. B. Yeats’ most well-known poems, “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” is an important reminder of the deep needs of the human heart for solace, silence, peace, and natural beauty. The poem articulates Yeats’ experience of a real place he remembered from childhood, in contrast to his bustling life in the city at…
Chantal Kreviazuk’s “Into Me”: A Call to Lasting Love Despite Human Fragility

Chantal Kreviazuk’s song “Into Me” is a beautiful call and challenge to fight for and believe in lasting love, despite the ever-present reality of human fragility. This call is revealed through Kreviazuk’s quintessential driving piano base and expressive vocals, as well as the music video directed by Michael Maxxis and featuring an exquisite performance…
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Why the 90s Grunge Band Nirvana’s Best-Known Song Still Captivates

Nirvana, the band fronted by famously tragic figure, Kurt Cobain, released its most famous album, Nevermind, including the still-popular song, Smells Like Teen Spirit, in 1991. Central to the emerging 1990s grunge scene, the song is often referred to as an anthem of the generation out of which it was born, expressing the deeply ironic…
Searows’ “House Song” and “Dearly Missed”: A Stark and Quiet Beauty

Searows’ “House Song” and “Dearly Missed” are some of the most jarringly beautiful songs of recent years emerging into our musical landscape. In fact, the whole body of the artist’s work brings something stark. These songs are not for the faint of heart; their themes loop around seemingly heavy themes. Although ultimately mysterious and unverifiable,…
Josh Groban Song “You Raise Me Up” Remains a Classic

You Raise Me Up, the song made famous by Josh Groban in 2004, is still a classic to return to, alongside the many Italian songs that lend themselves to a an earnestness we have lost. I’ve spent many years contemplating my passion for his work when I was in high school: it unlocked what I’ve…
Jewel’s ‘Pieces of You’: Why the Album Still Matters

Jewel’s original album, Pieces of You, with hit songs such as Who Will Save Your Soul, You Were Meant for Me, and Foolish Games, released in the midst of the grunge dominance of the 90s, transformed the music scene then. Today, it remains a significant cultural mover.