Three chilled out tracks that prove that not all rock music sounds the same – Ear To The Ground Music

John Calvin Abney – “Transparent Towns”
-Okay we’ve reached the critical point where I’ve featured Abney’s music enough times that I’m pretty much at an “automatic yes” point with his writing. It’s easy to hear why I keep approving these tracks, though. They’re all so unbelievably good. Whether you call this chill rock or inspired Americana, it’s got a really chill vibe and some fascinating instrumentation. There’s a fine line between simple lyrics and becoming a dash too cheesy, but I think this track does a nice job of staying on the “simple, meaningful” side of that line. The optimistic, “stay a while with you” to end the track feels like a hope and a promise. It’s a satisfying listen and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

William Hinson – “You’re Upset”
-There’s an energy to this track that I really enjoy. It’s pensive. It’s sincere. It’s clever… witty… punchy, even. But what I like most about this song is the mood that it evokes for me. It’s rooted in love and concern. If you’ve ever been in a committed relationship, you know what it’s like to upset your partner and just want to figure out what you’ve done wrong. Sometimes it’s your fault, but sometimes it’s beyond you. Nevertheless it influences your world because of what’s going on in theirs. This song captures that sentiment really well. I love the little production details that make it feel so homey and fun. It’s a quaint tune that carries a lot of weight. I’d say for fans of Rusty Clanton or Daryl Rahn.

dogpatch – “hold U”
-Sometimes I run across a song that makes me really glad I’m not in charge of genres… and this is one of those remarkable tracks that feels like it’s about three different genres all at once. There are some tell tale elements of rock, notably in the percussion and electric guitar aspects, but it also has some pop flavor and even… dare I say… some countrified influences in the guitar work. It all feels so glowing, so… atmospheric and moody, but in a good way. The lyrics are about the optimism of wanting a dream to come true (or at least, that’s the key lyric for me). It’s amazing the difference between the phrase “everybody wants to hold you…” and “everybody wants to hold you DOWN.” I love the word play here and the unique songwriting energy of this delightful genre-bending work of art.

Image courtesy: John Calvin Abney IG