2/21/20

My Latest Listens Part II (Stephanie Quayle & The Head and the Heart)



Hello again friends!

   Thanks for checking in to check out part two of “My Latest Listens”. In part one, I introduced Beck’s “Uneventful Days”, and Doe Paoro’s “Midnight Choir”, two songs that draw from the sounds of alternative, folk, soul, and pop.
   This time, I bring you a song firmly rooted in the country genre, followed by a second tune that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on a later day Tom Petty album.
   So, without further ado, let the cartoon begin!
   Whatcha drinkin’ ‘bout? Boy, let’s talk it out. Did you lose your one and only, are you lonely?



   Our first spotlighted tune is “Whatcha Drinkin ‘Bout”, coming to you courtesy of Stephanie Quayle, a member of CMT’s 2019 Next Women of Country class. A Bozeman, Montana native, Quayle began singing in bands at the age of 16, and released her first solo EP “Stand Back” in 2013.
   “Drinkin” was extracted as the second single from her five song EP “If I Was a Cowboy” in August 2019, (following the title cut), and currently sits at #59 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Wake up country station program directors! This is a charming and sweet-hearted single that deserves to get tons of play on your stations!
   Stephanie sings a story of an easygoing gal flirting with down-on-his-luck fellow at her local watering hole. She offers to buy him a drink, and provide him a sympathetic ear. She mentions that she can’t resist his “tipsy, heartbroke eyes”, and she’ll be there all night for him, or at least until last call. I wonder if she has actually done this before, or if it is just a sweet fantasy?
   Either way, I love Steph’s carefree delivery, and the song’s mid-tempo honky-tonkish feel, it’s all so endearing to me. It echoes some of the country crossover ladies from the late 70s and early 80s, along the lines of Barbara Mandrell, Deborah Allen, and Dolly Parton. And her adorable little giggle at the 2:19 mark… melts my heart every time! This is just a great tune all around! Give it a spin!

 
 
   Now we’ll turn our attention to our second spotlighted tune, a soft and uplifting little verse entitled “People Need a Melody”, by indie pop darlings The Head and the Heart.
   Originating in Seattle in 2009, The Head and the Heart was founded by Josiah Johnson and Jonathan Russell, and currently includes Russell on vocals and guitar, violinist and vocalist Charity Rose Thielen, guitarist Matt Gervais, drummer Tyler Williams, bassist Chris Zasche, and pianist Kenny Hensley.
   People need a melody to open their eyes… like a key to a memory frozen in time
 
 
   Pulled from the band’s 2019 LP “Living Mirage”, “People…” is all about how music has the power to unlock memories. We’ve all experienced that… you hear a tune from your younger years and all of a sudden you are back in middle school, or on a road trip with your best friend, or on that first date (yeah, THAT first date), or any number of experiences or places you may not have thought about in forever. It’s amazing that the mind just needs the right prompting to bring the past to the present.
   However, I detect that “People…” may possibly harbor a second meaning. It seems to carry a cautionary message about being too nostalgic for the past, and living behind a persona that does not accurately represent you to the world. Lyrically, there is also a reference to lovers looking back on a former relationship. Hmmm, maybe this song is deeper than it initially seems. I’ll leave it up to you what you get out of it.
   I heard an interview with the band on the radio, and Jonathan mentioned Tom Petty as a huge influence on his work, which really comes through on “People”. It certainly seems like “People…” could belong to Petty’s “Wildflowers” era.
   Though there is more than echoes of Tom here, as Jonathan’s opening verse strongly recalls the rhythm to Pink Floyd’s "Mother", and the chorus reminds me (and rather randomly, I might add) of Kenny Rogers' soft rock/country classic "Love Will Turn You Around". I’ve listened both to “People…” and “Love Will…” back to back, and I can’t quite identify why Kenny popped into my head here. Perhaps it’s just the feeling I got listening to them. Both songs have a shared easy going style with calm voiced singers. Yes, that must be it. There’s an emotional similarity. It’s almost like “People…” was the key to my memory of that Kenny Rogers song that was frozen…
   oh…
   Woah. That’s cool.  
 
 
   So post a comment and let me know what you think of these new songs I've covered over the past two articles. Hopefully at least one of them will be added to your playlist and become a "latest listen" of your very own!
    As for the Dial, I plan to continue posting reviews of both new and classic cuts, as time and inspiration allows. So until the next time I check in with you, and you check in with me, remember... this is Kyle's Radio Dial... the more you listen, the more you remember!
 
 



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