Savanna Ruth - "Queen's Gambit"

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Photo by Miles Kalchik

I didn't think there was a way to make a 90's style alt-rock song ramblin', but Savanna Ruth has figured it out. The Chicago artist recently released "Queen's Gambit," an energetic and fuzzy song that sounds like it could have been released anytime from 1995 to 1998. It's more than a little bit bubblegrunge, but it has an unexpected folky hint to it, particularly in the way the lyrics seem to all flow together in an almost stream of conscious way. It reminds me a bit of some of my 90's favorites that had a bit of a country side, although I never noticed at the time (and certainly never would have admitted it if I had). That's not to say that "Queen's Gambit" is a folk or country song. This is pure alt-rock, just with some roots of country for extra flavor.

Savanna Ruth says of her latest single:

“'Queen’s Gambit' is basically me trying to make peace with not having my life completely figured out. I was overwhelmed with grad school, music, adulthood and my own mental health, and the phrase ‘take it all in stride’ became this reminder to give myself some time and trust that I was going to be okay. I watched 'The Queen’s Gambit' on Netflix and immediately became obsessed with chess. I taught myself openings, started playing all the time, and eventually wound up teaching chess club at the elementary school where I worked. I love that something I casually wrote into the song actually became a big part of my life.”

You can watch the video for "Queen's Gambit" below. The Baseball Diaries is due out October 23 on Easy Does It Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Savanna Ruth, check out the artist on Instagram.

On Repeat...

Failure - "The Air's on Fire"

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Photo by Lyndsey Byrnes With their upcoming seventh overall studio album, the highly influential band Failure will have released more albums since reuniting in 2014 than they did during their first run. The first single from that album, "The Air's on Fire," shows the band expanding their sound while still being rooted in what has always made them great. The song is a dark and moody one that is always threatening to explode but never quite does. This is an example of 90's alt-rock meets art rock at its very finest. It's the kind of song that could easily have come out thirty years ago, but that doesn't mean it sounds dated. After the first listen, "The Air's on Fire" will sound like a killer alt-rocker from a 90's band that hasn't lost a step at all. The more you listen, the more complex Failure get on the single, and the more the song reveals itself to you. Ken Andrews says of his band's latest single: “That song is directly about my ...
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Hiding Places - "Waiting"

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Photo by Calli Westra Brooklyn's Hiding Places are originally from North Carolina, and that sound is all over their latest single. "Waiting" has a strong alt-country meets dark indie rock sound. The song is as hypnotic as it is heartbreaking. Even if you're not paying attention to the lyrics, the vibe of the song is overwhelmingly dark and somber. There's plenty of country twang and indie rock fuzz throughout the song, with the music carrying the weight of the song as much as vocalist/guitarist Nicholas Byrne's voice does. The song is stunning, both in its beauty and mood. I feel like I've been sitting on "Waiting" for a while now until I could fully wrap my head around it. Hiding Places has something truly special here. Nicholas Byrne says of his band's latest single: "Hiding Places’ first bassist, Anthony Cozzarelli, left the band in July of 2022. I wrote the chorus the day before Anthony left the band. I recalled the slow death of my ...
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Mama's Broke - "How it Ends"

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Mama's Broke, the post-folk Canadian duo of Lisa Maria and Amy Lou Keeler, have just released a break up song that might be their most accessible yet. While the previous singles from their upcoming album have a certain darkness or a sense of foreboding, "How it Ends" sounds relatively upbeat. Considering this is a song about how you never think you'll find someone as good as your ex after a break up, that's quite a feat. This is a traditional folk song with some slightly modern folk harmonies. As much heartbreak as their is in "How it Ends," there is also the warmth of remembering a recent relationship. You can listen to "How it Ends" below. Narrow Line is due out May 13 on Free Dirt Records, and can be pre-ordered here . For more on Mama's Broke, check out the artist's website .
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