Brent Faulkner
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype. When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event
Next Up Forever – AJR
30 April 2019
“I kinda wish I was still a virgin / ‘Time to finally see what sex is like!’” Yes, that’s quite an eye-popping line from alternative-pop brother trio AJR. The song at hand, “Next Up Forever,” from the collective’s 2019 album, Neotheater, isn’t about sex in the least. ..
Xanny – Billie Eilish
23 April 2019
“I don’t need a Xanny to feel better.” Ah, for the second time on the Music to Atone playlist, following “x ANA x” (Badflower), Xanax plays a key role in a song. In the case of the Badflower record, frontman Josh Katz needs Xanax for regulation purposes (“I need x, ANA, x / Help me bury my thoughts”). For alternative-pop teen artist Billie Eilish, she has a different perspective,…
Armor – Sara Bareilles
16 April 2019
“Underneath the leaves, Adam found Eve / Both of them found something sweet under the apple tree /…How the hell did Eve end up with all the damn blame?” Sara Bareilles has a valid point on “Armor,” which appears from her 2019 album, Amidst the Chaos…
The World is Rated X – Marvin Gaye
9 April 2019
“Oh, the world’s situation / Should be rated X, rated X.” The late, great Marvin Gaye has an excellent point there. Gaye was never shy in terms of incorporating socially-conscious themes into his music…
Party Pill – Cub Sport
2 April 2019
“Yeah, I came out and I felt fucking free.” That’s what a liberated Tim Nelson, the frontman of Australian collective Cub Sport asserts on “Come Out,” one of many songs addressing sexuality on the band’s self-titled album, released in 2019…
Deep Dive – Reno McCarthy
26 March 2019
“Think fast I’m in over my head / Lose track I don’t know what I said / Fall back like I’m hoping again.” For rising Montreal alternative singer/songwriter Reno McCarthy, the apprehension is pronounced on “Deep Dive,” an advance single from his 2019 debut album, Counterglow…
Robbery – Juice WRLD
19 March 2019
She told me put my heart in the bag / And nobody gets hurt / Now I’m running from her love, I’m not fast / So, I’m making it worse…” Sigh, melodic, emo-tinged rapper Juice WRLD (Jarad Higgins) is experiencing the common symptoms of that devastating thing known as heartbreak …
Cumberland Gap – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
12 March 2019
“Maybe the Cumberland Gap just swallows you whole.” Say what? As far-fetched as being swallowed up by a geographic location may sound, Grammy-winning Americana collective Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit brilliantly capture just that…
Preach – John Legend
5 March 2019
“Every day I wake, and everything is broken / Turnin’ off my phone just to get out of bed.” Wow, what a striking, telling opening lyric! On his powerful, thoughtful single “Preach,” Grammy-winning R&B musician John Legend voices the frustrations of many…
Rollercoaster – India.Arie
26 February 2019
“This just in, another talented young black man / Thrown in jail, lost his life, just sitting on his couch, in the street.” The spoken word intro of “Rollercoaster,” a highlight from Worthy, the 2019 album by Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter India.Arie speaks volumes. From the jump, it’s clear that “Rollercoaster” has a truly powerful, transcendent message, before Arie ever sings one note…
The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness – The National
19 February 2019
“The system only dreams in total darkness / Why are you hiding from me? / We’re in a different kind of thing now / All night you’re talking to God.” Alternative rock collective The National, led by Matt Berninger, have plenty to say on “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness,” a gem from their 2017 Grammy-winning album, Sleep Well Beast…
Americans – Janelle Monáe
12 February 2019
“I pledge allegiance to the flag / Learned the words from my mom and dad / Cross my heart and I hope to die / With a big old piece of American pie.” Ah, the pre-chorus lyrics serve as prime example of a vicious cycle of influence, as opposed to free, individual thought…