Truly great pop songs do not require a cheery outlook in order to work, nor do they pander to expectations of syrupy sweet easy-listening. Rather, the best pop music is a matter of refinement and pure intention, of dialing groove to melody so that the two might puncture the malaise of everyday living in unison, revealing some brief, sober truth about our shared human condition. On their third LP, Moments of Clarity (Run for Cover), Narrow Head have achieved precisely this feat. Traversing the depths of massive, churning riffs, often distorted to the point of violence, bouncing, lock-grooved rhythms, and crystalline, gorgeously constructed hooks, the Houston-based outfit puts on a masterclass in the art of writing songs that match the pain, pleasure, and confusion of modern living. Each track is sentimental without being precious, heavy without unnecessary griminess, pop-forward without letting the listener off the hook easy: these songs ask for some form of hurt or desire to be paid back to them in return, some promise that the listener is putting equal skin into the game.
Graham Hunt
Wisconsin Musician Graham Hunt's latest effort, "If You Knew Would You Believe It?" (Smoking Room Records) is a journey that confidently tackles pop/rock from every possible sonic angle. Hunt's penchant for combining wistful melodies with lyrics that make stagnant moments feel improbably vivid compliments an increasingly refined incorporation of '90s and early '00s alt-rock touchstones. Through all of the familiarity, Hunt has managed to develop a style that feels authentically singular, an honest extension of his tastes, preferences, and experiences.
