Music I Liked – Uada, Chvrches, Willie Nelson

The music I enjoyed last week was eclectic in style, but shared one trait: new releases. I don’t usually keep up on new releases, but consistency is not a human trait. Last week the new releases that caught my ear were Uada, Chvrches, and Willie Nelson.

Uada

I don’t remember how I discovered Uada, but I bought their album Devoid of Light as soon as I did. Somehow I got it in my head that they were playing NW Terrorfest. I was sad that I spent all my ticket money on ice skating and would miss their show. But when I looked to see what day they were playing, thinking maybe I could afford one night of the festival, I couldn’t find them on the schedule. It’s probably for the best, since my daughter is angling for private skate lessons and I probably can’t actually afford one night of the festival right now.

Anyhow, since I won’t be seeing them live anytime soon, I’m glad they put out a new album that I can listen to. Cult of a Dying Sun is just as good as the last one, and I plan to listen to it a lot this summer.

Chvrches

With their name referencing religion and a cvlt spelling, Chvrches should be black metal. But they are actually upbeat indie rock. Never mind, I’ve enjoyed them since KEXP put their first single on high rotation when they didn’t even have an album out. They were the first band on the line-up at the Deck the Hall Ball that one year that I went to that festival. They played to a nearly empty Key Arena at something like 3 in the afternoon, and seemed so grateful to the folks who were there, I’ve always felt a bit maternal and protective about them since. I’m stoked that they have a new album out now, and it’s just as good as their first one.

Willie Nelson

Like punk, Willie Nelson has always been a phenomenon that appealed to me in everything but the music. I liked the idea of him, but except for some of the outlaw stuff he put out when I was a little kid, but his music left me cold. So I’m not sure why I even got a notification of his latest release, or why I clicked through on it. But I kinda liked it.

Last Man Standing is Willie dealing with the death of old outlaws and facing down the void that looms not too far ahead of him. There are a couple of generic bar songs on the track list, but most of the songs on this album are straight from the heart. Yeah, he wears it all on his sleeve, and his unadorned, homespun style has sometimes seemed contrived in the past. But it’s impossible write off the bared soul of an old man near the end of a hard road who’s not quite ready to lay his burden down.