Single Takes: Angel Olsen, Sparkling, Mikal Cronin, Deeper, Jay Som, and Pip Blom

Single Take is a Reviler feature where multiple people give a passing glance at some new music and causally rank it somewhere between 1 (Justin Beiber) and 10 (really amazing). Fun, right? Check out the latest installment below and feel free to tell us who stupid and out of touch we are based on our opinions. Arguing on the internet: the greatest of American traditions. 

Angel Olsen will perform at First Avenue on November 12 (tix/info)

Chad 6/10

Super cool to see Angel Olsen creating a mash-up that perfectly blends early-90s Madonna and the dramatic-style of Bjork as next season’s American Horror Story trailer.

Helen 6-7/10

Music video a solid 9, song itself is more of a 7? Or 6 to me? Like it has instruments and everything I like in it, but it just doesn’t jump out at me. Feels like more of a filler song on an album. BUT Angel Olson is very talented! I have weird niche taste sometimes.

Jon B 8/10

I am into this song – its got a lot of drama, a great synth hook, interesting vocal effects, and the strings work for me. I am into big cinematic music and this is that – plenty of pathos and emotion.

Chad 9/10

Is it too soon for the Temper Trap to be a partial influence on this sound? I’m not sure why but that’s what I hear underneath it all. The video runs out of juice at the end but that’s okay, SPARKLING has a good thing going for them.

Helen 7/10

This is more my speed/style. And I dig the change in speed towards the end, kind of an abrupt stop, which I like. But I’ve no doubt heard other songs of this nature before, so it’s nothing special.

Jon B 6/10

Kind of a nice urgent vibe to this but it never gets to an especially interesting place for me. I get that the general repetition is intentional but for that to work I feel like I needs something else going on.

Mikal Cronin will perform at the Turf Club on November 14th (tix/info)

Chad 7/10

The only thing that really bothered me about this video is not one person wore a seat-belt. Everything else was tops.

Helen 1/10

God. Sorry, but I just don’t Care about men who drawl out these long songs that sound all the same. This weird like indie country stuff doesn’t usually work for me at all. It’s like if someone threw a bucket of water on a Red Hot Chili Peppers song.

Jon B 7/10

Sort of in a love/hate place with this one. I think it’s got a great guitar hook and has a very classic vibe in that it could easily be compared to a Tom Petty song. Is there anything edgy going on? No. Even the video is a bit cliche with the band all Alanis Morrisette-ing around in a moving car. But for a very middle of the road pop rock song I think its good.

Deeper will perform at the Entry on September 14th (tix/info)

Chad 7/10

Bury me to this guitar-play please. An easy song to listen to on repeat.

Helen 6/10

I DO like this I think, but how is it any different than say Car Seat Headrest or like White Reaper or something? What they did with the ending was good, but I was more interested in the random song that Soundcloud put on after this one tbh (Sir Robin and the Longbowmen – Prozacco, a good 9/10 for me!!)

Jon B 7.5/10

Deeper aren’t particularly flashy but I think they are a very strong and consistent band with a lot of potential. Would like to see the band really cut loose with this tune in a live setting – seems slightly restrained in the studio.

Jay Som will perform at First Ave on October 16th (tix/info)

Chad 5/10

Again, no seat belts… but if violins bring aliens to earth I’m all for more violins in songs.

Helen 6/10

Lovely band!! Seen them live before!! Very sweet people. But this feels like a formulaic slow song, or I feel like I couldn’t distinguish it from some of their other songs.

Jon B 6/10

This song is like a comfortable warm bath. Zero sharp edges. But I do dig the melody even if the song as a whole never gets out of the bathtub.

Chad 8/10

Loving this Dutch lo-fi pop-rock. They create an effortless sound that is somehow calm and aggressive all-at-once with just enough of a perceived sneer in their sentiment that makes me want this song to be 11 minutes long.

Helen 7/10

Once again more my speed, but just another white indie surfer rock song. HOWEVER I like the harmonies! I think that’s a nice touch, I almost wanna give it an 8, but can’t bring myself to do it.

Jon B 9/10

Really digging the singles that Pip Blom put out this year on their debut record. This tune seems like it’s going to be just kind of a quirky rock/pop song at first but it takes some surprising turns . I love how the chorus just kind of turns the whole song on a dime.