Those Were Some Different Times

Devil’s Gun “Million Miles” – This song is an expression of empathy and concern for a friend on a clear downward spiral, and really, they could’ve stopped there and ended up with an affecting piece of music. Instead, Devil’s Gun complicate matters by refusing to judge, or condescend to offer any sort of answer for this person’s problems. The result is a blur of mixed emotions, but the vocals, lyrics, and well-crafted track convey a constantly shifting balance of love, resignation, hope, nostalgia, and despair. (Click here for the Devil’s Gun website.)

Adem “Invisible Man” – Adem’s covers album includes some rather smart and non-obvious selections — dude does a very pretty version of “Starla”! — but for the most part, he sticks to a “let’s pare it down to just acoustic guitar and a bit of percussion” street busker formula that’s easy on the ears, but doesn’t do much more than prove that Adem is a competent singer and guitarist who has good taste in music. His recording of the Breeders classic “Invisible Man” is one of the exceptions. His arrangement is not wildly original — I feel like I’ve heard several variations on this sort of twinkly, pretty indie jangle many times in the recent past — but it’s an inspired take on an unlikely song, and it shifts the emotional tone of the piece enough so that it feels like a brand new song with a familiar melody. (Click here to buy it from Domino Records.)