Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the more interesting individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the past few weeks. This time around, we bring you a fantastic number from a British alt-folk band, the return of some cosmic, psychy legends, a great piece of synth based material, some well crafted pop punk…and more. As always, we hope you find something new to enjoy!
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Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the more interesting individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the previous few weeks. This time out, we bring you a new track from a still new rock band, a fantastic piece of soul, a heartfelt country number, a new take on a Halloween staple, and more besides. As always, we hope you find something new to enjoy!
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On his debut album ‘Shadow Work’, singer songwriter Sam Varga made the juxtaposition of angst ridden, emo-centric lyrics and radio friendly melodies appear very natural. Despite the fact the record took all of about four seconds for him to confront his audience with the revelation that he felt like he was “rotting from the inside out” and another couple before dropping an f-bomb for extra angst, the album remained very accessible. At its best, tunes like ‘Stories We Tell’ and ‘Apocalypse’ played like the natural successor to the Ryan Adams best-selling ‘Gold’; ‘Up Down’ took the poppy heart of Simple Plan’s more commercial work and transplanted it into more of a singer songwriter sphere, while the chorus of the brilliant ‘Live Up To It’ gave a confident nod to the more contemporary pop rock of Bleachers. All the while, Varga still managed to sound like his own man – a songwriter with an occasionally sharp tongue, but in possession of an even sharper ear for a great melody.
Every visit to the Real Gone Singles Bar promises some interesting musical treats, but this time around, we’ve featured what we believe are a couple of the year’s best tracks. We’ve got adult pop from a singer songwriter who’s previously worked with Paul Weller, some fine Americana, the return of one of the UK’s best alternative rock acts, a slice of melodic jazz funk, and more besides. Heading into the last quarter of 2025, the new music continues to be of a superb standard! As always, we hope you find something new to enjoy…
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Towards the end of the first quarter of 2025, Sean Whalen & The Benson Highway Band released ‘The Retirement Age’, an Americana track with a knowing lyric and a strong musical hook. Their follow up, ‘Carriage Park Blues’ is even better.