Los Angeles-based band '92 in the Shade teases the release of their new album by unveiling their 3rd track "Giving Sorrow Words (How Does It Feel)" in a throwback to the grunge era where "songs had teeth." It's been said that revenge is a dish best served cold, but this song is service with a smile… or a grin.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 26, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- '92 in the Shade unveils their third release, "Giving Sorrow Words (How Does it Feel), a grunge rock song that reclaims what lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Michael P. Naughton describes as an era where "songs had teeth." He goes on to say, "I don't write safe lyrics, so classic rock and grunge spoke to me." He said the artists who influenced him growing up were provocative lyricists, like David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Jethro Tull, Alice Cooper, and a whole gamut of 70s songwriters, then Scott Weiland and Eddie Vedder in the 90s who were poetic and provocative. He is joined by keyboardist Donna Novak who contributed piano, the B3 organ, and sitar to the song.
Giving Sorrow Words (How Does It Feel) speaks to the person that has been wronged. Discarded. The frustration emanates from the beginning of the song with a frustrated growl, but then the tide turns and by the end of the song the victim has become the victor and wants to know how it feels to feel what he felt. It's a sort of payback song, and the lyrics are more caustic with grunge ballad sensibilities.
When Michael was asked about the lyrics he said, "I wanted to put the listener in a tense, 'tables are turned' situation. The song is cynical, yet optimistic. It just proves to the listener that the other person was wrong about us in the first place, like Alice in Chains "Got Me Wrong" song and it probes the question, "How does it feel? It's been said that revenge is a dish best served cold, but this song is service with a smile… or a grin. When Bob Dylan in the 60s asks 'How does it feel?' in Like a Rolling Stone, he's talking about being an outsider, a complete unknown. I'm coming from a place in grunge blues that has more anger and angst when I ask, 'How Does it Feel?' Now the person is standing in my shoes and is on the receiving end. These boots are not only made for walking… they kick back too."
Michael said the song wouldn't be the same without Donna Novak's collaborative input. He explained her contribution. "I went with the standard rock blues template. It's in a minor key, but when Donna stepped in and reevaluated the song, she encouraged me to add dimension to it because she felt it was missing something, and her musical ability and input took the production to another level. So, we added the sitar, and I cannot underscore enough what the sitar instrument that Donna played added to this song. It was used a lot in the 70s. By the time the song kicks in with her B3 organ in the second verse, you really get the soul of the song, and when you get to the lead section which I played, it becomes kind of ethereal, and it almost has a Doors quality to the slide work. I added in the distant haunting falsettos in the verses to echo the sentiment, "How does it feel?" By the end, Donna uses grating jazz piano chords that musically keep jabbing and pestering as the vocals taunt, "I wanna know" as we ride the song out.
Donna added that "Michael is such a gifted soul and artist. He can switch between genres at a whim. Believe it or not, he is an amazing advanced classical and flamenco guitarist, which can even influence his choices in orchestrating the guitar. I don't want to give away too much here, but we have a couple of songs in the works where Michael will utilize that more. He's an amazing vocalist too with an impressive range. Very, very gifted. He is an absolute joy to create with."
Michael said, "In short, it's as B.J. Thomas once sang about, a 'somebody done somebody wrong song.' But with this song, the victim becomes the victor and that's a great place to come from when you end up on top."
Giving Sorrow Words (How Does It Feel) is available on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer, and YouTube.
Band Bio
'92 in the Shade is a new alternative rock band that blends grunge and classic rock with a touch of cinema. The band has been described as a love letter to the classic bygone days of the grunge era. Based in Los Angeles, there are only 2 members: Multi-Instrumentalist and Vocalist Michael P. Naughton and Keyboardist, Donna Novak.
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Media Contact
The Social Syndicate, '92 in the Shade, 1 (310) 560-0441, [email protected]
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