Weyes Blood, “Grapevine” | Track Review 🎵

Weyes Blood (aka Natalie Mering) keeps the momentum going strong on “Grapevine,” the superb second single from her fifth LP, And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow.

“If a man can’t see his shadow, oh / He can block your sun all day,” 🎙 Natalie Mering aka singer/songwriter 🎙 Weyes Blood sings in the first verse of 🎵 “Grapevine”. “Grapevine” marks the second single from Mering’s highly-anticipated fifth studio album, 💿 And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow, following the epic 🎵 “It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybody”.  Mering continues singing in the first verse, “He can make you small / He has the power to take his love away.” Clearly, matters of the heart are at play on “Grapevine” where Mering paints this guy in a sus light, yet, admits, “But I still think of him at night.”  

Much like 🎵 “It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybody”, “Grapevine” features superb songwriting.  Weyes Blood is a magnificent songwriter, something that continues well beyond the first verse.  The second verse, in particular, is clever, referencing the infamous fatal car crash of 🎭 James Dean and her own car break down. It contrasts the first, showing Mering’s range, but is also connected.  Likewise, the third verse, more like the verse, connects with the first two (“And it hits me for the first time / Now we’re just two cars passing by”).  Vocally, Natalie sings beautifully, never forcing things yet lacking no energy.  Musically, “Grapevine” has all the uniqueness expected from an alternative song – interesting harmonic progression, gorgeous, thoughtfully crafted instrumental ideas, and perhaps, most important, contrast.

Final Thoughts 💭 

Once more, Weyes Blood impresses.  🎵 “Grapevine” is a fine preface to 💿 And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow and an excellent follow-up to 🎵 “It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybody”.  Great songwriting, strong vocals, and utterly sublime production (Mering and 🎛 Jonathan Rado) make this a surefire winner.

🎙 Weyes Blood • 💿 And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow • 🏷 Sub Pop • 🗓 11.18.22

[📷: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay, Sub Pop]