Nashville-based artist Chip Greene brings his piano-rooted rock sensibilities and Americana-infused songwriting to “Strike a Match,” a new single co-written with Katie Cole (The Smashing Pumpkins) before the pandemic and later rescued when its long-missing demo resurfaced. The track also carries special significance as a tribute to Greene’s late friend and drummer Chris Leidhecker, whose performance remains central to the recording.
A climactic rock sound unveils, rising from moody introspection to a title-bearing, anthemic call. Hazy guitars, a sturdy bass line, and lush acoustic strums assemble an enticing introduction. The “pulling at the threads” and “unraveling” lyrical prowess emerges as Greene’s resonant opening delivery enters, with the “revealing that you’re someone else” bridge compelling in its momentum-filled ascent. “Strike a match, what are you waiting for?” Greene’s performance stirs during the delectable chorus, where reflective backing harmonies and pulsing guitar layers meld with replay-inducing flair.
The second chorus continues to compel in its more ardent form, leading into a shift around the two-and-a-half-minute mark, where a haunting array of harmonies—declaring how “all the illusions are fading”—delight alongside fluttering backing elements. An invigorating dose of brass follows, with the “what are you waiting for?” title-referencing refrain lending ample power to that convergence of brass, electric guitar, and infectious rhythmic precision. “Strike a Match” is an enveloping rock success from Chip Greene.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
