Review by Patrick Dalton & Staff
The W.A M. Awards celebrate the year’s most outstanding independent artists from around the world in multiple genres and categories. "Best Song" and "Best Album" nominations were based on Artistry, Musicianship, Originality, Professionalism, Diversity, and Excellence. W.A.M. stands for "We Are the Music Makers.' The Kricket's "These Games" was the 2020 W.A.M. Award Winner for Best Song in the Singer-Songwriter/Folk music category.
“These Games” wastes no time establishing a beautiful sonic texture. Perfectly blended harmonized vocals, long tone piano notes, and a “coffee shop” rhythm section create an infectious and familiar sound over which this song floats. High quality production values seamlessly coordinate an intricate arrangement to deliver a solid emotional core for the song.
Amazingly, all of that happens before we are introduced to the lead vocals, which are perfectly matched to the color of the track. She has a vocal quality that is innocent yet wise, pulling the listener into the narrative of the song and feeling a connection with singer.
Lyrically, “These Games” tells a tale of a love that insists. The protagonist is helpless against the charms of her attractor: “Out of control, I can’t say no, I sure can’t let go, Stop playing, Stop playing these games.” The subtle vocal delivery of these lyrics present a tone of conflict and compulsion “I could leave today yeah that would keep me sane, But at the end of the day I won’t give you away.“
"Themes Games” demonstrates brilliance on multiple levels. The organization of the arrangement, including the crucial but almost subconscious additions of fiddle and organ, support a well writer, engaging song. This is a song that knows exactly what it is and embraces its message with pride and gusto. Perfectly executed.
About The Krickets
The Krickets are a female Americana group from the gulf coast who's music is what Paste Magazine called a "a truly stunning, one-of-a-kind sound." Two-time winner of a 2016 and 2019 Independent Music Award for Song of the Year in both Folk and Alt Country categories, the band's music is a genre-bending Americana cocktail steeped in their signature folk harmony.
Muscles Shaols producer Ben Tanner of Single Lock Records helped them find this sound on their 2016 debut Spanish Moss Sirens and Nashville's Sam Ashworth (Joy Williams, Lone Bellow), helped them dive further into it on their 2018 sophomore LP, Redbird.
Their award-winning single, These Games, is a true first for them, as it is fully self-produced. A portion of proceeds from every album sale benefits the Sacred heart Hospital Guild’s “Cricket Fund” in honor of Cricket Russell (namesake of the band) providing screenings to the uninsured in rural north Florida. The "K" was interchanged to give space to Buddy Holly's fabulous Crickets.
#TheKrickets #TheseGames #WAMAwards #MusicAwards #IndependentMusicAwards #MusicReviews #MusicReviewBlogs #BWHMusicGroup
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