Don't be afraid to go for Howie Beck this week, a single with a few tricks up its sleeve
Don't Be Afraid' is Howie Beck's new single from his recent eponymous album. He is a great contemporary songwriter, putting sunshine into the chords and sounds of his music, whereas so many others whine like the rain on their records in this sadomasochistic day and age. 'Don't Be Afraid' is a paean to getting over the troubles that life presents you with at every available corner. 'Don't be afraid if you're all messed up, everybody knows that you'll get through somehow.'
It is accompanied by the sensational little beauty that is 'Alice', as well as a cover of The Strokes' 'Repitilia'. His slow acoustic reworking of the song is quite magnificent, illuminating Casablancas' words, where they're so muffled and smudged on the original, as is The Strokes' way.
You could do a lot worse than to go for Howie Beck's 'Don't Be Afraid' when you go single shopping this week, he is a superb addition to the modern musical age and this particular single comes with a few little gems that make it more than worthy...