HOOGENBOOM - “Damn Good”
HOOGENBOOM, aka singer and songwriter Brandon Hoogenboom, has just released “Damn Good” and, once again, he doesn’t disappoint… Every single he has thrown my way has impressed me, so I am definitely keeping my eye open for his upcoming debut album, Good For Nothing (A Spiraling Blackout Montage), due out February 10th.
Acoustic guitar, bass, and bird-like synth sounds introduce the song’s opening as Hoogenboom sets off the lyrics. But the song gradually gains momentum, thanks to the drums that addictively build and burst into a full swagger. The bass and percussion really remind me of later Fleetwood Mac. As Hoogenboom sings about how he "feels good," the music keeps getting more and more intense. This is definitely a catchy earworm. Before returning to the climactic crescendo, there is a charming little piano break accompanied by sultry background vocals.
This one gets top marks from me. The artist describes the meaning of the song: “After spending most of my life feeling incredibly insecure, I finally found confidence in myself… I let go of the pressure to conform to what I felt like the world was telling me to be and found the joy in embracing who I am.”