My Silver Lining - First Aid Kit

My Silver Lining – First Aid Kit
3:35
Stay Gold, 2014
Written by Klara Söderberg and Johanna Söderberg

I was impressed with the First Aid Kit song I posted in June, so I've been exploring more of their catalog. This one's another gem — a meditation on accepting the world's worries and shackles while holding your course anyway. "There's no starting over / No new beginnings, time races on / And you've just gotta keep on keeping on." The song features a lush weave of classic country instrumentation and stirring string arrangements that match their otherworldly harmonies. The sound is alternately epic and soaring, with violin, drums, and guitar blending into an uplifting swell. It's a bit like Fleet Foxes, but with more drive and brightness — a fuller, more spirited sound that carries you away rather than lulls you to sleep.

King Of the World - First Aid Kit

King Of the World - First Aid Kit

3:38

The Lion's Roar, 2012

Written by Klara Söderberg, Johanna Söderberg, and Conor Oberst

It's pure Americana folk and I could swear there's a Texas twang, but First Aid Kit is a duo of Swedish sisters.  On this song, they're accompanied by co-writer Conor Oberst, who provides a verse; his cutting, tremulous voice is a terrific complement to their confident, pure harmonies.  With hand percussion, a Latin-infused horn section, and lilting keyboards, it's a catchy, rollicking ride.  The rather abstruse lyrics hint at a narrator wanting to find meaning of an often overwhelming world filled with people, all of whom are finding their own way: "Tell me something real / Tell me something true / I just want to feel there's something left that I can do."