The Cactus Blossoms Release New Single: “Lately I’ve Let Things Slide”
The Cactus Blossoms released their new single on March 12, a quiet cover of Nick Lowe’s “Lately I’ve Let Things Slide.” A Nick Lowe cover is a perfect fit for The Cactus Blossoms. One can almost hear shades of Nick Lowe in some of their earlier originals like “There She Goes” — that sound that sits somewhere between easy-country and lyrical pop.
Their approach to “Lately I’ve Let Things Slide” is straightforward, a slightly slower tempo, but retaining that basic feel of the original — until the refrain when that signature Blossoms’ vocal harmonies kick in. Swapping out the original’s horns for the harmonized vocals gives the song an entirely new perspective. That divergence delivers an arrangement that is clear and doesn’t distract from either Lowe’s wry lyrics or the band’s performance.
That same clarity runs through their original works. Tracks like “Out of My Mind (On Sunday),” “Hey Baby,” and “Mississippi” show how tightly Jack Torrey and Page Burkum can lock in vocally without ever sounding showy. Their harmonies are precise and, too often, get compared to the Everly Brothers but their overall arrangements and catchy melodies make them stand out in their own right.
▶ Listen on SpotifyFind The Cactus Blossoms June 6th at Surly Brewing Festival Field in Minneapolis, MN or wherever their songs are playing. thecactusblossoms.com