Customers at Folk Arts Rare Records in City Heights on Saturday, April 20, 2024. / Photo by Bella Ross
Customers at Folk Arts Rare Records in City Heights on Saturday, April 20, 2024. / Photo by Bella Ross

I have a football-field-sized soft spot for acoustic guitars. It was the first instrument I picked up, and to this day, they do something special to me. I’m not even talking about songs that feature virtuosic fingerpicking, just the gentle strums of a steel string. The kind of thing I did when I was first writing songs as a teenager. The kind of thing that makes your mind drift slowly. That’s the good stuff. 

Ian Curtis, “Novel”: An enchanting, understated dose of indie rock, “Novel,” is both wistful and hopeful. Curtis’ velvety vocals float on top of a mellow acoustic guitar and bouncy bassline. It’s the kind of song that, although compact, feels like it’s taking deep breaths. It’s in no hurry to get to where it’s going, even if where it’s going is right around the corner. 

Like what you hear? Check out Ian Curtis at Soda Bar on Saturday, April 5

Do you have a “Song of the Week” suggestion? Shoot us an email and a sentence or two about why you’ve been bumping this song lately. Friendly reminder: all songs should be by local artists.

Jakob McWhinney is Voice of San Diego's education reporter. He can be reached by email at jakob@vosd.org and followed on Twitter @jakobmcwhinney. Subscribe...

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