New York's The Secret History are slated to release Americans Singing in the Dark--their follow-up to 2010's The World That Never Was--next month, but we have the first single from the album.
"Age of Victoria" is a jangly homage to the throngs of New Yorkers living paycheck-to-paycheck, lured by the promise of creative freedom and disillusioned by the contents of their wallets. The song is a sort of pop-infused battle cry for the have-nots, as Michael Grace, Jr. and Lisa Ronson (yes, that Ronson) sweetly appeal to their affluent neighbors: "We are poor! We are poor! We're poor and hungry, your dirty laundry..." Despite potentially bleak themes, "Age of Victoria" remains an upbeat number; nostalgic harmonies keep the song from drifting too close to the edge and Grace, Jr.'s smart lyrics provide a poetic critique of his beloved city without issuing blame.
Stream "Age of Victoria" below. Americans Singing in the Dark is out June 13, 2013 on Cloudberry Records.