It's great when I hear a song, enjoy it for its atmosphere, and then read how the artist came to it from a different angle.

"Paranoid" by Geoffrey Lewis is just that. It grabbed me this week. Although I can certainly hear the DNA of Sunny Day Real Estate or American Football in the song, the feel of the track is what drew me in.

"Paranoid" tackles heavy subject matter, it is inspired by the anxiety of growing up in a world where public violence has become normalised.

That rawness, directness and authenticity of the song are reflected in how the track was made. Entirely written, performed, recorded, and produced in his Nashville home studio, the song is built around an analog set up, a Korg drum machine, tube amplifiers, and live instruments. I think for me, this is where the feel comes from. Because of this direct artist led production style, the track reminds me of the proto-electronic acts like Suicide or Silver Apples. Similarly, although sonically different, it has the same kind of clash between guitars and electronics of Liars.

Geoffrey's college friends provide the bass and backing vocals, and I really love how the song builds from the initial guitar riff, layered with those understated but highly effective vocal backings. The custom Korg beat drives the song, while the guitar motif responds with a rhythmic edge.

Lewis sings with a measured, understated, quality that makes the paranoia feel even more intense. He keeps the emotion just below the surface, and that restraint is exactly what makes it engaging.

This song sounds exactly like its title. The song does, indeed, sound paranoid, in a good way!