There are lots of terrific songs on Anne McCue’s new record, Koala Motel. I didn’t fall in love with the whole album on first listen, but after a few times through, I really absorbed the songs, and found them remarkable for their unusual range and depth. It seems like these days, I have an Anne McCue song in my head about half of the time. And it’s rare for a new record to resonate with me so quickly.

None of Koala Motel’s songs have touched me quite like “Bright Light of Day.” In it, Anne turns the bedraggled traipse I’ve always known as “the walk of shame” into an opportunity for reflection.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term, a walk of shame is something you might find yourself doing on the morning after a hook-up. (Yes, that kind of hook-up: go to party or bar, meet someone you like, have a few drinks, discover that you like him even more, and end up going back to his place for the evening. Er, night.)

Notice that I say “him,” not “him or her.” Because here’s the truth: the walk of shame is a uniquely female experience. Men lucky enough to find themselves in this situation walk home whistling and clicking their heels. Women, on the other hand, second-guess themselves. And while they’re busy beating themselves up, the morning sun is shining, cars are whizzing by, and little old ladies are passing them on neighborhood streets. It’s hard not to feel like you’re wearing the evidence when you see the glare of your tank top’s sequins, the sheen of your miniskirt’s leather, and the holes in your fishnets while passing the shop windows.

Somehow, Anne puts a reflective twist on all of this:

In my long dress, my high heels, my
fancy stockings
I was walking home from a long night…
In the bright light of day.

Will you love me?
Will you dare?
When I see you again will I even care?

For most, memories of walks like this are shrouded in embarassment. But Anne manages, through the sweetness of her melody and the clarity of her voice, to color the experience with the muted hues of nostalgia. Hear “Bright Light of Day” for yourself:

Check out some of my other Anne McCue faves, too:
“Hellfire Raiser”

“From Bakersfield to Saigon”

–Melanie Shrawder