Salt by ear to the ground/ Salt by Wyatt Overman

Between being raised in a non-religious family and my tendency to be oblivious to idioms, I didn't know what the phrase the "salt of the earth" meant until a few months ago. The "salt of the earth" are those humble, unpretentious, just good people who are appreciated, loved and respected by all. This makes sense, as salt has been used metaphorically to represent loyalty, value and purification in the Bible and was a coveted mineral in ancient times.

The genre of folk is no stranger to religious undertones and harsh self-awareness. When the two are combined, dramatic symbols, such as salt, convey the woes of judgement, regret and disappointment.

Representing yet another idiom, ear to the ground is a project by Frank Hurkmans, based out of Utrecht in the Netherlands. While the music is a little rough around the edges, there's a lot of emotion and genre-blending wrapped up in the six-track self-titled EP. Salt, makes direct use of the "salt of the earth" idiom: "the salt of the earth I never was". This is in response to a judgement day, a once-promised future and the inevitable new start that comes with disappointing the ones cherished, "when August ends, I'll start all over again".

On the other hand, there's Wyatt Overman, who released this album, Two Winters, that I can't get enough of. This is an album so delicate, so fragile, so brilliant that I keep trying to write words to describe my feelings and constantly feel like I'm falling short. His Salt is much more indirect but conveys the theme of judgement and "salt of the earth" just as well as ear to the ground did. Here, there is a different take. Overman challenges his cherished one, "darling please, please listen to yourself. Who they hell have you become?" He mocks when he doesn't quite believe the words she has spread that they "are the salt, in/and the undertow", when in reality, their unit is falling to pieces.

You can listen to ear to the ground and Wyatt Overman over on their respective bandcamp pages. Listen to both takes on this classic idiom and think about those you consider to be the "salt of the earth". Or, live up to the expectations set forth and survive the judgement that will follow.