Oklahoma trio “Skating Polly” released a fantastic album titled The Make It All Show earlier this year, a promising album that showed us that the band may very well be on their way to becoming a leading force in “Alternative Rock.” Today the band have shared a new music video for their track “Free Will At Ease.” You can watch the video below:
Artist: Mitski
Album: Be the Cowboy
Genre: Indie Rock/Alternative Rock
Rating: 8/10
It’s no secret that much of Mitski’s music is melancholy and tear-jerkingly sad, but the incredibly talented New York based musician does not want your pity. Singing with incredible passion, it’s hard not to assume that all of her music is autobiographical, but before going into her music one must understand that she is creating scenarios and maybe fictional characters, singing from the perspective of someone who has to go through these situations that are often dark and tap into a melancholy state of mind. That isn’t to say there isn’t truth behind these songs. Her last album Puberty 2 was an experience of immense fervor and music that frequently shifted from raw guitar-oriented “Rock” to bare “Indie Folk,” and lyrically it was hard to differentiate what was autobiographical from what was fiction, but you know what? That’s one of the many reasons why she is a beautiful songwriter. Her new album Be the Cowboy could have been another Puberty 2, and yes much of the melancholy vibes from that album drive this new album as well, but this time around the delivery and combination of infectious instrumentation and passionate vocals are near perfection. With lyrical themes that dwell in the more obsessive or co-dependent nature of being in a relationship or experiencing a breakup, this music can resonate with everyone, because we’ve all had to deal with the realization that romance isn’t all sunshine and kisses like the movies and love songs will have you believe, but instead of sounding bitter, Mitski uses this realization to meditate and to raise awareness on how unhealthy it is to lose your identity in someone else. However she is in by no means being preachy. She like many of us succumbs to the common unhealthy traits of our love hungry hearts. Traits like blaming the other person for a failed relationship like on the track “Why didn’t you stop me?” being afraid to let go of a previous lover even when you’re in a new relationship like on the track “Old Friend,” and the feeling of wanting to project an image of success and happiness to an ex, only to realize that the fact that you’re doing all of that just to prove independence to this person shows that they’re still very much on your mind like the track “Lonesome Love.” She is very much aware of our many flaws, and if this album has a central theme it would be realization. Many of us want to be remembered and can’t deal with the fact that we’re insignificant when it comes to the bigger picture of this world, she realizes that on the track “Remember My Name.” Many of us seek importance and flattery someone else can give us, she realizes this on the track “A Pearl,” and as much as this album focuses on our unhealthy traits, Mitski manages to prevent this album from being a real downer. The upbeat and light melodies of many of the instrumentation contrasts the lyrical content quite well. It’s almost as if she’s accepting of the fact that we are all co-dependent beings. It’s almost as if she’s celebrating these flaws. Finding beauty in this unhappiness, because she doesn’t have the answers. She’s merely projecting these feelings that can resonate with us all, and the loneliness anthem “Nobody” with it’s upbeat Disco-driven style is the album’s most shining moment that encourages us all to learn to live with ourselves and be comfortable with the fact that there are going to be a lot of situations where we’re going to be alone, and that’s okay. Mitski may seem like she’s on a mission to encourage us all to rid ourselves of our many toxic characteristics, but she’s simply spotlighting her own experiences of love, loss, and loneliness to tell a story or to therapize herself, and the music is all so relatable that it can help many get through tough times, it can even save a life. Mitski has proven herself to be one of the most important songwriters today.
Written By: Steven Sandoval
Date: 08/19/18
“Protomartyr” and “Spray Paint” have been friends as far back as 2013 when the two bands toured together. It was then where the two bands came up with the idea to collaborate. Now that idea has come to fruition. The two will release a collaborative 7” Single on August 17th titled Irony Prompts The Party Rat. Side A will feature lead singer of “Protomartyr” Joe Casey on vocals while “Spray Paint” provides the instrumentals, and Side B will feature “Spray Paint” on vocals while “Protomartyr” provides the instrumentals. You can pre-order the 7” as well as listen to Side A below:
Mitski won’t drop her new album Be The Cowboy until August 17th, but she has shared another new track off the album titled “Nobody,” and it’s a moody track that speaks on loneliness and solitude, but at the same time it’s an encouragement to dance your loneliness away. You can listen to the track as well as watch the music video below:
Father John Misty released his fantastic new album God’s Favorite Customer earlier this month, and one of the standout tracks off the album is without a doubt the beautiful title track featuring Weyes Blood. Now there is a music video to accompany the track, and it is directed by Tillman’s wife Emma Tillman. You can watch the video below:
Artist: Protomartyr
EP: Consolation
Genre: Post-Punk/Indie Rock/Gothic Rock
On the heels of their brilliant album Relatives In Descent, Detroit Post-Punk band Protomartyr’s new E.P. Consolation solidifies their leading status in the Post-Punk world. This four track E.P. is just a little over 14 minutes in length, but the band astonishingly displays their growth in that short amount of time. Releasing an E.P. less than a year after a well received full-length album is a daring move considering that these tracks could have sounded like leftovers or a rushed attempt to remain in music nerd conversation, but that’s never been Protomartyr’s bag. In fact, this E.P. takes on a life of it’s own. Though the band is experimenting within the realm of the “Protomartyr” sound, the band still continues to add new life and innovation to their music. The most prominent display of this is on the final two tracks “Wheel of Fortune” and “You Always Win.” The first two tracks “Wait” and “Same Face In A Different Mirror” have all the signature qualities we love about the band. The mesmerizing guitars, the infectious bass grooves that draw from the best elements of Post-Punk or Gothic Rock, the percussion that goes in it’s own direction but somehow fits perfectly with what the rest of the band is doing, and the lyricism that is descriptive but very open for interpretation, it’s all there, but the final tracks offer what might be a glimpse of Protomartyr’s future sound. Kelley Deal of “The Breeders” contributes backing vocals that perfectly set a somber mood, and the incorporation of viola, cello, and bass clarinet add melodic beauty to the beautifully raw instrumentation. Though grandiose in presentation, a track like “Wheel of Fortune” finds the band remaining humble but at the same time putting importance on the lyrical content and vocal delivery. The gruff vocal style of lead singer Joe Casey forces you to pay close attention to the lyrics as he rants and rambles intelligently like a well-read drunk on a bar stool. It’s quite impressive that an E.P. just 14 minutes in length has so much to unpack, and if the band continues to work with other musicians then we’re in for some forward thinking music that can transcend genre trappings.
Written By: Steven Sandoval
Date: 06/16/18
Post-Punk band “Protomartyr” will release their new E.P. Consolation tomorrow, and the band have shared the closing track off the E.P. titled “You Always Win.” Like their previous single “Wheel of Fortune,” this track features Kelley Deal of “The Breeders.” You can listen to the track below:
Everyone’s favorite Post-Punk revivalists “Interpol” will release a new album titled Marauder on August 24th. This is the band’s first release since their 2014 album El Pintor. The band have also released a new track off the album titled “The Rover.” In a recent press conference held in Mexico City, frontman Paul Banks described that the album is “A facet of myself. That’s the guy that fucks up friendships and does crazy shit. He taught me a lot, but it’s representative of a persona that’s best left in song. In a way, this album is like giving him a name and putting him to bed.” You can listen to “The Rover” and watch the press conference below:
Artist: Father John Misty
Album: God’s Favorite Customer
Genre: Indie Folk/Indie Rock
Rating: 7/10
Those who find Joshua Tillman AKA Father John Misty pretentious definitely won’t be won over by his new album’s cover art or album title, and even the fact that there’s a track on this album titled “Mr. Tillman,” but those who admire his sharp lyrical content, passionate vocals, and attention to the importance of subtlety in music will swoon when hearing his new album. God’s Favorite Customer is the title, and unlike his masterpiece Pure Comedy, the majority of these songs find Tillman looking inward. Tillman revealed that this album was inspired by an event in which his life “blew up.” He will not elaborate on what that event entailed, but it’s clear that this was a time where he truly had to fight his personal demons. This isn’t a concept album, but there are recurring themes all throughout. Themes of depression, self-awareness, and the impact the aforementioned subjects have on his marriage. Like a true Jack Torrance, his madness was the result of his living in a hotel for a long period of time, but instead of developing homicidal tendencies, Tillman’s depression was enhanced. This is without a doubt his most personal work, with his relationship with his wife tying the album together. In a way, these are realistic love songs, songs that display the unsureness and dependency of being in a relationship or marriage. Tillman paints the realities of being in love, both light and dark. From the separation anxiety on the track “Please Don’t Die,” which features a gut-wrenching chorus sung from the perspective of his wife pleading him not to take his own life, to the encouragement to accept the fact that no relationship is as perfect as the ones you see in the movies on the track “Disappointing Diamonds Are the Rarest of Them All,” this is an unsparing album that lays it all out on the table, and it’s perfectly crafted with detailed but also subtle instrumentation. Tillman has the incredible talent to put us in the headspace he was in whilst staying at that hotel, and he even pokes fun at the situation on the track “Mr. Tillman” where he sings from the perspective of a hotel concierge trying to professionally explain his frustration with Tillman’s behavior. It’s truly incredible how Tillman can walk us through such dark subject matter while having us maintain our comfort. You might even laugh at some of the album’s wit. Tillman is aware of his music’s self-indulgence, but instead of parading it around with a “look at me i’m a genius” attitude *cough* Kanye *cough* he uses it to therapize himself, and the result is some of the best songwriting in music today.
Written By: Steven Sandoval
Date: 06/03/18
Father John Misty will release his new album God’s Favorite Customer tonight, and while we wait, we can enjoy another new track from the upcoming album titled “Please Don’t Die,” as well as an awesome stop motion animated music video to accompany it. You can watch the music video below:
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