Rewind and Play

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Being So Normal - Peach Pit (Analysis/Review)

Being So Normal is indie rock band Peach Pit’s debut album, and the guitar solos are so emotional by themselves that you can’t miss this.

Drop The Guillotine -

Drop The Guillotine being the first track actually revisits an acoustic version of the song on their debut EP Sweet FA, fully fleshing it out with electric guitar and drums. The song talks about Neil Smith’s (lead singer/guitarist) friend back in high school that consistently was able to burst in and steal any crush he had due to his looks. Smith describes it as “killing me,” with his friend constantly cutting him off, even when he means no harm (”though you would never wanna see me bleed”).

Being So Normal -

As the title track, it talks about a break up with a girl. Both Neil and the girl are the same person at their core, but have also massively changed. Neil always sees other lovers moving on, but can’t seem to himself. He’s overall conflicted. The guitar solo at the end, taking up the bulk of the track, sounds much heavier, yet still chilled out; the solo sounds like anger is trying to be contained or controlled so not to outburst.

Techno Show -

This song immediately begins after previous track with a much lighter tone. The narrator doesn’t want to go to some stupid techno show, but could be worth it if this person was with them. The person later asks them to dance after seeing the narrator sulking back in a corner. The guitar style of this song helps place you into a sort of techno show environment, reminiscent of that overall style.

Alrighty Aphrodite -

This is a much heavier sounding track, with hints of reggae in it. It is very bass and drum heavy, especially in the intro. Neil compares a girl to Aphrodite, the God of Love, meaning she often has many other people pining after her. She “wants” to be with him, but is also constantly going after others. Finally he tells her to go “whip that red for other guys,” saying for her to leave and screw with someone else. This is my third favorite track.

Chagu’s Sideturn -

This is a much happier/low-key track compared to the previous. It talks primarily about just having fun and living, referencing several drugs they used to relax and just chill. The more relaxed song is a great way to transition into the rest of the album.

Not Me -

The guitar solo in the beginning made for a great intro. Not Me is primarily about moving on, since “both those legs will keep on walking far away.” He wants to talk, but is too scared to try. This girl seems very happy, and is always smiling, “but not me.” The bridge sounds amazing; The emotional deep vocals mixed with the guitar and drum dundundundun duhh’s sounds beautiful. By the end though, he’s stopped caring. The distortion at the end seems to convey this as well, just having to move past the problem and get going.

Hot Knifer -

This is a very very slow track. The narrator is smoking to distract himself from his ex-lover. He’s clearly very comfortable with wallowing in his own self-pity. He lost the love of his life, and he doesn’t really want to function at all anymore. The ending guitar solo closes track out well with a slow picking.

Private Presley -

This song starts off very slow, but goes HEAVY fairly fast. Neil’s “AAH”s sound beautiful moving into the chorus. It talks about how his travelling is similar to that of Elvis having to go to war, leaving his voice behind in order to enter hell (war). Neil enjoys the new adventures, but ultimately wishes he was back at home with whoever he had left. The third verse is slower, which, mixed with the tambourine inclusion to the last chorus adds the effect of the ending of the track. However, after about a second or two of silence, it transitions into a guitar solo that sounds utterly beautiful (and the violins make it that much better). It’s very emotional sounding and moving. The drums and bass guitar provide structure throughout the solo when the guitar begins to distort again (going back to the whole controlled anger idea). The drums throughout all of it really stand out to me more than any other track, as they move the song along very well. This is without a doubt, my favorite song of this album.

Tommy’s Party -

This song is about how they all went to a party and got shitfaced, and talked about it in the morning. Neil had brought a girl who he had used to be close to, but eventually drifted apart from. The girls seems to be getting closer to his friend, which he is both happy and sad about/ This guitar solo once again conveys this emotion. His friend seems to have brought the girl home (” I woke up to a pair of shoes I've not seen next to mine. Did you whisper as you crept in through the door how you'd never done much like this before?”). The girl is still getting closer to Neil’s friend, and he is very conflicted over it. This song closes out the album well.

With the title track being primarily about a breakup and being left in the background says a lot about the rest of the album, especially since these themes are present through all but one of the tracks (Chagu’s Sideturn). It uses commonly discussed themes but in a more genuine sounding and feeling fashion, and manipulates in a way that keeps it fresh. Overall, Peach Pit did a great job of a first release, and if they keep going this way, will be one hell of a band.

( ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆)

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Just Cosmo - Cosmo Pyke (Analysis/Review)

Just Cosmo is the first official EP from indie artist Cosmo Pyke, and his vocals and guitar work alone are enough to move you.

Wish You Were Gone -

This song is pretty self-explanatory due to the title. Cosmo doesn’t want the person to leave at times, but overall just wishes she wasn’t there. The line “I once did love. But now I’m feeling opposite, like red does blue” showcases this, as he is still sort of hanging on to certain feelings about her, but is trying to move on. It seems to have always been a broken relationship, and really just wants her to leave. Throughout the song, he’s slowly getting more desperate for her to leave (”I wish you were gone, so fucking bad”). The repetition of “I wish you were gone” drives his point in more and more.

Chronic Sunshine -

Chronic Sunshine begins with Cosmo talking about his confusion over a girl. She seems to want something that he has, which is more than likely drugs (”paraphernalia and contraband”). The line “Chronic sunshines forever” is ironic, as we know he lives in the UK, and they tend to get more rain than sun. Everything is just repeating, shown in the lines “it’s an ongoing circle” and “vicious repetition.” The ending rap warps up the song pretty well. It discusses his graffiti art, and how he constantly has to run from police in order to pursue his art. It’s his passion, but is legally not allowed.

After School Club -

Cosmo talks about someone who has seemed to be sheltered all their life in this song. He doesn’t want to get involved in the whole ordeal, but also doesn’t want them to get hurt, almost playing into their further sheltering. He tries to exhibit something not far from tough love, but can’t fully bring himself to do it. So instead he seems to almost blame their school environment, which could be a comment on P.C. culture in education today. The single guitar in the two verses transitioning into the bass and drums for the rest of the song, gives the song greater production value, and makes it sound that much better.

Social Sites -

The slowness of the beginning of the song works well with many of the themes discussed in this song. Cosmo talks about being bored and depressed because of an ex-girlfriend. He talks about how social media can skew relationships, and how it can make having one or keeping it healthy difficult. There’s also one point where it seems as though either he or his lover may have cheated during the relationship. He feels useless, with the boredom making him think more, making things even worse, especially as his ex found someone else. The distortion/slowing down of the third chorus cements many of the sad emotions felt in both the chorus, track and even EP.

Great Dane -

The length of this track makes it a little intimidating at first (eight minutes), but it all works really well for the closing track. The sample in the beginning with the slow guitar makes for a really good intro. Cosmo talks about how because his lover is there, he hasn’t been taking as good care of himself. He lies, saying he want to stay with her when he doesn't, making things much more awkward. He slowly begins to stop caring overall, and just wants to move on. At the same time though, he kind of does want to stay with her, as he would rather be in an unhealthy relationship though have to be alone. The synths paired with rap gives off a great closing track sound. He talks about how girls are constantly trying to impress with fakes, and how he prefers more natural girls. He then goes how to mention how he hates the thought of her with another man. The second sample leads off the song into more synths and Cosmo’s questions, closing off the album really well.

Cosmo has gone on record to say how this EP is a reflection of a lot of his daily life specifically when he was younger). His deeper vocals mixes really well with the lighter chilled out guitar and bass instrumentals. This paired with his slower emotional yet happy sounding lyrics makes for a great first release, and I can’t wait to see where he continues to go.

( ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆)

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Artificial Selection - Dance Gavin Dance (Review/Analysis)

Artificial Selection is the tenth release and ninth album from American rock band Dance Gavin Dance. And HOLY SHIT is it good.

Son of Robot -

The album begins with Son of Robot, which was also the second single to be released for this album. The song begins with a very chill intro, before almost immediately moving into Jon Mess’ vocals, an interesting contrast that hooks you in for the beginning of the album. The majority of the song speaks about heartbreak, and even mentions the Robot with Human Hair, a character from some of their previous albums.

Midnight Crusade -

Midnight Crusade was the lead single off the album, and the first to receive a music video. It is kind of like the opposite of Son of Robot, as instead of immediately beginning with Mess (although he does come in early), the song ends with a solo from Mess. It tells a narrative of a pessimistic coming-of-age moment, with the character moving on from a lover who thinks they need them. They seem to be overall numb, yet happy.

Suspended In This Disaster -

The title of this song plays into the lyrics pretty literally. The perspective showcases a confused look at someone, wanting to know how long they’re going to have to wait for anything. The guitar in the beginning showcased a great intro.

Care -

Care was the third single to be released, and was also the second to get a music video. It talks about a person leaving a relationship, acting like everything’s fine. They are reminiscent of old memories, viewing everything as bliss. They have a “higher than everyone” and “us against the world” feel. Tillian’s vocals in the chorus are very emotional and outgoing. The perspective character seems to have broken up with their lover, who becomes salty. The character is conflicted on how to feel about said lover.

Count Bassy -

Count Bassy was the fourth and final single to be released before the album and is currently the last one to have received a music video. The person displays an overall indifference to change. The line “Empathy is overrated” works really well, cementing the overall disinterest. It gives a sociopathic, gritty and spine-chilling feel, but in a good way.The guitar solo in the last minute paired with Jon Mess’ vocals and Tillian’s A Capella work really well overall and was a great way to end the song.

Flash -

The song talks about two childhood friends that grew up, and want to know more about each other again. They seem to want to start over, and maybe even love each other. However, one believes that no one cares about them, and is still numb.

The Rattler -

The Rattler is about a confrontation, telling the confront-ee that they went to massive waste, but the confront-er can also see where they’re coming from, beginning to give up themselves. They themselves have also stopped caring. The guitar solo works really well.

Shelf Life -

Shelf Life features the vocals of Kurt Travis, one of the band’s previous singers (and good FUCK does his voice make me want to vocally nut). The overall chill vibe of the song works extremely well with Travis’ vocals. This is without a doubt my favorite song off the album. It talks about a haunted past, and how they thought things would change, but nothing did. They want their lover to break them as a final release, so they won’t have to deal anymore. Mess’ unclean vocals mixed with Travis’ smoother/ depressed vocals showcase a great contrast. The repetition of the first verse drives the impact of the hopelessness felt.

Slouch -

The perspective talks about holding themselves back, like slouching (hence the name). They want to succeed, but they can’t get out of the slump. They know it’s their fault, but would rather blame it on others, since it makes it easier.

Story Of My Bros -

The character has left their friends, and is happy that no one will judge them. Sort of the opposite of Slouch, where they blame themselves. They are both motivated and sad at the same time. They are willing to let someone in, but won’t let them “save me.” The drum pattern mixed with Tillian’s vocals and lyrics gives it a very punk pop/rock feel.

Hair Song -

The song implies covering up appearance with makeup and fancy hair, and refuses to let anyone know. They seem to be comfortable with their fake self, and feel like they can take anything on.

Gospel Burnout -

Gospel Burnout paints the picture that no one truly knows what they are doing, so you stop caring and just live. Try to uphold personal integrity, and live on your own, since nothing really matters overall. This would be my second favorite song off the album. Mess’ vocals over the chorus and bridge mixed with Swan’s dun-dun dun-dun dun dundundundun guitar solo sounds amazing together while he rips into someone. Mess’ “OH’s” also manage to sound both gritty and angelic at the same time.

Bloodsucker -

The line “settled in the victim’s role” explains the song pretty well, comparing the person with a parasite leaching off of others. They seem to want to be attacked, are under a victim complex, and have become extremely predictable. This is similar to The Rattler in that it is also a confrontational song. The singer wants the person to truly suffer to see what it’s actually like. This song offers great guitar solo variety.

Evaporate -

Evaporate is the featured track, featuring vocals from Andrew Wells, a song writer and producer for separate artists. The vocals are amazing, adding to the overall aura around a closing track. It talks about someone watching the character drowning, waiting for them to fail. They’re trying to find love and succeed, even when everything’s against them. Even though whenever they seem to try harder, things get worse (”flame burns brighter, evaporate”). It is an intense, glorious way to end the album. Its emotional lyrics and sound leave you wanting so much more, and I definitely do. This song is my third favorite track off this album.

Overall, this is a great album and a great direction for the band. The production was exemplary, especially as the executive producer was Will Swan himself. It is honestly just beautiful sounding overall. It is a very pessimistic album, which is also played into with the album art. The art showcases many of the animals that have sort of just given up, marching into their conversion to robot, which is especially significant as previous album artworks have showcased the robots and animals fighting (Instant Gratification).

Final verdict: LISTEN TO IT

(also  ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆)