1. It's Not Really A Problem
2. Blue Day
3. Folding
4. Naked in Toronto
5. Before Goodbye
6. Goodbye
Glutenhead drops the perfect coming-of-age soundtrack for Generation Z with their newest EP.
A fusion of indie rock, disco, krautrock, 80s pop and 90s emo, Glutenhead’s sound crosses genre boundaries. The music is both melodic and inviting – but always with a dose of edge.
Glutenhead was initially created by Toronto-born Benjamin Shapiro. It is now a collaborative effort amongst six individuals, with an aim of “showcasing the eccentricities and sensibilities of both his artistic community in the heart of Toronto’s West End and his live band.” The new EP was recorded with producer Alex Gamble (Broken Social Scene, Alvvays, PUP, Fucked Up).
“It’s Not Really a Problem” serves us sarcasm and self-awareness. Birds chirp to bright, beachy guitars. Shapiro’s vocals blend with breezy feminine harmonies: “I only came out tonight / so I wouldn’t feel left out.”
The body becomes a temporary vessel for sadness in “Blue Day.” Gentle plucks and twinkling notes contrast with passive, cold vocals. The pace is slow and steady, like the pulse of a heart. Despite the melancholy message, there is a feeling of togetherness with downcast minds: “If the sinister arrive at your place / We’ll shoo them away.”
“Folding” is a fanged but fragile ballad. Horn instruments add a luminous layer to soft synth sounds. Shapiro’s vocals are energized and emo, hypnotizing in the glamour of 80s pop.
“But I couldn’t sleep / Lying, envisioning all of the things that I couldn’t do / and I couldn’t say / and expectations I couldn’t meet.”
The spotlight of genre shifts throughout the song, making it feel both nostalgic and fresh. Intensity and drama are pushed and pulled in the same process. A stand-out song on the album.
“Naked in Toronto” will have you happily yelling “I hate my life” with its contagious chorus. Sounds of an arcade and orchestra flair in a song delivering depressed but lively indie rock. “I think life is a test / I think existence is an overnight guest.”
After the murky and moody interlude “Before Goodbye,” Glutenhead sends off listeners with “Goodbye,” a stinging spoken song. Shapiro’s austere tone advocates for angst amongst glossy guitars and visceral vocal harmonies. “I’m writing in bold / and I can’t help but wonder / why sometimes I forget / the spell that I’m under.”
Glutenhead’s EP is charming and clever with its contradictions. A hodgepodge of poignant pleasantries. Dressed up and depressed, Glutenhead unmasks the mood of young people today.
