Chemical Sun – “Disdain”
-I don’t write about much harder rock, so this is about the hardest you’re going to get from me. That said, fans of bands like Breaking Benjamin are going to find a lot to like about this style and sound from Chemical Sun. The harmonies are excellent, capturing a solid genre blend between conventional rock n’ roll with elements of pop punk. The harder chords do a nice job of complementing the aggressive vocal expressions. It seems like the kind of performance where the show would be rowdy without the pit becoming too violent. I also relate to the lyrical concept, “I shut down when I’m feeling disdain.” There’s more than one way to work through emotions and if some power chords are your way there, then rock out to this one!
Archi Deep – “We all live in a fantasy”
-There’s an upbeat rock style here that really captures my attention. I appreciate the way that the drums keep it moving while the electric guitars have these vintage punk flavors to them. The full sound feels like it could have emerged any time from the mid-70s to the present. There’s a clarity in the recording that I really appreciate. There’s a bit of fuzz and distortion on the guitars in places, but there’s also some clean blues-informed licks that work well. The whole composition feels like a raw expression of the absurdity of existence and how much we struggle to make sense of it, perhaps to our own chagrin. I can get on board with this one, especially for a unique twist on rock as a genre.
Just Kidding – “Asleep at the Party”
-There are a lot of things I’d like to say about this song, but let me lead with a few that resonate with me particularly strongly. Something about the tone and style of the lead vocalist reminds me of one of my all-time favorite artists, Maggie Rogers. There’s this folksy charm to the sound alongside just enough vibrato to give an emotive touchpoint for the listener. My other reason for liking this track is just how accessible and comfortable it is. It’s folk rock with an easy going, almost ambling rhythm to it. I appreciate that not all rock needs to be hard charging with power chords and face-melting amplification. The tenderness of this track, the evident empathy in the lyrics, and that feeling of looking around at piles of people and trash after a party is so visceral and relatable; I hope everyone reading this has been to such a party, with such people, and feels the spine-tingling joy conveyed in the electric guitar around the 3:20 mark. It’s worth it.