MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 12/4/2024
Reviews by: Alexandra Haynes, Writer @xalexonlinex
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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Ryan Holweger "No Place I'd Rather Be"
Charming instrumentals carry a whimsical thread throughout Holweger’s “No Place I’d Rather Be.” Bringing the listener into the present moment with intricately woven noises, the composition here remains true to Americana form while layering other influences atop each other, over and over again. It’s easy to see how Holweger’s music evolves with his life experiences - his traveler’s soul bleeds into his sound with its complexity and warmth. “No Place I’d Rather Be” released on Holweger’s Emerado EP in December, 2023. This track specifically was mixed in Bangkok, where Holweger lives for part of each year.
Eldest Daughter "Again"
The riffs that form “Again’s” introduction clip in and out intentionally, an exaggerated glitch on the reverberating chords which shows Eldest Daughter is not afraid to lean into a more experimental or avant-garde production flair to set a mood. When the song swings itself forward into fully actualized melodies, it manifests gorgeously as a playful yet mellow alt-country track, on which, the lead vocalist showcases their excellent control and confidence. “Again” laments on codependency, on becoming strangers to those you once loved, and knowing that some patterns are destined to repeat themselves. This is the band’s latest single, having dropped in October 2024. Their next show is on December 20th at White Squirrel at 6pm, with cellist-songwriter Audrey Q.
The Quivering Palm "Baggage"
With an electronic soundscape reminiscent of a certain era of tech (reinforced visually by the single’s cover, a 3D art piece with familiar fonts and textures,) “Baggage” by The Quivering Palm (released in September, 2024) brings to the table an aesthetic of nostalgia while experimenting with its musical form in a very contemporary way. Woozy and bent keyboard chords throughout signal discomfort appropriate for the song’s subject matter, while the rest of the composition undulates with more jovial sounds, albeit that they stay darkly tinged around the edges. The Quivering Palm’s lyricism leans into its multigenre weight - “Would I meet with your demands? / Would I constantly romance? Am I a quarter of the man / Living in your figment land?” Serious instrumentation is at work too throughout, including a gloriously distorted electric guitar solo close to the song’s finish.
Dallas Orbiter "Star Flutes"
Jaunty, growing tones weave together in “Star Flutes.” Together, they make a spacey, impish melody which push forward psychedelically when they explode on each chorus. From the album Spaceman Things, released in September, 2024, this song takes the listener on an otherworldly journey. Working in perfect tandem are distortion aplenty; steady, jazzy percussion and keys; tantalizing basslines, and pretty vocals with a fun story being told. Dallas Orbiter play out in an open field of twinkling sci-fi sounds, with drums, guitar, and bass all leaning in on the sprawling, exploratory vibe. Dallas Orbiter have a distinctive flavor to everything they do; all of it is demonstrated well on this track.
Surly Grrly "Heroes"
Surly Grrly are classic punk-rock goodness. In “Heroes” (released in November, 2024 - ‘though unfortunately, its message is sure to always be topical,) they linger delightfully on melodic talk-singing to make sure their message is loud and clear: “Now he’s on the front page, but not for what you think / He’s a creep, he’s a rapist, yeah, this guy stinks! / So why, why, why are we surprised, ‘prised, ‘prised? / He’s not a hero-o-o-o.” The lyrics are an in-your-face reality check, aimed at the bullseye of our false idols, celebrity worship, and misogyny. These strong lyrics, with no holds barred and no metaphorical obstruction, are upheld by their ever-solid grungy guitar leads, ramped up percussion, and backing vocals that just get you going. Part protest chant, part punk legend, and 100% honest, Surly Grrly have done it again, creating a song that perfectly encapsulates a recurrent social ill that we hope someday is fully deconstructed.
Cat in Window “Vignette 8”
Cat in Window’s Vignettes, Vol 1 (released in October, 2024) is packed with atmospheric, emotive instrumentals. “Vignette 8” is no exception. The melodies on “Vignette 8” move towards resolutions that tug on my heartstrings. Closing my eyes to truly listen, “Vignette 8” conjures images of waving goodbye, of scenery flashing by from train windows, and sunsets over cityscapes which bleed into the countryside as time and distance pass us by. It sparks the imagination with its delicate chord progressions which swell with poignancy; the soft beats behind it offer a rhythmic, percussive backbone to the track. Just as I begin to truly get lost in its motion, tuning into a hopeful note of acceptance as I approach my new mental destination, “Vignette 8” is done with swallowing me up in its sentiment, fading out quite suddenly and leaving me ready to turn another chapter in the album. I adore the personality of this project and the metaphor of its creation, described best by its composer: “Instrumental melodies are like cats. They are quiet and unassuming, often go unnoticed in a room, but make all the difference. “
