MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 12/11/2024
Reviews by: Alexandra Haynes, Writer @xalexonlinex
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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Two Weeks Past Never "Love, Pt. II"
Two Weeks Past Never are not fucking around. This is emo music with shoegazey tendencies, equally tender and bold. Soft, clean vocals are front-of-mix as delicate chords and effects swirl around in “Love, Pt. II,” the B-side to single “Love, Pt. I” released in July, 2024. After its storytelling introduction, Two Weeks Past Never (sometimes stylized as 2WPN) finally reveal their high-instrumentation pop-punk flavor with a satisfying crescendo of sound. “Love, Pt. II” is a gorgeous reckoning with heartbreak, turning the pain into something beautiful, progressing towards self-love and acceptance. It does, however, end unresolved, the song finishing on a melancholy note which indicates that the healing is still very much a work in progress.
Pretty Pretty Please "Lips Like Glue"
A hunky bassline and playful vocals partner up right away in “Lips Like Glue,” setting its provocative, light-hearted vibe. This is pure punk-rockabilly goodness, with a wide swath of extremely fun, skilled instrumentation that is sure to delight rock’n’roll and ska fans alike. “Lips Like Glue” (released by Pretty Pretty Please as a single in November, 2024) takes an awesome, confident detour into a many layered, auxiliary percussion-dominant, whistling and wind instrument playing breakdown; surprises like this baked into their tracks is what makes discovering Pretty Pretty Please an absolute treat. The composition is tight, the guitar solos and riffs decadent, and its many layers (solid lead vocals, keys, tambourine, backup vocals, shakers, and then some) are complex and brilliant.
Garden Tigers "Different Colors"
“Different Colors” explores the unfortunate phenomenon that growing up often means adopting a less unique and increasingly bitter view of the world. Instead of doing this pessimistically, though, Garden Tigers approach the subject gently, choosing to celebrate the innocent magic of youth. When the vocalist sings, “It’s not the world that changes, but you,” a tension releases from my shoulders as I consider the choice I have in the way I perceive the world. Thought-provoking and pretty, this song (released as a single in November, 2024) benefits from its earthy acoustics and bright keyboard melodies which work together to create its charming, folksy sound.
Stranger Gallery "Seventy Down"
Sinister synth melodies open “Seventy Down,” a darkwave bop from Stranger Gallery. The band leans into effects and looping industrial sounds which weave through distorted guitar riffs, steady drumming, pulsing sci-fi synthesizer beats, and a gothic vocal style which draws from metalcore and pop-punk intonations. These layers create the band’s unique sound in the post-punk space. Released first as a single then featured on their September 2024 EP, Echoes from Camden Bridge, “Seventy Down” is for the contemporary goths who draw their influences from rivethead culture and indulge in the new darkwave movement. (Personal plug: Come to Omaha on tour, please, you’ll be exceptionally well received and I will be in the audience.)
Jonny Darko "GREYHOUND"
Darko’s hip hop style fraternizes with bright synths and drum machine loops, while his vocals are light and dappled with effects in “GREYHOUND”. Released in July, 2024, the artist’s ballad-like approach to a complicated love story has RnB influence and plenty of atmospheric production, making it reminiscent of soundscapes crafted by the likes of Frank Ocean and Joji Miller. The song’s lyrics follow a poppy structure, repetitive and catchy, while the mix is clean and crisp, allowing them to be heard in full.
Holy Hannah "Fickle Wind"
“Fickle Wind” has a ton of “wow factor,” with a timeless beauty to its construction. Hannah’s voice is rich and soulful, while the rest of the track winds expertly in and out of her vocalizations. Pulsating percussion drives the tempo with plenty of kick drums and spirited fills, but it’s worth noting that no part of the song’s instrumentation dominates over another. This song drips with the classic ambience of 1960s rock while carrying a vulnerable and emotive message. It’s got groove, but is subtly luxurious with it’s rock’n’roll makings. “Fickle Wind” is the project’s latest single, released in July 2024.
