MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 8/14/2024
Reviews by: Alexandra Haynes, Writer @xalexonlinex
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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Waking Hours "crop circles"
Waking Hours serve us quality indie rock with their newest single, “crop circles.” This track has an intentionally grungy, fuzzy quality, but the instrumentation and vocal melodies come together smoothly, serving the track without aural contradictions. Released in May 2024, “crop circles” satisfies my desire for milder shoegaze, where the noise wall doesn’t overtake the slickness of the riffs or drown out the vocalist. Waking Hours have balanced all their pieces well, while still transporting the listener to an otherworldly, but somehow nostalgic, dimension of sound.
Finesse "Without U"
Finesse lean into the synthpop renaissance here, calling upon the rhythms of their disco ancestors with infectious synths and bold drum machines hammering out danceable melodies. “Without U,” from the album Stay True (released in February 2024) is unabashedly 80s, dominantly electronic, and damn good fun. Lyrics pine for a lover, throwing caution to the wind with a daring appeal to their intimacy - “I’m constantly questioning / Could I live without you?” “I can feel your warmth / (And your touch) / It’s got me feeling so alive.”
Modern Wildlife "Guardians of Sleep"
Slippery garage rock melodies roll together into something hypnotic as Modern Wildlife illustrate the adventures of our subconscious. Lyrics that particularly strike me include, “All my teeth are falling out / As I free fall through the sky / Making out with people that don’t exist / I kill, I die, I never ask why…” I relate to these recollections of everything that can happen in a dream. I too have lost teeth and been involved in many disturbing scenarios which, thankfully, once I wake, all dissolve into fabricated memory - and my teeth are still in my mouth! “Guardians of Sleep,” from the band’s Cost of Living album (released in March 2024) perfectly encapsulates the beautiful bizarreness of the dreamworld, recreating how it feels with its delicate, hazy soundscape.
Too Old Cat, Martin Armonica "Goodnight Irene"
“Goodnight Irene” is a warm Americana track from Too Old Cat, a local folk duo powerhouse. It is their only release to date! It feels incredibly sentimental when the vocalists harmonize over farewells to Irene and articulate their love for her. Listening to their honeyed composition for the cherished muse feels like peeking into a private moment. Strings (played by the duo) and harmonica (provided by incredibly talented Martin Armonica) combine to form the minimal, yet still luscious and space-filling, instrumental. This track is simply gorgeous.
Too Many Villains "Mental Bouldering"
Too Many Villains are fresh faces on the scene. This is their first release. and from it, we learn that this new blood leans into ‘90s-style rock’n’roll. On “Mental Bouldering’s” lifting choruses, the band don’t explode into noisiness - instead, they play with a delicate crescendo that is never forceful. In this way, they represent their self-described genre well: “indie rock covered in frosting and despair.” (I wish I could take credit for those words - they beat me to some great descriptors there!) The lyrics tell a story of reckoning, that realization you have when it dawns on you that sometimes, you are your own worst enemy. The metaphor of “Mental Bouldering” - I picture a rock wall on a brain - is a strong one that sticks with the listener long after the band has stopped playing.
The Pale Goblin "The Marble Staircase"
The Pale Goblin shows off his effortless flow with playful storytelling in “The Marble Staircase,” released on the album Jester of Goodwill (April 2024.) It draws you in provocatively as the listener can fall easily into the tale of a protagonist making deals with the devil. The metaphor? Sacrificing one's ethics to get ahead in life and how tempting it is to throw everything away - become a different person - if it means monetary gain or social favor. The protagonist’s direct confrontation with temptation is wrapped up in religious metaphor and, much to my chagrin, he gives up his ears, eyes, brain, and heart to the devil, making him capable of “forgetting the people left behind.” Those people remain at the bottom of the staircase he now gets to ascend. There is so much imagery and social commentary packed into this clever song, and I am all about it. The track behind the vocals is subtle enough to allow The Pale Goblin’s rapping to shine, but has its own intrigue with its classy, twinkling beat and vintage-inspired intro and outro.
