MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 3/20/2024
Reviews by: Alexandra Haynes, Writer @xalexonlinex
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
If you like what we are doing please consider supporting us on Patreon, PayPal, or Venmo.
PRGRPHS “Resplendent Entropy”
This track from PRGRPHS’ 2023 EP, Light Refracts, Flickers Back invites us to consider what “Resplendent Entropy” must feel like - accepting radiant, beautiful chaos. The progressive melodies feel hopeful, with yearning being cradled in their post-rock nursery of sound. PRGRPHS achieve an easy listen without disengaging the listener in any way. Earworm loops build, layer after layer, creating an enticing, instrumental-only story with a catchy electric riff tying it all together.
Zaq Baker, Natalie Fideler “Trying to Be Better"
“Trying to Be Better,” independently released on Solarbaby in 2023, pairs whimsical synth-pop with a solid rock’n’roll core. The bassline throughout the track adds a notably heavy body, while the rest of composition stays aloft the weight of a harder sound, staying buoyant. The playful concoction of Zaq and Natalie’s staggered vocals and bright, steady percussion make this song feel glamorous and well-produced. Zaq’s lead vocals are coy, allowing his vulnerability to be not just heard in the lyrics, but felt in the heart. It is a delight to hear Natalie Fideler’s rockstar voice alongside his, where this partnership creates some beautiful harmonies to deliver a charming message we can all relate to “Trying to Be Better.”
Diegetic “to:/from:"
Building quickly from muffled vocals to distortion-twisted guitar riffs and beautiful bridges, “to:/from:” prioritizes the creation of euphony through heady transitions and plenty of fuzz. The drumbeats are a slow throb, which pick up pace with intensely crashing cymbals at a faster tempo as the track takes a rapid turn closer to metal at 2 minutes and 29 seconds. Although we get this brief, rowdy, awesomely loud breakdown, Diegetic never lose the indie, shoegaze thread that stitches the entire song together and occupies the noisy space between experimental tones and their hardcore innards. This track was released in their 2023 EP, Become the Ground.
The Tossups “Blister"
In “Blister,” strong pop-punk vocals are used to powerfully deliver soft-gore metaphors. These poetic and repetitive lyrics evoke strong imagery; the story The Tossups tell is familiar to anyone who has found themselves disconnected from, or disgusted by, someone they were previously intimate with. Chantlike background vocals wind through heavy, skillful percussion, growling guitar, and an irresistible bassline. There’s something theatrical about the way “Blister” has been produced, and honestly, the more I listen to it, the more I love it. “Blister” is the final song on The Tossups’s 2023 release, Greatest Hits, Vol 3.
Ka Lia Universe “Meow"
It’s always a delight to hear a song that its creator clearly enjoyed making, and Ka Lia Universe’s latest release, “Meow,” is one such song. It opens with Ka Lia proposing, with laughter in her voice, “they’re gonna hate me for this song…” but there’s simply no way we can! Fun and spunky, this one is for pop and RnB lovers. Independently releasing her music, Kia Lia Universe has found freedom in rapping in her first language, Hmong, and turning her sound in a multi-genre direction. “Meow” features sing-song rap from collaborator Kevin Phoojywg Xiong, who dances alongside Ka Lia in the official music video (in which, both are sporting feline fits, of course.)
Admiral Fox “security guard at the hospital"
This is the newest single from Admiral Fox and a prime example of how “Midwest Emo” can sound all-too charming while holding onto a haunting story. The meta lyric, “if one more person tells me this will make a great song, I'll snap” is dropped close to the end of their obscured tale of tragedy. Complicated feelings of grief are well-conveyed by Admiral Fox’s melancholy vocals and rhythmic drumbeats. They seem extremely keyed in to the emotional impact of their instruments, synthesizer included. The instrumentals repeat an expressive refrain from the very start of the song, concluding on its final cycle as it morphs into a larger, more energetic crash of sound.
