MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 8/28/2024
Reviews by: Alexandra Haynes, Writer @xalexonlinex
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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Chutes "DOWN"
“DOWN” by Chutes is a folksy, indie pop track that is awesomely produced and well mixed, with an exceedingly clean sound allowing each of the full-bodied instruments to shine. Among them, we hear a steel guitar, keyboard, and violin. There are so many gorgeous layers of classic instrumentation to unfurl here, while the vocals feel fresh and contemporary as we hear relatable lyrics such as, “Though it’s all the same / I am feeling just a little bit down.” “DOWN” was released first as a single in June 2024, then featured on the band’s newest EP, MIRAGE (August 2024.) It’s a catchy, totally enveloping track.
flaco. "Someone Else"
An electronic, multidimensional breadth of sound transports the listener into the wonderland of “Someone Else” by flaco. This song is jazzy and hip-hop inspired, with poppy forward motion that quickly allows the listener to get into a groove. Flaco. sprinkles in autotune and other vocal effects to add a modern texture to his smooth voice as vibrant melodies bounce off of one another throughout. This is an impressive track that reaches its ambitions of big sound while never feeling pretentious doing it.
Another Heaven "Painkillers"
“Painkillers” has a Midwestern Emo lilt to its particular brand of shoegaze. As Another Heaven build up to the song’s crashing choruses, they turn slightly away from the dreamy melodies created and lean in towards the fuzz and grit of their basslines and pedal boards. The song is still altogether softer than some of their material, including some of those from the same LP (See You Later, released in June 2024.) “Painkillers,” then, suits its name - the song itself is like a little shot of morphine, a pleasant haze of something sweet to take the edge off - but the edge still begs to be felt. By the end of the song, our dose is wearing off, revealing the band’s self-described “sludgegaze” sound. Its conclusion skews heavier and leads nicely into the LP’s next track.
RIGBY "Bird Bag"
Cymbals clash and nasty riffs open up “Bird Bag,” giving the listener an immediate clue as to the kind of journey they’re about to embark with RIGBY. Punky vocals punch out lyrics that revel in coming to terms with our flaws - “Who cares if they don’t like me? / I’m nothing but the past.” “Bird Bag” tells a real punk rock story of kicking ass and taking names, but all in the context of grief-tinted memories. At its heaviest, “Bird Bag” is snarling and pleasantly chaotic, but it comes up for air frequently on the choruses when lyrics reminisce about who the protagonist is missing. This is the band’s latest single, released in August 2024.
Crystal Void "Star girl"
Crystal Void have a rich, genre-defying sound, mixing a vocal tone and melody that lends itself well to hip-hop with a fuzzed out, shoegaze sound palette. I adore the combination of lower pitched talk-singing with the waves of distortion, and the way “Star girl” creates in the listener a feeling of nostalgic yearning. Every part of “Star girl” feels raw, with so much character in the band’s dreamy, dense sound and vocalist’s style. This pretty song is the band’s only release so far, having dropped in June 2024.
Pyrrhic Victories "BYOB"
“BYOB” is the first track on Pyrrhic Victories’ newest EP, Tunnel of Love (August 2024); what a lovely opener it is. It has a sentimental sound, with sweet chord progressions that feel satisfying and cozy. Before the vocals begin, the sound of a beer can being opened rings out with a fizz, breaking the song’s faelike beginning and allowing us to be introduced to Pyrrhic Victories’ pop-punk melodies. They have managed to make this song feel like a cold beer warming in your palm on a hot summer’s evening - it’s familiar, but still refreshing, comforting, but not sedative. Those pop-punk melodies have a layer of distortion settled over them nicely, adding density and grunginess to the track.
