Have A Good Season - Last Picture Day EP review

When the studies gets tough, the tough get studyin'. Studying to Have A Good Season, that is.

This EP has been the soundtrack of my daily library visits as of late. The pacing is perfect. It doesn't get too fast, and it doesn't put me to sleep. The vocals aren't overpowering or abrasive. They're adding into the tracks as another instrument, like that layer of frosting in the middle of the birthday cake. Not being the spotlight of the EP should not be equated with a devaluation of the vocals. In the song Squid, the lyrics are modeled as a dialogue. It addresses very introspective questions that aren't directly talked about enough in daily life:

"'Please respect the dead.'

 'How does one respect the dead?'"

Then the chorus repeats this line over some syncopated drum and guitar patterns that are simple yet still interesting to listen to:

"If my mind has a mind, am I ever truly alone?"

This is the sort of meta-awareness that has always astounded me. I'm glad someone could work this idea into song lyrics.

The song Dinosaur Bones gives us a good taste of what the vocalist really has to offer. By singing along to a slower ballad, we're given a taste of how Have A Good Season can bring down the energy and still pack a punch to their listener. We loom over loss as the vocals trail off with the decrescendo-ing guitar and washy cymbals: 

"All I have left, was all I had left. Now all I have left."

The whole mixing of this EP has a unique sound. The guitar and bass are clean, but contain enough grit when sustained to make you want to gently headbang (the kind of headbang where your hands stay in your pockets and you lock your knees on 2 and 4). The Japanese Bonus Track gains emotional strength about one-third through (3:30) where the guitar leads begin to slide, pull-off, and hammer-on. It gives a feeling of tension between the tightness of the drums and the looseness of the guitar lead. 

We get a similar taste of this style of guitar lead in the premier track When the Brain Tells You to Breathe (a brilliantly titled song) right after the intro of the song as it locks right into a similar sliding guitar lead. The guitarist isn't the only one to take a lead role. In the end of Oh, Carl, the drummer powers us to the end, taking the lead and locking in with the guitar. (That bell hit at 4:04 sends shivers down my spine). It just makes me want to know you, Carl. 

From listening to some of these lyrics, the amount of stories packed into this EP is beyond me, I'm sure. Their rock is tight, and their roll is smooth. 

Next time you step into the library to think, give the Last Picture Day EP a listen.

Related artists: Heart Attack Man, Citizen, Secret Stuff

New Single by the young D.C.R. Pollock -- Try Harder

Unexpected Love; Just What I Needed

In his new single, singer/ songwriter/ artist/ fashionista David Pollock writes about his struggles as a lover (which I happen to know he's actually very good at). Having recently recovered from his gloomy Letters to friends (of which I did not receive one), he seems to feel recovered from the loss, transformation, and relocation of friends he once had. Searching for love to fill that void, Pollock writes:

"I'm trying hard to make you love me, but it's harder than it seems."

Being single in high school must be rough, but I'm sure this suave young gentleman won't have any trouble finding love down the road. 

Pollock uses space in his music to create a dynamic from section to section, layering into the space as the song builds. Having written with Pollock before, I find that his idea of song structure has always been unique. There's not a typical intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-outro, but rather a construction of sounds that build from one section to the next. This can make a first listen not so easy, since the reprise tends to be subtle. This challenge is something that brings me back to listen over and over.

About halfway through the song, "Try Harder" turns into a party anthem [but more like a small party that you would have with five of your closest friends after you've found out that your long distance partner has cheated on you with your cousin]. The synth-like drone is abrupt but equally pleasing by filling in the gaps between the spacious bass line and simple drum pattern. I think Pollock must have found a MicroKorg laying around his garage (you'd be surprised what he finds "laying around"). 

This sound isn't what I would have expected from D.C.R. Pollock, but he's known to keep listeners on their toes when he finds new ways to experiment. 

Take a listen to the new single "Try Harder" on SoundCloud or Spotify. Keep an eye out for an upcoming album release! Stay updated with his new website.