Soundtracking Spring

Author: Mars Nelson

On Friday, February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil came out of his burrow in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, announcing that the sight of his shadow was an omen for an early spring. As we enter spring it is becoming clearer and clearer that I can not put all of my faith in a rodent, seeing as Seattle seems to be stuck in a perpetual winter. However, that has not stopped me from pulling my Spring albums off the shelf.

YOUNGER THAN I WAS BEFORE – LAUNDRY DAY  

In between short, audio-only skits are a collection of songs that bend from genre to genre. With two lead singers, Jude Lipkin and Sawyer Nunes, Laundry Day has done something that not many bands can do; create a project that sounds just like the city they made it in. While all four members attended New York’s Beacon High School, Nunes’ voice and role in this project have clearly been affected by his time on Broadway. Songs that have him at the forefront tend to focus on the band’s ability to tell a story with their simple yet moving lyricism and their extensive knowledge of instrumentation.  Bitter, for example, opens with a swarm of strings and piano before transitioning to a drum kit-driven, indie R&B narrative. While Lipkin’s voice is on par with Nunes, it is clear that his goal in both performing and recording is to provide a buzzing sense of community and energy that truly makes this album notable. Y.K.Y.N.U.N.Y is probably the best example of this. The city’s notorious tongue twister (you know you need unique New York), a culmination of stacked vocals and distortion, complex drum patterns, and striking electric guitars all come together to create an addicting frenzy. Truthfully, an addictive frenzy is the perfect way to describe a majority of songs on this album making it perfect for spring break (which I would describe similarly). 

Notable Tracks: Breath, My Life, My Shining Star 

IT WON’T ALWAYS BE LIKE THIS – INHALER

I believe there is no better season for indie rock than spring and one band that has truly mastered indie rock is Inhaler. Their debut album opens on its title track as an omen of hope, promising listeners that it won’t always be like this, similarly to how those first rays of spring sun remind us that winter is not forever. A bright, repetitive synth-like guitar riff builds to an explosion of drums and bass before seamlessly flowing into the smooth, comforting vocals from lead singer Elijah Hewson. This formula, the building of striking rock instrumentals falling into a voice dripping in honey, creates a feeling that perfectly encapsulates a spring day. As the album continues, the formula is tweaked and used to create more chill-inducing intros and melodies. Slide Out the Window, for example, opens with 45 seconds of echoing guitar, hi-hats, and a driving bass line before Hewson carries the melody. Who’s Your Money On utilizes the 40-second build to stack their respective instruments and create one of the most dynamic, lively intros on a new-age indie rock track that I have heard in a while. In short, if you appreciate an instrumental break then you’ll love Inhaler. 

Notable Tracks: Who’s Your Money On? (Plastic House), In My Sleep, Slide Out the Window 

TWO STAR & THE DREAM POLICE – MK.GEE  

Two Star & The Dream Police never really strays from its Lofi, R&B sound but it does incorporate elements of rock, shoegaze, pop, and indietronica making it one of my favorite releases of 2024 thus far. Micheal Todd Gordon, more commonly known as MK.Gee, has created a project that feels sort of familiar. Alesis, for example, sounds like the drums were played while muffled and the guitar was run through a speaker heavily affected by static and fuzz and yet the song does not lose its integrity or beauty. Instead, it simply feels like you are hearing it through a camcorder speaker as a distant memory plays in the background. Gordon’s voice also seems to be distorted to sound like he is singing into speakers housed two rooms over which is how his voice tends to be presented on this album. It is a perfect listen for spring nights when the lack of sun reminds us that we are not yet able to fully shed all of our layers. 

Notable Tracks: Alesis, Are You Looking Up, Candy