Graphic By: Maddie Bataille | Photo Editor
October dealt out far more treats than tricks with these exceptional album releases that didn’t miss a beat.
Adam Melchor’s rise to stardom has accelerated since his first studio EP, “The Archer,” a melancholy collection of acoustic work from 2017. Since then, Melchor has been the most streamed artist on my Spotify for five years. His new album, “Here Goes Nothing!” is sure to keep him at the top of my list.
Melchor is already known for being vulnerable in his music through both instrumentals and lyrics alike. “Here Goes Nothing!” only reinforces his ability of passionate storytelling, as each song explores different themes, including falling in love, spiraling out of it and, of course, the rollercoaster between these two extremes.
This collection shows Melchor’s knack for tight harmonies and intricate guitar lines. Much like his other work, “Here Goes Nothing!” opens much like a window into a complicated soul. The inner workings of Melchor’s musicianship are an ethereal experience, especially as I have watched him grow.
While it’s a close finish, “Touch And Go” takes the cake in my book. Melchor balances his vocal layering over a bed of finger-picking guitar and chromatic build-ups. It’s somewhat of a slow-burn track — each section includes more and more until a full mosaic is painted.
At last, Arctic Monkeys dropped their highly anticipated album entitled “The Car.” From the very first beat, leading member Alex Turner transforms the rock band into a completely new genre, interweaving funk and orchestral components. I consider this new experiment to be a baroque pop era for Arctic Monkeys, where so many different styles and elements are combined.
Lyrically, “The Car” makes you really think about the tale being told. You’re taken from a cafe lounge to the marble stairs of an art gallery, all the while passing through a motorcade of emotions and openness. The band throws out a mysterious line that I can’t help but nip at.
I have to choose “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball” as a standout favorite, especially as it opens the album in such a cryptic, unprecedented way. Turner sings about rose-tinted glasses and the past “leaking” into the present. I analyze this song differently with every single listen, which is what makes it so special, along with the symphony accompaniment.
Changing pace, it would be criminal to overlook the incredible new album “Waiting To Spill” by the indie-rock band The Backseat Lovers. With heavy guitar and piano, in the classic style of the group,
The Backseat Lovers still experiment with dynamic build-ups and complicated lyricism, exploring the coming-of-age challenges we all know so well. Each track shows how they have matured in all sectors.
I could sum up “Waiting To Spill” with one word: intimate. From here, The Backseat Lovers have nowhere to go but up.
Track 10, “Viciously Lonely,” exemplifies how sometimes, less is more. This stripped-down song takes my top spot for the story alone. Lead vocalist Joshua Harmon sings, “But as my youth begins to expire, I’ll slowly put a little less wood on the fire/
But maybe it’ll turn, like a roll of old film or a bottle of wine that’s been
waiting to spill.”
I suppose I’ll leave you meandering on that lyric, along with my list of honorable mentions.
- Taylor Swift – “Midnights”
- Aidan Bissett – “I’m Alright If You’re OK”
- Quavo & Takeoff – “Only Built For Infinity Links” (Rest in peace, Takeoff.)
- Nick Wilson – “Nothing, Something, Everything”
- Forest Blakk – “Every Little Detail”
- The Big Moon – “Here Is Everything”
Make sure to check out all of these releases on your streaming service of choice, as well as the Cigar’s various weekly podcasts.