A Personal and Storytelling New EP from Velcro Dog
Velcro Dog has returned with a full LP, packed with songs that delve pretty deep into personal attributes and don't really hold back in the way of letting your thoughts come out for all to take in. I found a lot of this record to be kind of brave and built with very few walls around it.
It's been a while since I heard a record that took a lot of elements of classic, roots-style Folk music and brought it into a sort of bigger Indie pop feel at times. There's a lot about the record that feels stripped down, but that adds to the personal effect and aesthetic that the whole thing gives off.
The record is called Fjord Noir, and it definitely has a knack for storytelling. This is a record that gets into detail in terms of those lyrics, and you're able to paint pictures as certain songs unfold. It gets descriptive and emotionally backed at times, especially in the vocal performances.
The acoustic guitar is the main point of focus instrumentally. Again, it's a bit stripped down and true folk style, and this approach really works because of the sentiment of some of the songs, but it also brings other elements to the table.
There's harmonica, whistling, violin, and more that are sort of scattered about throughout the record. I love how he peppers those elements in to certain tracks, pushing some of the emotional backbone out even further.
At times, the record has a little bit of a southern undertone. You can hear hints of Americana in its influence, but that's all part of Folk Music in general.
Songs like "I'll Stick To Fiction" can hit pretty hard, as this is a perfect example of a song where stringed instruments are used throughout its course. It adds such a cool set of textures and layers to the song, bringing out more depth, and I feel like this helps put you in the moment with them.
"Concrete Kisses" is an awesome track and maybe one of my favorites off the record. This one has a bit more of an upbeat swing to it. Not only that, but it also incorporates banjo in the mix, which again helps some of these Southern and roots tonality come out even more.
"Friends In Dry Places" is an absolutely gorgeous piece of work. This one also incorporates string instruments, and some of the notes are a little deeper, almost like a cello, but I feel like it's still violent on this one.
This one has a big emotion behind it, and I feel like that gives the song such a one-on-one aesthetic. A lot of these songs have that. Not only do they put you in the moment with them, but it feels like you're watching a performance, to an extent.
He is absolutely utilizing life experience to create his music. These songs feel almost like they could be cathartic for the artist to write and release.
For some listeners, it's really relatable as well. I connected with this song on a kind of intense level.
The vocal performances are really beautifully done. On the more light-hearted kind of upswing songs, the vocals come through with the same approach. Melodies are different, energy is different, and the whole thing has a different atmosphere.
When the songs were more melancholy and personal in a different way, the melodies are much more minor or sad. He's really able to perform with the emotion the lyrics are giving off.
What's brilliant about this whole thing is that the music helps create the mood for the sentiment of each instead of lyrics.
One of the tracks called "White Bluffs and Cover" is really intense vocally. His performance is sort of belting out, and he sounds heavily emotional on this one. He's able to capture that on the performance so well that you can feel it in your bones.
Again, he's telling you stories. These songs feel like chapters in the artist's life.
I'm not saying that it's a concept record in full, but rather that you should listen to it from start to finish all at once. The songs are connective and intertwined with each other in different ways. But all in all, like I said, you're listening to pieces of someone's life, and the stories that are told feel very authentic.
The whole thing has a sort of elegance to it. The performances are all graceful. The acoustic guitars, all the instrumentation, the vocals, it all has this beautiful way of coming across.
This is an album that digs deep, and I feel like a lot of people will understand where it's coming from. The record is for people that like emotional music. People who enjoy listening to a record that someone had to put out so that they could get things off of their chest.
As I mentioned earlier, it feels like this needed to happen.
The songs are almost like diary entries.
The album is 11 tracks, and each one brings something a little different to the table. Whether it's melodic drive, some catchy hooks, intense emotional moments, or just songs that invite you into those moments, you're getting a lot to chew on.
There's also a bit of a cinematic underbelly to the entire thing. I feel like that comes from the emotional aspect of it, but there's other elements that bring that forward as well.
I would definitely listen to this one with headphones on, and absolutely don't forget what you heard it first.
Comments