Rapidfire Reviews – Smidley, Homeless Gospel Choir, & Adult Mom

Posted: by Sean Gonzalez

With the first half of the year almost complete, there are plenty of releases to catch up on. Here are three releases within the past month that deserve all ears and attention.

Smildey – Smidley

smidley

As much fun as blaring music with the windows down, Smidley is an essential summer album. Soaring choruses are meticulously sung out by Conor Murphy (Foxing), embracing a wild style hell bent on providing fun. With such a serious passion for writing, it’s wonderful to hear Murphy unwind for Smidley. The record is a sonic painting of Murphy’s current life, forever framed now thanks to this 11 song album. Opener “Hell” gives an idea of the content of the singer’s life, making it easy to identify the themes of drugs, sadness and touring that are now second nature. Whether it’s writing about how to actually feel in the present on “It Doesn’t Tear Me Up” or coming to a well thought out cry in “Milkshake,” Smidley’s pop driven songs are about loving oneself and coming to terms with exactly how to do that — especially in a life that seems to get weirder every day.

Purchase

Score: 9/10

 


The Homeless Gospel Choir – Normal

Homless_Gospel_Choir_Normal_7-_artwork

The abrasiveness of The Homeless Gospel Choir really shines on Normal, a 7″ with plenty of attitude. The two tracks represent the best traits of punk and its underground aesthetic, with the first song “Normal” crying out “you’re never going to be normal because you’re a punk.” It’s an uplifting reminder as to why people are out there, right now playing shows in a basement. “Why” is an intimate acoustic tune. Not offering too much else, they do what what they do with such honesty that it’s easy to see why The Homeless Gospel Choir have such a easy to listen release in Normal.

Purchase

Score: 7/10


Adult Mom – Soft Spots

Adult Mom

What is most admirable about Adult Mom is the heartfelt lyrics being sung with rather humane deliveries. What I mean by that is when Stephanie Knipe sings, it is more direct and in tune with the emotion of the music. The sweet and soft spur of “Patience” brings images of taking a walk with someone else, fully aware of the space and aura of each other. Opening tracks “Ephemeralness” and “Full Screen” are a bit down trodden, and that is reflected perfectly by the somber guitars. “Steal The Lake From The Water” is a lo-fi energetic song with piercing melodies, discussing pain with grim guitars. The draw of this record is the relief of its sound, bringing a bit of softness to one’s eyes as depicted in “Tenderness.” What a lovely reflection of music by none other than Adult Mom.

Purchase

Score: 9/10

 

– Sean Gonzalez