Holy shit.
The title track on this is so musically satisfying. It’s got this gorgeous riff right up front that not only feels complex and syncopated but also groovy and easy to vibe with. Sometimes musicians will go down the rabbit hole of trying to make a really complicated musical section in a song and often all they really end up with is a mess. Instead of some weird “audio spaghetti” we get a clear melodic line to follow through this very professionally designed song. Honestly, just the first few seconds of this song let you know how perceptive and listener-focused the orchestrators are. At the same moment that this cool riff kicks in in the intro of the song, it’s accompanied by a shaker. That tiny little rhythmic inclusion actually prepares the listener for where the weight of this song is going to land when the rest of the band kicks in. It’s a way that the artists are preparing the listener; sort of giving them some instructions on how to groove with the song. I just think it’s brilliant songwriting. The guitar tone is clear and bouncy with a little boost in the lower mid range of the equalizer, which makes this riff mix in to the band much more nicely than a guitar tone that had more distortion. Peter Lacis plays most of the electric guitar on this album and he’s got really classy sensibilities. It’s a really nice complement to the kind of songwriting that Teresa brings.
OK. Fuck. I just did a whole paragraph on the first like eight seconds of this record. I’ll pry myself away and move on. The rest of that song is fabulous.
Teresa is a really purposeful and skilled songwriter. She is a very meaning-centered lyricist. When she repeats the phrase, it’s to help it soak in for the listener like a meditation. There are no bubble gum pop songs here. There are no cheap emotional manipulations. This album feels written from a place of genuineness and care. In the activist rock ballad “This is the Time” the songwriter even extends her care to the larger culture in an almost prophetic way declaring,
“This is the time, don’t be afraid. This is the time when history is made”
I’ve known Teresa for years and I’ve always been impressed and inspired by her authenticity and mindfulness. She really seems to write her songs because of her beliefs. We live in a culture where most songs get written to sell products. This artist is happy to sell you some vinyl or a T-shirt (I’m wearing the T-shirt right now as I type this, and it is very comfortable like it is sewn with threads made of butter) but I get the feeling that what she really wants is to share the good ideas they have found in this world. She just wants to be whatever blessing she can be. It happens to be a potent and beautiful blessing. I think it’s these qualities that make her a very admirable songwriter and human.
Other stand-out tracks include: “Independence Reign”, “Feels so Good”, and “Would I Burn?”
This is a really well recorded and well mixed album. I did it in headphones while I rolled my afternoon joints. I found the mix to be spacious and crunchy and thumpy and delicious. Chad Mathis is on bass here. He’s a miracle. I think he plays in more bands than any other musician I know because he’s so beloved. Poly-jamorist? Anyway he's very good. Chris Wright’s work on the drums is a really great showcase for anyone looking to learn about the idea of “playing the song” versus simply “keeping the beat”. His choices and execution are expert level. I don't know if any of these people teach lessons but I do know that if offered enough money, any of them would consider it and you wouldn’t be overpaying.
Recommended album usage: turned up loud in the house on cleaning day like it’s a montage in a movie. Switch to headphones for any vacuuming scenes. Be careful if you end up getting in your underwear and socks and doing one of those little Tom Cruise slides across the linoleum. It’s a very good album, but please be mindful of your safety whilst grooving.
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