Baroody – Doctor
Similar artists: Songs: Ohia, Jason Molina, Beck
Genre: Pop Rock, Lo-fi Rock, Garage Rock
It’s always the ones you least suspect. Sure, we’ve all read the outrageous autobiographies written by rockstars, movie actors, and other types of perverts. And, we’ve delighted in their tales of debauchery and the inevitable, terrible consequences that followed it. We’ve dreamt of being them at their best and feared we might just end up like them.
But in the way that some pop singers are able to hide uncomfortable truths underneath the surface, some of the most respectable members of society are responsible for some of the most bizarre, twisted behavior. They won’t write any books about it, though. They stand to lose too much, and besides, unless you’re name has flashed in lights, few will be interested in reading it.
Baroody’s “Doctor” is one of those strange, wicked pop songs about unhealthy behaviour that is easy to miss its meaning. That’s because the singing throughout is very good and comfortably deliverable. It’s also because the song’s arrangement makes it the kind of tune that could fit on radio programmers’ playlists. But could this not also fit on a reworked soundtrack to “Leaving Las Vegas?” Listen closely, and you tell me!
Baula – sick of love
Genre: Indie Rock, Dream Pop
You shouldn’t encourage people to seek out things that might make them depressed. That’s just irresponsible, as the depression can turn into something nearly impossible to shake. By the same logic, it’s hard to actively encourage someone to move to a Nordic country. While in other respects, these may be the best places in the world to take residence, this is also a place where melancholy is treated as a wonderful virtue.
It’s not just basing it on a stereotype. No, Swedes have expressions such as “He who travels alone is strong.” The art museums are filled with paintings depicting lonely people starring at the season and Viking poems about the beauty of fishing by yourself. Still, while all of this is absolutely true, it also bears remembering that the Nordic people are in touch with their darker feelings, unlike most of the rest of the world, which tries very hard to ignore them.
Baula’s “sick of love” is built on mournful tones, and on revealing information slowly, like a poker player slowly turning each card. There’s a terrible sense of longing here and the feeling that never will there be a way to resolve it. Musically, Baula’s moody indie-rock rises slowly in intensity, with the electric guitar made to sound like the wild Northern winds, leading to a sort of death-march crescendo. I cannot encourage you to listen to Baula enough!
