
Johnny Cisneros – NEEDY
Life is messy, and human emotions are especially so. Most people try very hard to keep theirs in check. The results are, more often than not, catastrophic, with those emotions eventually boiling over.
Those in artistic circles don’t operate in the same way. Most of them opt for the opposite strategy, and they let all of their emotions dictate how they behave, what work they do, etc.
This is likely a healthier approach, but this strategy is exhausting for those serving as the audience. Can you really believe, for example, a singer that his lost in his own theatrics, in non-stop emoting?
Johnny Cisneros’ “NEEDY” manages to be a highly moving song by eliminating a part of the human touch. The instrumental, reminiscent of bands like The Drums, sounds as if a machine programmed it. That leaves plenty of room open for the Spanish-sung, Morrissey-like vocals. These are honest and relatable, with the vocalist sounding as if he’s nearly on the point of breaking down. It’s mighty never, but it has a cleverly constructed balance, and it works well here.
variety – Plover
Nerds never hurt anyone? Gimme a break. Who do you think builds the bombs, plans military raids on defenceless villages, or designs those evil Tesla cars? Nerds don’t hurt people provided that their energy is turned toward something that is creative rather than destructive, or, at least, meaningless, rather than capable of playing a role in a conflict.
The fact is also that nerds tend to build up not just an incredibly thick skin from the attacks of the world, but also a good deal of hatred and distrust of the world. Other than what are, usually, questionable fashion choices they seem to make the ideal candidates for writing weird, cerebral rock music. If nothing else, this will get them locked inside of a garage for a few years.
variety’s “Plover” is incredibly interesting nerd-rock music that seems to be born out of hours spent alone with guitars that just won’t stay in tune and open tabs to webpages visited only by college professors. While most music is an attempt to create a bridge of understanding with the world, this is the opposite. It’s meant to confuse and astound. I confess it’s worked pretty well on yours truly. Give the nerds guitars, cold winters and make them angry and you might end up with something as good as this.