There’s simply no way of stopping it! It’s a never-ending, and involuntary process of osmosis. You become changed by the things that you consume, even if it’s just entertainment that, initially, you don’t give much thought towards. Be careful what you let into your life!
It’s a particularly effective process if it occurs in your days as an impressionable child. This might make you sad or hopeful, but believe me, whatever kind of adult you turned out to be, this is the result of your teenage dreams, or the lack of them.
Did you use to fall asleep with the radio on a lot? Did you use to fantasize of joining your favourite music stars on stage? Well, you might have turned out a little bit like Thomas Young. Victims of the New Math, and the new album, “The Stories That You Weave,” in many ways, is his attempt at inventing a classic-era rock band.
The approach, however, is a novel one. Just listen to the album’s second track, “You’re a Star.” There’s no mistaking the influence of power-pop sensibilities here. However, this purposely supposes is not a slick studio exercise, as is the norm. It’s a stubbornly lo-fi recording.
It’s this approach that gives the 12-track record its charm. “Only In My Dreams” features a jangly acoustic guitar and sing-along vocals. It’s not unlike what you would expect from an old Cheap Trick record. Still, the lo-fi aspect gives the song the grit that many power-pop records lack.
What’s more, this resembles early-1990s lo-fi alternative rock albums by bands like Sebadoh or Guided By Voices. However, whereas cynicism permeated most of those groups’ songs, Victims of the New Math is, for the most part, a strictly good-vibes affair.
“Believe in Me” is an almost Beatlesque mantra song about trust and positivity. “Every Day Is Saturday” is a slim, direct song about love and gratitude. And, “We Can Be Anything” is a tune worth singing to yourself when you’re trying to wake up from a sweet dream and trying to make reality just as pleasant.
Listen, good intentions are one thing. There are plenty of lo-fi albums that are made by ambitious people. What makes “The Stories That You Weave” stand out is the fact that there are strong melodies, easy-to-follow structures and an emotional component at the heart of each song.
Where does it all leave us? Hanging on to a song the way we’ve always done, and adding a few new tunes to our dreams soundtrack.
