Bend singer-songwriter Jason Schweitzer is known for huge, soulful hooks and gritty R&B and roots rock, as propagated by his previous group, The Rum and the Sea, and his current band, Natty Red. He's less known for spitting rhymes over lo-fi hip-hop beats, but that's exactly what you can hear him doing in his latest project, Pessimist Rex. (Awesome name, by the way. Our mascot, Tyrannosaurus Lester Bangs, approves.)
The project's first two singles are up on Spotify. "That Something" rides a glitchy, funeral dirge of a beat as Schweitzer delivers introspective verses that probe for deeper meaning in day-to-day existence. Swirling organs rise to the top of the mix, combining with Schweitzer's deep voice to create an almost gospel feel. If Johnny Cash rapped, it might sound a little bit like this.
The second single, "Systemic Pandemic," goes full '80s dance rager, complete with drum-machine beat and bouncing synth lines. The lyrics are a greatest-hits of the current pandemic, with Schweitzer tackling toilet paper shortages, kids stuck at home and how he and the listener are going to "keep the liquor store in business." By the end, the message is one of unity in trying times, with Schweitzer offering a helping hand to those in need: "Keep your heads down now but don't lay low; remember that together we can weather any storm."What should I review next? Comment below and let me know, or email: brian.mcelhiney@gmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment