Happy Tofurkey day, everyone! Regardless of how you spend it, I hope you have a fabulous day. Personally, I love using this day to get caught up on work, cleaning, and, of course, making a delicious tofurkey. The only thing missing is some new tunes to soundtrack my day but, thankfully, I have a giant pile of music to check out so let’s start with Canary Complex’s ‘When I Say Rain…’.
“Asleep in the Halls” kicks this eleven-song album off with a sense of calm while being completely full of energy. A little Bright Eyes in the vocals and a little almost Americana styled in the instrumentation, I instantly fell head over heels for everything about Canary Complex. Although it’s definitely a bit calmer than my normal listening, the way it fits this cozy Thursday so perfectly was a sign that this was the album I needed to hear today. Even though overall calming, there’s this moment of chaos and a mild freak-out right around two minutes into this track before the song settles back into a sense of calm. I loved this because, although emotion can be felt throughout the track, it really brings that emotion to the spotlight in a truly beautiful way.
Second on this album is “Come Armageddon, Come”. Another absolutely stunning show of emotion and power, this track has a more classic indie rock vibe to it keeping it fairly lighthearted instrumentally but there’s a heaviness that comes with every word which keeps me from classifying this track as a bop. That being said, I loved the juxtaposition of the instrumentation and vocals and truly hope this is something that continues throughout the remaining tracks. There’s almost something playful about the light piano notes that dangle in the air throughout this track that I really connected with. “Come Armageddon, Come” was an instant favorite of mine.
The emotion in Canary Complex’s music comes through loud and clear throughout this album but it really comes to fruition in “Pamela Hoy”. Heartbreaking words telling a beautiful yet heavy story are magnified by the slow and steady instrumentation. Although a more serious tone than the previous two tracks, there’s still something almost whimsical about the overall composition of this track. The more serious tone and energy continue into “Valentine’s Day”. Although definitely a bit more of a somber vibe than I am in the mood for today, I found myself hanging onto every word throughout this track. Although the lyrics are definitely a highlight throughout this album, there’s something about their delivery in “Valentine’s Day” that really caught me. The instrumentation is heavy and powerful which adds to the weight of every word and truly makes for a captivating track.
“A Deeper Blue” brings back the whimsical vibe that Canary Complex does so well but, with it, brings yet another weighted story. I’m not going to give it away because I want you to listen to it for yourself but also because Canary Complex has a beautiful story about this track on his social media (oh yeah, did I mention that Canary Complex is a solo project?!). There’s a different kind of songwriting showcased in this track with the movement throughout the song which kept me on my toes but, again, I urge you to listen to this on your own and be sure to check out Canary Complex’s socials for a little run down about this track and its meaning.
There’s a sense of darkness in the vocals of “Lucky Charms” which adds a whole new vibe to this album. Although a bit darker and almost whispered at times, this track continues to showcase Canary Complex’s stunning lyricism and talent. There’s something triumphant about moments in this track while something super sensitive about others making this a truly dynamic track in an already dynamic album. I really liked the triumphant moments throughout “Lucky Charms” so was thrilled as “Morningstar” took over my house and seemed to expand on that vibe. I want to emphasize, even though there’s something triumphant and powerful about “Morningstar”, there’s no denying the beauty and emotion that can be felt throughout this song. Every note seems to have a feeling attached to it and every word is said with such an unwavering sense of conviction. Yes, triumphant in the mood but also so powerful in delivery.
Things calm down a little bit for “Til We Can Be Naive Again”. This track hit me right in the feels. From the words to the delivery– this track was almost overwhelmingly emotional but in all of the right ways. Think of a rainy day spent sitting on your couch with a book in hand a hot cup of coffee on the table– there’s just something so warm and cozy about this track while it breaks your heart with every word. That sounds depressing and sad, and honestly, it kind of is, but the beauty that comes with that is staggering. I found myself completely captivated by this track and before I knew it, it had been replaced by “Tiny Dancing Doll”. This track comes with a more classic acoustic singer-songwriter vibe (but with no lack of energy and power) than the previous tracks while still being that clearly from Canary Complex. This track also brings that slight sense of darkness felt in a few of the previous tracks back to the spotlight while perfectly combining it with the beauty and emotion felt in “Til We Can Be Naive Again”.
“Dolphin Hotel” was another instant favorite of mine from this album. Another fairly introspective song that is so easy to get lost in. There’s almost a wave-like motion in the guitar work throughout this track while the subtly distorted vocals soar above the strum of the guitar. All of this movement made this over four-minute long track feel like it was over in the blink of an eye and, sadly, that meant the end of the album was here with “World’s Fair, 1893”. “World’s Fair, 1893” kicks off with the sound of, well, a fair, hidden in the background before Canary Complex’s distinct sound and vibe takes over. Instead of just fading out like I expected the album to do, this final track ends the album with that more triumphant vibe felt in “Lucky Charms” and I loved that.
‘When I Say Rain…’ is absolutely a rollercoaster of a ride. It will take you places that will make you smile and places where you may rather not go to but no need to fear, Canary Complex is by your side throughout the journey with his comforting and calming vibe. There’s something truly magical about this album and I honestly hope you spend some time with it during this stressful time of the year. It will absolutely soothe your soul and slow you down for a hot second while the entire world seems to be rushing around you.
My Favorite Track(s): “Come Armageddon, Come”; “Dolphin Hotel”
For Fans Of: Gorgeous and Calming Sounds; Heavy and Introspective Moody Music
Mosh-ability: 2 out of 10
What My Cats Thought Of It: Artie slept on the back of the couch; Autumn slept upstairs
How Badly I Want To See This Performed Live: 7 out of 10
My Overall Rating: 8.1 out of 10
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