Girl at the Rock Shows

It’s finally the weekend. It’s one of those things that I never thought would come, but here we are, and I refuse to let this be a “Weekend[s] In Purgatory.” ‘Weekends In Purgatory’ is the brand new album from local artist FINICK. I’m familiar with this fantastic local musician and am so stoked to check out her brand-new album, so let’s not waste any more time and just jump in!

As soon as “Selfish” started playing, I was in love. This is a fast and furious song with a very raw singer-songwriter vibe. Think Jeff Rosenstock meets something slightly poppier. It wasn’t this super cool and catchy overall sound that really caught me on this opening song- it was the lyrics. The first line of this song is, “It feels like everyone I like hates my guts, and everyone I hate likes me too much…” Simple, right? It’s a thought that I’ve had more times than once, and it’s just lovely to hear someone else admit that, at times, it’s okay to be okay with being angry at the world. Yeah, FINICK caught me already, and we are only one song in on this eleven-track album.

Things quickly fall into something a bit calmer with this album as it moves onto “This Is All I Have.” This soft and sweet song is gorgeous and the kind of song where you want the lights to go down around and have your own personal disco ball while you’re slowly dancing with your crush. Okay, that’s what was happening in my mind as this song played through, and it was not quite my reality, but it was like the almost ’90s high school dance pattern of this song and the way FINICK matches it with her signature and genius way with words.

FINICK clearly has many tricks up her sleeves on this album. I figured the third song, “Busy & Bored,” would either be another slow and steady track like “This Is All I Have” or a more rambunctious track like “Selfish,” but instead, she brings in an almost country-western vibe to this album with this song. It showcases FINICK’s obvious talent when it comes to her vocal styling. Somehow, it comes off as natural, and the twang that comes through in this track has me wondering if FINICK is actually from the Twin Cities or a transplant because, honestly, nobody can pull a Southern twang off this perfectly coming from here.

The rollercoaster ride that is ‘Weekends In Purgatory’ takes another dip as the album moves into “How To Lose You.” Although another super catchy and beautiful track, this one comes drenched in heartbreak and tenderness but in a way that only FINICK could figure out how to pull off. There’s a sense of arena-ready power in this track, giving me a glimpse into FINICK’s future that is undoubtedly bright and larger-than-life, much like her overall style and talent. Although a bit predictable, the ebb and flow of this song is done so perfectly well and creates a track that you will want to listen to repeatedly because it takes you away from your day and your “purgatory.”

The longest song on the album, “Bigger Than Us,” continues to dive into FINICK’s more tender side. The poetry accompanying this song’s slow and steady instrumentation is more than enough to move you to tears, even if it’s a Friday night and you’re ready to party. This song sounds like the way it feels to be alone. That sounds crazy, right? But, one, listen to this song, and you will feel exactly what I’m talking about. Although it sounds like the way it feels to be alone, FINICK’s warm voice is there to pick you up and be that shoulder for you when the weight becomes a bit too much for you to take as you fall into this song.

Things pick up for “The More You Wait,” bringing an almost playful vibe to the album while keeping the heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics that clearly put FINICK firmly in my heart. The playful nature of this song quickly turns to whimsical with a whistling solo making your heart fly free, but then you are hit with the closing lines, “And the waiting’s harder when every day just starts again. And the days get long the more you want for them to end.” I’ll go ahead and let those words sink in for a minute.

“No Name” brings back the more southern-inspired vibe laid out in “Busy & Bored” but seems to relate the lyrics back to the slight whimsy felt in “The More You Wait.” Honestly, this entire four-minute-long song is a juxtaposition of positive-feeling instrumentation, upbeat-feeling vocals, and gut-wrenching lyrics. I was so lost trying to figure this song out that I almost didn’t catch the album move onto “Liar Liar” but quickly caught onto a change in the vibe that was cast over my house.

FINICK comes off as a bit of an old soul with her way with words and how she can turn feelings into words that, even as an adult, are super easy to articulate. That being said, she never loses this sense of childlike innocence in her tone, and that comes through loud and clear in “Liar Liar.” Although it’s another super lyrically deep song, there’s more of a playful nature to the composition of this song, and some of the words come off oddly (and perfectly) sweet and innocent.

Just when I felt ready to give in to the childlike feeling of “Liar Liar,” Dolly Parton came in to sweep me off to another world with “Third Time’s The Charm.” Okay, that’s a lie. Dolly Parton is not on this album, but that was the first thing I thought of when this ninth song started playing. It’s a simple feeling song but with no shortage of heart and fire behind every word. Although not a huge country fan, “Third Time’s The Charm” from FINICK had me reaching for those cowboy boots hidden in the back of my closet.

‘Weekends In Purgatory’ comes to an end with the pairing of “Yes I Do” and “Mud.” These songs, together, tell the story of this album. The tone of these songs is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but the heart behind them is old and wise beyond FINICK’s years. You get a final glimpse of the sensitive side of the musician with “Yes I Do” and then get a bit more of that playful, slightly garage-rock leaning edge in “Mud.” FINICK made sure to leave me wanting more by ending with these two slightly heavy but also gorgeously perfect tracks. Much like the final line of “Mud” that “closes out” this album, “When will it end? It doesn’t end. It never ends…” No truer words have ever been sung. I wonder when my obsession with FINICK will end but, truthfully, it doesn’t end… it never ends… it never ends… it never ends.

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