Girl at the Rock Shows

They’re starting to talk about a whopper of a snowstorm that is set to hit the Twin Cities in about a week– just in time for Thanksgiving. Although I’ll believe it when I see it, it has me excited about the prospect of an epic snowstorm and being stuck inside the house over the holiday, rather than trying to pack in as much as I can, like I do every other day of my life. I love winter. I’ve talked about it before and will continue to talk about it until I inevitably get sick of it in a couple of months, but, at the same time, I’m already missing summer. I wouldn’t say that this summer was a ‘sad girl summer’ for me, but I will say that I feel like I didn’t really take advantage of all that summer has to offer. This has nothing to do with Tyler Meacham’s EP other than the title, but I had to give you something to pull you into this review. Maybe not. Long story short, whether this intro hooked you or not, Tyler Meacham’s ‘sad girl summer’ EP is absolutely worth your attention regardless of the time of year.

‘sad girl summer’ opens with “hell of a friend.” It takes a second for this song to really come to life, but when it does, it’s fantastic. I’ve been hip to Tyler for a hot minute now, and I always seem to fall into the trap that is her voice. Okay, calling it a trap may be a bit harsh. It’s a beautiful web of emotions and feelings, but it has something super raw behind it at the same time. This song in particular seems to be a self-reflection of sorts about being a “hell of a friend.” I feel like this is something that we can all relate to, but don’t really talk about much. We all know when we are leaving friends high and dry, yet there’s something in us that doesn’t stop us from doing so. Having at least the awareness to recognize what you’re doing is half the battle, and presenting that admission in such a beautiful and catchy way, as Tyler has in this song, is perfect. So this song goes out to my friends. The ones I abandon when life gets busy and things get in the way.

Where were you in “october ’98”. I honestly couldn’t tell you, but I was probably dressed up as a nine-year-old ballerina or gymnast trick-or-treating with my little brother. Although I don’t remember 1998 vividly, as it was so long ago, it was surely a simpler time for me, being so young and innocent. That’s the feeling that Tyler captures in this song. It’s whimsical and beautiful. It reads like a childhood, but with a mature look back on it. It’s soft and sweet, sensitive and lovely, but there’s also a subtle sense of heartbreak throughout this song that really drives home the feeling of innocence. If you want to get caught in your feelings but not go down a dark and twisty road, and instead think back to the sunshine and smiles that came with a younger age, this is the song for you.

I reviewed “dream house” for you last April (you can read the full review here!), so I promise not to dwell on this song, but it’s truly a stunning showing of Tyler’s talent. Kind of like in “october ’98,” there’s a sweetness and sense of innocence in this song but also something super real and mature at the same time. I love how these contrasting feelings and moods can lead to a different adventure when you’re listening to this track (and most of Tyler’s other tracks). You can either go super deep with it and get completely and wholly lost in your head, or you can latch onto the beautiful lightness that comes with this song and float along your day among the clouds and the stars.

I like how this album goes from almost childlike to “drunk fight,” which is much more of an “adult song.” Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing childish or immature about anything on this album, but the whimsical feeling I got from the first three songs falls to the wayside, giving way to more adult-like emotions when it comes to “drunk fight.” We’ve all been there. We’ve all had one too many and said or done something we regret. I love how Tyler takes that feeling and puts it into something relatable and, instead of shaming you for those moments, makes you realize that you are not alone and it’s just something that can happen. All you can do is acknowledge and move on, and I love that about this song.

‘sad girl summer’ ends with “something in the wine.” Although I would have loved for this album to end on a triumphant, feel-good song, I appreciate the beauty that this song possesses. This is a warm and cozy kind of song. That’s not to say that the other tracks on this album aren’t, but there’s just something particularly cozy about this final track. It feels like winter, tastes like your favorite cup of tea, and reads like a beautiful love song. Although vulnerability can be felt throughout this album, I feel like you really get to see Tyler’s heart in this final song, which will surely leave you wanting so much more from this amazing songstress.

Tl;dr – ‘sad girl summer’ is not a super high-octane listen by any means, but it’s gorgeous. It’s raw, yet somehow splits the difference between being whimsical and all-too-real in a perfect way. This album pairs nicely with a nice glass of wine and a cozy fire as much as it would pair perfectly with a summer night in a field watching the stars float by. Let Tyler’s voice sink in, but let her words hit you right in the soul.

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