April 21st, 2008
The Coast
You know what would be the saddest thing in the world? A song which would make fish cry. Underwater.
Can you even imagine how sad that would be? Fish, crying, tears. Tears, people: under water! Actual tears flowing under water! That would have to be one incredibly sad, depressing, soul-crushing song. To have fish cry tears. Under water. I can’t emphasise that enough.
However, that sad song is not Nueva York by The Coast. Au contraire; it is a stirring, diverse track which is carried by unnerved keys atop weaving, distorted guitar chords and unremitting drums. There is trepidation within the solid, upbeat, anticipatory tempo, suddenly joined in by squealing feedback echoes in the background, creating a feeling of looming uncertainty, purposefully keeping us on our toes. We are thusly carried until an anguished flourish cracks in, coming at us with gale force, until the return of the disquieting calm which closes up the song.
In fact, this song may actually make fish feel good. Under water. Which, physically, is much more conceivable.