Now, Now – Threads
Album Review by Patrick Quiring
While on Paramore’s website a couple of years ago I stumbled upon Hayley Williams musical interests. On this list I saw some of my favorites, but one name stood out from the rest. The name of the band was Now, Now Every Children, which made me immediately intrigued by such a strange name. I immediately had to check out their stuff.
Upon first listen I knew that I had discovered something totally new to me. Never before had music sounded so dark and melodic. It’s like if Death Cab for Cutie had a depressed younger brother. Of course I mean this all in the best way because I personally am in love with this sound. Automatically their first album Cars became one of my instant favorites.
The band consists of Cacie Dalager (vocals, guitar, keyboard); Bradley Hale (drums, backing vocals); Jess Abbott (guitar, vocals). Theses folks have seen leaps and bounds in their careers over the past couple of years since the release of their first record. First off they shortened their name to just Now, Now and got their music on Grey’s Anatomy. Then they signed to Chris Walla’s Trans Record Label, which is a huge success for them since Chris Walla is the guitarist for the legendary group Death Cab for Cutie.
Their first effort on Trans Record is the 12 track album Threads, which feels like an album that is divided up into two different parts. This record is one of the best I’ve heard all year. It’s also a nice musical step for a band that nobody else can be compared to. Maybe not as groundbreaking as Cars, but it will be an album to remember.
Threads starts off with effects saturated vocals on “The Pull”, which sets up the album beautifully. From there on it continues with its mellow down-tempo sound and melts into the next track “Prehistoric”. After these first two songs the album starts to really depart from Now, Now’s normal dark and slow sound. They amp up the volume and speed to 11, and actually get your feet moving for the next couple of songs. The instrumentals are also actually pretty darn impressive as well. If you dig their track “Dead Oaks” then make sure you watch their video for it.
After a couple of actually fast paced songs comes the intermission of the two parts with the track “But I Do”. A song like this is reminiscent of a high school prom whenever it’s time for the slow dance. Such a slower paced song after a barrage of upbeat tunes provides a break in between part one and part two of the album. Leaving part one of the album behind, we come upon phase two with “Separate Rooms”, and the title track “Thread”. All of these songs are great and makes it feel like they’re really setting up their album for two of my favorite songs off this record.
The first of the two songs I’m in love with is “Wolf”. The opening trance-influenced rhythm is something that caught me off guard right away, but in a good way. Whenever the chorus kicks in “You’ve been feeling smaller. Take a different number. Like you do, like you do. When you talk about it. You don’t want to hear it. Tell me more, tell it all, can you take it.” I knew that this was one track that I wouldn’t forget.
Following “Wolf” is “School Friends”, which is probably my favorite track. There’s just something about it that makes me fall in love with this song. Maybe it’s the catchy beat, how you can feel the emotion in her voice, or maybe it’s the fact that I can see myself driving down the highway blaring it with my windows down. All I know is that it’s probably my favorite off the album. Even if it does make me feel like bundling up on the couch and watching a Rom. Com. while eating copious amounts of Ben & Jerrys.
All that’s left to the record are “Colony” and “Magnet”. Both display great lyrics and music. They’re just on the opposite ends of the music spectrum. One’s super slow and dark, while the other ones a tad bit more upbeat. At first I thought “Colony“ should be the finale to Threads, but after a couple of listens to “Magnet” it clearly feels better for that position.
With “Magnet” it’s possible to experience Now, Now truly as it is. It has everything you associate Now, Now with. There’s the moody melody infused with effects drenched instruments. It also has groovy guitar parts and heart wrenching lyrics. The song even ends with the words “Can you still feel the pull?” repeated several times. Clearly this is a reference to the first track “The Pull,” making it an album that goes in a full circle.
For a band such as Now, Now they have certainly taken the step in the right direction with this album. Cars was a breath of fresh air and this isn’t any different. It’s definitely possible to tell that they tried to expand upon their sound and they did it almost perfectly. A couple of tracks aren’t exactly the greatest, but this album flows so well.
Overall rating: 4/5
Website: http://nownowband.com/
