Genre: Midwest Emo, Indie Rock
“I can only watch from afar, always left behind, tossed aside, thrown away like leftovers...”
Laketown, a side project of LA-band Sock’s member Andres, released two singles this year that
are as musically promising as they are complex and beautiful. If Laketown continues releasing
music in the style we’ve heard thusfar, it is clear that they will be on the verge of creating a
thematically cohesive sound that will be very exciting to hear more of.
Laketown’s latest release, “Leftovers”, has a definite Midwest emo sensibility, complete with
arpeggiated, clean-tone guitar parts, an unconventional time signature, and lyrics dealing with
love and loss.
“Leftovers” is bare-boned, raw and hauntingly beautiful. Without distortion or a big rhythm
section, a song can seem empty and simple, but the intricacies of “Leftovers” are rich enough to
fill the entire space of the track.
The most striking aspect of “Leftovers” is the guitar work. Laketown is obviously skilled
technically, and from a musician’s standpoint, the guitar parts are impressive, but not in an
over-the-top or flashy way. It’s layered and complex while remaining pleasant to your ears. The
parts are crafted in such a way that the listener can appreciate their complexities and be
emotionally engulfed in the sound simultaneously.
The simplicity of the production highlights the beauty of the guitar; rather than complicating the
song with a full band, the production allows the focus to be solely on Laketown’s voice and
complimentary guitar parts. Although the production is straightforward, the song is structurally
complex and employs so many different guitar parts that there’s no sense of repetitiveness.
Although the guitar is the most outstanding part of the song, Andres’ vocals are just as
important to its overall sound. The lyrics discuss the heartbreaking feeling of being forgotten by
someone you love, and the vocals are delivered in a quiet and pained way that truly convey that
all too familiar feeling.
Comparing oneself to leftover food being forgotten is a very clever way to talk about a topic that
is pretty common in a lot of songs. And it’s true; no one really likes leftovers, we just feel bad
about wasting food and eventually, we throw them away.
“Leftovers” brings to mind the guitar work of Midwest emo greats American Football, and I’m
sure that isn’t the first time that comparison has been made. But if that doesn’t sell you on the
greatness of the song, I’m not sure what will.
Be sure to follow Andres on Instagram @capnmcnugget for updates on the Laketown project,
and keep up with Andres’ band, @heyitssocksband, too.
For Fans of:
American Football
Owen
Tigers Jaw
Follow Laketown on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capnmcnugget/
Stream “Leftovers” on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7pEPcajhddwMcxEQ2vJBX2?si=a966c0a565844474
Stream “Leftovers” on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/leftovers/1697974215?i=1697974667
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