I made a rash statement about Sloan Brothers earlier this year after hearing the first single from this album. I said that if the rest of the album was as good, it was destined to be one of my favourite albums of the year. Turns out my radar was on point, as System Update has become one of my most played albums of the year, so it has been extremely remiss of me not to have featured it in some way before now. Time to redeem myself.
Athens, Georgia is already responsible for one of the most successful bands to come out of the USA, which just so happen to be up there with my most beloved bands, and is home to R Sloan Simpson who, having documented and recorded music over the twenty years previously, suddenly had nothing to do during 2020/21 following the decimation of the live music scene. Many songwriters and musicians who had no other outlet at the time, began to write new material when confined to barracks during the height of COVID. Having never done this before, Simpson now started to write his own songs and music. Ultimately recording these remotely with a host of friends and shining stars in the US alternative music scene – members of Drive By Truckers, Cracker and Apples in Stereo amongst them.
Music and lyrics like those present on System Update and its ilk are possibly the only good things to come out of those months where we existed rather than lived and death was never far from the news. Let’s face it, there has been a perfect storm since then in the of Brexit (tell me about the benefits someone?), the fallout from COVID and the horrendous loss of life caused by the unwarranted invasion of Ukraine which has meant we’ve jumped from frying pan to fire. Music is one of the few bright lights to shine through the darkness.
System Update is a perfect reminder of the sign of the times. As you would expect from an album created during these times of uncertainty, this isn’t an album brim full of happiness and joy, but neither is it an album wallowing in doom and gloom. It has plenty to say, and in that there is a certain upbeat confidence, a sense of hope, and almost a feeling of alacrity at times interspersed with moments of delicate unease and a mellow sadness that has a mix of emotions competing to come out on top, with a soothing sanguine cheerfulness just coming out on top.
The album opens with a sense of exasperation, the disbelief and sense of outrage at peoples insensitivity and selfishness during COVID palpable in the album’s title track, System Update. Opening like the Beastie Boys Intergalactic before revealing with a (psycho) killer bassline (the thunderous bass is a bedrock throughout the album forming a solid spine to build around), Simpson’s distorted vocals warn “this is not a system failure, this is just an update” before going on to say “system update is coming to you, please accept it” and “this is not forever”, a plea to those who chose not to comply with mask wearing to protect others to be more empathetic… the song builds to a suitably feverish climax with screaming guitar shredding closing it out.
There are many mellow moments throughout this record, and as I listened for the first time, it was like opening a window to my soul, examining my own psyche. I’m not going to lie, tears were shed, and even this morning, as I drove the well-kent road to Perth, tears were welling as I listening to some of these heartfelt songs. I don’t know about Simpson when he wrote the songs, but listening to them and writing about them was a cathartic experience from me.
Three songs stand out around this theme for me, perhaps obviously in, Anxiety, “this life has been good and bad to me, chemicals help me hold on to sanity, slow things down to help me get some peace.” The lyrics speak to me as if he’s plucked memories and thoughts from my head as he sings I can remember times where I though my heart would beat out of my chest, “tell myself it probably won’t explode” and when he talks of imaging his car crashing off the road… too close for comfort. However, this song does not make me sad, it does not have me delving into the depths of despair. It is actually one of the most uplifting songs on the album, perhaps it is the recognition that there are people out there like me that give a sense of comfort. There is sense of hope in the lyric too “one day I’ll learn to take control”. A lot also has to do with the upbeat jangle pop nature of the song, almost Postcard like with Simpson’s baritone vocal channelling Edwyn Collins.
Then there is Into my Mind, which has Simpson in a melancholic reflective mood, apologising for his actions… texting too late, being absent while present “I’m going right into my mind, I’ll meet you back but I can’t say when” and the sense of worthlessness and lack of self-esteem displayed in the soaring melodies of Cryin’ Shame, almost sensing defeat before he asks the question “I am taking all the blame, I am asking all the same, let me be your cryin’ shame”. Both songs are works of art both in the perfect lyrical descriptions of what goes on in someone like Simpson’s head, and many others like him, and also in the compassionate manner in which the music complements the words. Absolutely spot on.
Perhaps the most quirky and upbeat song on the album is the addictively catchy Songs Like This. Simpson admitting he feels strange writing this type of love song. Perhaps unrequited as he wonders what records the source of his muse has in her bag, questioning whether he will ever actually talk to her.
The most affecting song on the album turns the quirky upbeat nature of Songs Like This on its head. A tribute to his mother, I Love You So Good tugs at your very last heartstring, the ebow effects making the guitar parts sing soulfully, sympathetic backing vocals adding to the overall effect. The line at the end of the song “Wish I could pick up the phone one more time, to hear my momma say, Love You So Good” has me melting into my chair as I type this. This is a gloriously beautiful tribute. Hug your loved ones tight. Just as you regain your composure, So Good (reprise) kicks in just for good measure….
Musically the album treads than line between alt-rock and Americana/Country, with inspired soaring arrangements, and effective use of ebow and steel guitar in places, on instrumentals such as the uplifting Cleopatra Echo and Coffee, Black.
The album closes on the melancholic but inspiring and enlightening Smile Down on Me, I can imagine this re-visits Simpson’s feelings around the loss of his mother. The melody floats around your head into the ether, heavenly voices filling the air. A perfect end to what could be one of the most perfect albums released this year.
Sloan Brothers – Bandcamp