10. Laevitas by Winter Forever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htGFmRH-MeE&list=OLAK5uy_mzG7OjAg2lcEYn5vmtIhpX_X1fZxxFm94
Laevitas is the second album released by Winter Forever, a Boise band that consists of three guitarists--the singer plays rhythm guitar--and a drummer. And the reason that I have seen them in concert, and the reason I have a Winter Forever t-shirt, and the reason I clicked on the Like button and subscribed to their channel on YouTube--the only rock group that I've ever done that for--is because the bassist, Max Graham, is a friend and former work colleague. That's right. I know the bass player. I have the bass player's phone number. We text from time to time. And he's the reason that I've been eating vegetarian (mostly) for the last two years. He's the guy on the far left in the picture of the band below.
On the day at work when I discovered that Max was in a rock and roll band, I stopped working and spent the next two hours talking to him about his band and what they were doing and what their plans were for the future. I became an instant fan, and I enthusiastically supported him in any way I could. And being a superfan of the group, Max even let me have an advanced listen to the instrumental versions of the songs on Laevitas before they even recorded the vocals. So this is the only album I've ever heard where I remember listening to the songs before the album was even finished. Max also shared with me details about how the album was recorded and the whole process he went through to just record his bass parts. That means I feel a personal connection to this album unlike any other that I've heard during my life.
But I feel obliged to give a word of caution about listening to this album in front of the kids--don't. Cory lets the F-word rip too often on too many songs for this to be a kid-friendly listening experience. I think their video for "Inadvertently" is clean, but he's drinking and smoking in it, so again, probably not for the kids.
After they produced this album, the band was ready to release it and go on a tour of cities in Washington, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, and Utah. And then Covid hit and every gig they possibly could have played at got cancelled. And some of the venues where they wanted to play simply went out of business. And there was no way to even play the songs locally. So they released the album online and on Spotify anyway. They don't have a lot of traffic going to their YouTube channel, but their Spotify numbers are much better. Still, they haven't broken through to fame and fortune by any means. But they did manage to catch the attention of an independent record company and signed on with it. (I don't remember the name.) Once the Covid pandemic gets under control, or at least once everyone stops caring whether or not they'll die from its unchecked spread through the population, then I think the group will be ready to release another album and go on tour. Until then, Max is still working as an instructional designer at a company in Boise. He left CWI after working there a couple years because (a) the company paid him more than what my boss at CWI makes (and she's a dean) and (b) he wanted to make more money so that he can support the band's plans to put out more music. So he's definitely committed to the band, and I think they do have a future as a touring band, but it will be a while before anyone will see them in concert in Boise because all of the local music venues have shut down.
My hope is that the group does very well over the next decade. They've made the decision to be an indy band for now, but I think that if they put out a few more albums, they might get some interest from the major labels. What they really need more than anything right now is to get their online presence ramped up with a website, some more music videos, and some new music that gets released on Spotify and other music platforms on a regular basis. Also, when I finish my Red Fox Rising series, I want them to do the music soundtrack for the audiobooks. I'm thinking of the softer sound that they have at the beginning of "Central Parke Circle," "Josephine," and "Brown Recluse." Of course, that means I've got to save up some money to pay for it. But I think they'll do it if I ask Max nicely--and have at least five thousand bucks to throw their way. Musicians gotta eat too.
Nardo
#10: winterforever—Laevitas. When I look up winterforever on the interwebs, their genre of music is listed as “post-hardcore.” I’m not sure what that means. (Is there such a thing as “pre-hardcore?”) If I were to try to come up with a name to categorize this type of music, I would say “angry rock.” Hard-driving guitars, pounding drums, and not-so-soft vocals combining to give the music a “you done pissed me off, son” feel to it. (Or maybe that should be a “you done pissed me off, bitch” vibe.)
ReplyDeleteAnd I mean that as a compliment. Sometimes a person is in a mood for pissed off music.
My favorite song is “Levitate.” I want someone to teach me to levitate, and I want them to do so NOW! After that, I’m also drawn to “Central Parke Circle,” “Inadvertently,” “Brown Recluse,” and “Josephine.” I like the songs that start off a little slow before the pounding starts. But, I also like the more driving opening of “Bug Séance” and the slamming drums that start up “Pine.”
Some of the lyrics caught my attention, too. Like, “I’m just better than being alone than most,” which could have been my mantra for most of my thirties.
I also really like “We were never friends, according to your better friends,” from “Inadvertently.”
There’s a lot here on this album to like. And I also heard their song “The Bends,” and think it’s pretty good, too. Your friend done well.
Having said that, I’ve got a few constructive criticisms.
1: Who do you think you are, ee cummings? Use some damn capital letters, okay! It reeks of trying a bit too hard to be artistic.
2. Along those same lines, sometimes it’s okay to title your songs after actual lyrics that are featured in the song, possibly even from the song’s chorus. I think only “Levitate” meets that criteria, which is one of the reasons it’s my favorite song. Yes, it’s okay if not every song is titled for the lyrics, but it does make the songs a bit more memorable if you can associate the title of the song with the words that are sung. For example, “When I Drive” would be much more recognizable if it were called “Praying for an Accident.”
3. I’m not real fond of the album’s name. “Laevitas?” Latin? I’m not sure how well post-hardcore and Latin go together. In fact, I’m about to go against everything I’ve ever said about album titles, but I think it might have even been better to have a self-titled album. For the first while when I would go to listen to the album by pulling up the youtube link from your post, I would occasionally get confused as to the name of the band. Is it “Laevitas?” “winterforever?” Maybe even “central parke circle?”
Criticisms aside, it’s a really good album, with some good rock moments. And some really nice lyrics, like “I still don’t believe in heaven, but I hope you made it through,” from “Josephine.”