A Lot on My Crate

If being carefree has manifested in sonic form, then this album would be it. It came out last February on Valentine’s Day. A coincidence on the release day? I like to think not, since they do talk about love. On that note, there is much to love on here with its sunny disposition and charm. I listened really late to the single “Switch Over” from a random playlist and it immediately switched me over to the Horsegirl wagon. “Switch Over” was the perfect way to dissociate with its repetition, but they somehow did make it tiresome. They used jangly guitar loops and these monotonous, yet carefree chanting vocables, which makes the song just exude a ray of sunshine. All of these just makes me want to put the track on repeat again and again. The positive energy from this indie rock album, is a good pick-me-up if “Switch Over” matches your vibe.

They have it on lock with the opening track, “Where’d You Go?” as it sounds like a beach setting with this surfing rock sound. People are just hopping out of that old classic convertible as they are running to the beach, while Horsegirl are looking and lamenting for the one that got away. The next track, “Rock City” sounds like the mellow jangly guitars that takes me back to Real Estate in their Days era. It’s so calm and gentle yet in contrast with the lyrics, it’s about a shepherd who is weighed down and withered by the days and his sheep. The mellow energy doesn’t stop, but slow things down with “In Twos” with these minimalist guitars and strings. Because our main character doesn’t want to slow down as she is still looking for that individual from the opener and continues her odyssey. But it’s as if something switches on or is unlocked as they hop into “2468” with their heads held high. We find them skipping down the road with not a negative thought in the world as the band goes into a fun trance into their long tedious journey. The lines “walk in twos” and the incessant “da da das” just live inside your head as this bright energy is oh so contagious. Other highlights persist of “Julie”, working their minimalist guitars and intimate slow dance vocals. Along with the single “Switch Over”, the next track also won me over with “Information Content”. This song is so lovely in how they implement their vocals as if they’re yodeling. The closer being the last highlight for me, is a bow to wrap things up. “I Can’t Stand to See You” does a 180 of their character and wants. It’s such a dynamic change for our character, but the mood and heart doesn’t change. The album ends with the same sunny energy as it began.

Some caveats with the album is that it is one-note with its indie rock goodness and that is sometimes not a bad thing, but some tracks don’t shine as much as others. “Frontrunner” being my least favorite as it does have a country sound, but doesn’t stand out and is not as catchy as the other songs here.

There is so much charm and personality to this album. This album has been spun many times in my rotation as I find it to be so endearing. In the catchy guitars and vocables, this band has won me over. It’s an album that is chewing bubble gum and skipping down the street personified, traveling to your destination, but enjoying the journey.

FAVORITE TRACKS: WHERE’D YOU GO?, ROCK CITY, 2468, JULIE, SWITCH OVER, INFORMATION CONTENT, I CAN’T STAND TO SEE YOU

LEAST FAVORITE: FRONTRUNNER

You can purchase this album on Bandcamp and their discography is also available for streaming.

https://thisishorsegirl.bandcamp.com/album/phonetics-on-and-on