Bands are amazing. Well, not all bands, but rather the concept of two or more different people collaborating to create music out of thin air. Often, all they have in common is a vaguely defined shared aesthetic. Sometimes not even that much. The fact that people can temporarily set aside their differences and create something bigger than themselves gives me some hope that the human race is more than just a giant clusterfuck flying through space.
Due to the volatile nature of human relationships, bands often fizzle out before achieving their full potential or, if they’re lucky, only have a few years of optimal output. Catching a band in the “prime” of their creative window is one of the most exciting things an avid fan of music can experience. This is the excitement I felt when I first laid ears upon Sucraphrenia by Shy Guy Says.
If you’re asking yourself “Shy Guy Says? Isn’t that a Mario Party mini-game?”, the answer is “yes”, but it is also a very cool young band from Illinois. You should listen to their album Sucraprenia immediately, if not sooner. It’s a short 11 tracks, clocking in at just over 34 minutes. Here is a link to their website, where they are currently streaming the album. Self-described as “undefinable”, the band has an admirable DIY attitude. I was instantly attracted to their similarities to math-rock acts like Rooftops, Sharks Keep Moving, and early Minus the Bear.
I was intrigued as soon as I heard the chime-like guitar and barely comprehensible radio voice on the intro track “nova”. It flows seamlessly into “if the shoe fits”, which first showcases some of the sonic qualities that make this album great: shimmering guitar lines interweaving over driving, yet loose drums. The vocals are often soft and understated, but perfectly complement the songs. “Lacus veris” is a short instrumental interlude that sets the stage for my favorite track, “oxytocin”. The band's talents are in full display here: bright, contrapuntal guitar melodies, inventive drumming, and perhaps the best lyrics on the album. The vocal performance starts off almost somber, but subtly gains in intensity as the song evolves, before ending in a frenzied instrumental breakdown. The next track “cool side” has an atmospheric intro, briefly recalling the work of Doug Martsch with Built to Spill, before changing tempos and melting brains with a jam that is the spiritual successor to This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic. Another highlight for me is the funky, laid back noodling of “metafog”. Yet again, Shy Guys Says shows a prodigal mastery of changing tempos and dynamics, which keeps me enthralled and my head bobbing. The album is rounded out with the crystalline harmonics of “warp zone”, the appropriately slow drawl of “keanu reeves”, and the ever-intensifying “white space conflict”.
Sucraphrenia is the type of album you can listen to straight through without even realizing it. The songs often flow effortlessly into one another and explore different variations of an overarching musical theme. This combination of creativity and commonality makes Sucraphrenia more than just a collection of songs cobbled together by a young band. It’s a monument to the ability of imperfect humans to work together in harmony towards a shared goal. I’m not sure if Shy Guys Says is actively working on a new album, but I hope they are, because Sucraphrenia shows that these young, talented individuals are more than capable of gelling together to form an original, coherent musical creative force. Maybe there is hope for us after all.
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| This fucking guy... |
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