Tamar Berk has always been one of the centers in the indie-pop rock scene ever since her debut, and with her music being compared to the likes of Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift, this California-based indie-pop rock musician will surely take your world by storm. With all the craze and spotlight directed at her because of the successful release of her last album, “Tiny Injuries,” expectations and anticipations for her next move have been sky-high. Now, the suspense and the long wait are over: her new album “Good Times for a Change” is just another classic, baring her intimate messages through her well-written lyrics and great vocal performances. This album is truly just a banger!
“Good Impression” serves as an introductory song for this whole album, setting the mood for it through its classic pop-rock vibe. In this track, Tamar fearlessly faces her own self-doubt and insecurity and expresses her clear desire to make good changes in her life despite all the history of her struggles with first impressions. The repeated line “I’m going to make a good impression on you” affirms and reflects one of the most common internal struggles in humanity: the universal desire to be liked, accepted, and understood.
The track “That’s Not a Lie” keeps the full attention of the listeners to this album with its good build-up that creates this tension because of its chill yet intensified instrumentality throughout the song, and the pain of being misunderstood because of miscommunication becomes its core theme. With the line “You said I was cruel, but there’s no evidence of said ridicule,” Tamar dives deep into the complex problems of the relationship as well as the struggle and the pain of being gaslighted in a relationship.
Good Times for a Change is an emotional album; it is packed with straightforward messages written through each of the lines of each song. The tracks “Sorrow is Hunting” and “Book of Change” definitely capture your full attention with the way they are produced, written, and performed. “Book of Change”, is about internal struggles, regrets, and, at the same time, fear of being too comfortable with what she’s currently feeling, although it is all about pain. But in the end, she recognizes her need for help through the line “God, help me to change,” which is also a plea that resonates deeply with those who are overwhelmed with their own doubts and pressures to become different.
On the other hand, “Sorrow is Hunting” is a slow rock track that goes about the journey of going through sorrows in life. This track clearly depicts how relentless “sorrow” is in invading your life—it demands your attention, it demands to be felt, and you can’t just ignore it. With the song’s catchy melody, this track is an immediate standout, as it properly highlights how hard and urgent it is to deal with one’s emotional struggles.
There’s no denying that Tamar is best at capturing the whole essence of a theme and putting it into her crafts, be it in life, something personal, or in relationships. She can carefully pluck out the right words to describe her emotions, as specifically highlighted through tracks “Chicago” and “Artful Dodger.” Chicago is nostalgia. This is a personal favorite track for this whole album. It carries this message of missing the comfort of home, specifically during the hard times that you experience as you go out to explore the world. On the other hand, Artful Dodger goes on with the familiar conflicting emotions of dealing with relationships where actions and words do not align. This track perfectly captures how messy it can get when miscommunication and heightened emotions occur. “I Don’t Mind,” “You Trigger Me,” “Millennium Park,” “I’ll Come to the Rescue,” “Be My Friend,” and “Comin’ Around to Me Again” are also featured in this collection, and like many others in this collection, these songs are just as good!
Good Times for a Change deserves the spotlight and your full attention. Tamar Berk has continued to evolve as an artist through and through, and with this latest album, she exceeded expectations. Each track has perfectly captured the struggles of understanding oneself, the emotions of longing, regret, loneliness, and the complexities of being a human, and their experiences have been packed into one single collection that is engaging, enjoyable, and at the same time heartfelt. So, check out Good Times for a Change, now available on your favorite streaming platform! Catch Tamar Berk on her latest shows, and click on her link tree link to follow all her social media accounts to get updated on her new shows and new music!
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About the Author
Tine Quirino, also known as Kristine, is a writer (frustrated one), a dreamer (serial sleeper), an INFJ (also INTP/J), a (professional) fangirl, and a good listener (‘literally and figuratively,’ she states).
She is just here, lurking somewhere, enjoying all your music. Music of any kind is still music, after all.
