Did you know that as of Q1 of 2023, we had a report of 120,000 songs being published daily? I mean that’s A LOT, and with that number comes a lot of competition, but look no further. Let me narrow it down a little bit.
Just a few days ago, The Indestructible Water Bear released their debut album titled “Everything is OK.” Join me as I break the album down and explain why it’s a game-changer.
The melodic guitar lick in the intro to “A Thousand Suns” created this coming-of-age feel because of the open chord structure. I don’t know, but I feel like if a track starts with this open melodic chord lick, it sets off a positive vibe for the overall track.
The chord progression of the whole track is something to ponder. It’s not your simple I-V-IV-V or I-V-vi-IV chord progression. No, no, no, my friend. It’s way more complicated than that.
Gail Farmer’s tone of voice is perfectly suited for that alternative/indie sound of the band. In other words, beneath that impressive chord progression and fuzzy tone, there’s this reverbed angelic voice sitting perfectly in between the guitar, bass, and drums. It’s not too strong, not too sweet, but just the right amount.
I’ve listened to “I Walk the Night” a couple of times, and you know what made it the best track (in my opinion) of this LP? Let me start with the percussive intro.
When I first listened to it, it felt off. It’s not your typical percussive pattern, which usually just hits anything to make sure that it’s in time, but it stayed with the high tone toms, then a pause, then to add more depth and character, it ended in the floor toms. That’s very close to what I call a “Ringo pattern!”
Another thing I want to point out is that the song is in a 6/8 time signature. For all our non-musician friends, in the vast majority of today’s music, artists use 4/4 because it’s flexible and simple. Using a 6/8 time signature requires a little extensive knowledge to pull it off. That is the reason why “I Walk the Night” has this swing and poetic feel.
And I have to give credit where credit is due. Gail’s vocals came in at beat 4, whereas in most songs in 6/8, the vocals come in at beat 1, 3, or 5. That’s a hard thing to pull off!
For me, the hero of the track “Missing You” is Jimish Mehta. In the intro alone, you can hear the bass line supporting the whole track. The bass line is not your typical bass line that hits all the notes in the scale. It’s hitting notes that are not in the scale but work well with the overall track.
“My Baseline” is another 6/8 track. I mean, pulling off one is impressive, but having two is like a whole other level.
The thing about “My Baseline” is that it’s the outlier of the bunch because of the approach. It sounds and feels like a song from the 80s because of that swing feel but has this indie rock touch because of the heavy lead part towards the end of the track, plus that walking bass line.
I mean, what more can I say about “The Center of the Universe Smells Like Raspberries?” It has this creative bass line that carries the whole track, plus that ambient guitar effect that adds a different character to the track.
What I love about The Indestructible Water Bear is that every track on this LP offers something different, making this an album to watch out for. This LP is a must-listen because it’s not just a bunch of songs added to an LP; it’s a showcase of musicianship and creativity.
The track “Nothing Will Be the Same” is geared towards that indie grunge sound because of the guitar lick, the overall progression of the song, and just that fuzzy kind of distorted guitar tone.
In between that strong guitar tone, you have Gail Farmer’s commanding and angelic voice. The contrast is what makes this track interesting.
And to end the LP, we have “Everything is OK.” It kicks off with this fuzzy and heavy progression of the guitar and drums, and honestly, this is the most watered-down track of the LP, which is a perfect gateway for new fans.
Overall, the “Everything is OK” LP is a game-changer because of the level of musicianship and skills that The Indestructible Water Bear showed. It’s not a well-balanced album. It’s a showcase, and I’m lucky to have reviewed it.
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About the Author
He has been in the music industry for two and a half decades. Currently, he plays bass guitar for a rock-reggae band called EnjointPh and a funk-fusion trio called Banky. He also hosts a podcast titled Usapang Musiko with Ervin Besana, which explores topics such as music, arts, and philosophy.
