Song of the Week: The Smile Are Watching on “Wall of Eyes”
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The post Song of the Week: The Smile Are Watching on “Wall of Eyes” appeared first on Consequence.
Song of the Week is Consequence‘s weekly series that highlights the latest and greatest new tunes. Find these newfavorites and more on our Spotify Top Songs playlist, and for other great songs from emerging artists, check out our Spotify New Sounds playlist. This week, The Smile return with a deceptively complex, plainly beautiful new jam.
Since making their debut last year, Radiohead offshoot The Smile have kept busy. Following an introductory slew of singles and their first full-length, A Light for Attracting Attention, the trio has issued two live albums, kept up a rigorous touring schedule (get tickets to their upcoming tour here), and even stopped by a particularly famous desk. Now, just as Jonny Greenwood promised Consequence in June, the act is already back with the announcement for their sophomore LP, Wall of Eyes, dropping the title track as the new set’s second teaser.
Upon first listen, “Wall of Eyes” comes across like a dreamy, samba-like jam, complete with softly strummed acoustic guitar chords, irregular auxiliary percussion, and string embellishments. It’s a sonic landscape reminiscent of the song’s cover art: surreal, baron, and beautiful. All the while, Thom York’s voice delicately prances over top the instrumentation, resulting in a combination of sounds that’s utterly hypnotic.
Then, in the second half, the tune reveals its complexity. Backing vocals from York begin to count from one to five, and all of a sudden it becomes clear — the song is in syncopated 5/4 time. And yet, somehow, the tune is far from a heady math-rock ripper. Thanks to the tight performances, creative production decisions, and jaw-dropping melodies, the tune remains dizzyingly danceable and easily enjoyable. It’s kinda like sneaking vegetables into brownies.
The deceptively peaceful world of “Wall of Eyes” eventually comes under attack, as achromatic, arrhythmic electric guitar lines infiltrate the shuffling rhythm. It’s very Yorkian, extremely Greenwood-esque, and held together by invisible hand of Tom Skinner. Ultimately, it’s the sound of three boundless musicians with enough ideas to span several lifetimes. Keep ’em coming, boys, keep ’em coming.
— Jonah Krueger
Editorial Coordinator
Honorable Mentions
Allie X — “Girl with No Face”
Allie X is an artist through and through, and her songwriting feels intrinsically tied to her mind-bending visuals. Take her latest single, “Girl with No Face,” as an example; the deceptively bright, ’80s-inspired beat and dance floor charm sit in stark contrast with the haunting, eerie visual. Allie X also genuinely seems to care about the craft of a great pop song, and where all too few singles these days feature an actual bridge or let their songs stretch beyond three minutes, she revels in it. — Mary Siroky
Boldy James and Nicholas Craven — “Brand New Chanel Kicks”
Detroit-based rapper Boldy James reunites with Canadian producer Nicholas Craven to continue their hot streak with “Brand New Chanel Kicks.” Following a nearly fatal car crash earlier this year, the track finds James in a much more somber mindset than before, reflecting on drug use, past actions, and the process of healing. Rapping about dealing with physical therapy and being stuck in rehab, he soars overtop the Craven’s sample-heavy production despite the many ailments he touches on. The song should give fans plenty of reasons to be excited for another collaborative album from the two, following last year’s highlight Fair Exchange No Robbery. — Aidan Sharp-Moses
Danny Brown — “Hamani”
The penultimate track for his highly anticipated album Quaranta, “Hamani” finds Danny Brown reflecting on the struggles of aging. “They say age catchin’ up, so I’m runnin’ from death/ I done walked through the fire, trippin’ on Heaven’s steps,” he reflects. Despite the tragic undertones and lyrics referencing his friends being in prison for trying to get pampers for their kids, it’s ultimately a hopeful song — the most hopeful we have heard from Brown in a long time. A smooth, reflective track from one of the underground kings of rap, Brown’s decision to swap his trademark wit for laidback introspection has led to yet another highlight in his already impressive discography. — A. Sharp-Moses
Mama Zu — “Lip”
It’s been six years since Those Darlins frontwoman Jessi Zazu passed away from cancer, but her voice reigns on in this new single from Mama Zu, the project Zazu formed with Those Darlins drummer Linwood Regensburg over five years ago. Regensburg understandably shelved the material the two were working on following the loss of Zazu in 2017, but has now returned to the project these years later, saying the decision to pick up the unfinished work was “both for her sake and for my own sanity level.”
Even without knowing the backstory here, there’s something undeniably cathartic about the first single, “Lip,” all fuzzy guitars and dynamic percussion. When hearing Zazu confidently sing, “I won’t take no lip from the devil/ I won’t take no lip from you,” you have no choice but to believe her. — M. Siroky
Shaina Hayes — “New Favorite”
Along with the announcement of her new album Kindergarten Heart, Montreal singer-songwriter Shaina Hayes has also shared the delightful single “New Favorite.” The song’s verses are syncopated, with stops and starts and the occasional loud whack of a drum. But when she gracefully enters the chorus, it’s like the world around her has come to life. Harmonies gently swirl around her as she requests “Can we get lost in our days?,” the sunshine beaming, anxieties laid to rest. It’s the perfect track for a Sunday morning and a cup of coffee, and throughout, Hayes sounds truly radiant. — Paolo Ragusa
Teens in Trouble – “Sharon”
“My therapist ghosted me for six months” is one hell of an opening line, and, according to songwriter Lizzie Killian, a true story. Over a power-pop rager of a tune, Killian goes on to do the math, magically turning missed therapy sessions into enough savings to buy a shiny new guitar. But alas, “I don’t need a new guitar/ I just need someone to talk to.” Don’t we all. Thankfully, cathartic, fun tracks like “Sharon” can help heal the wounds left by mental health professionals acting like Tinder matches. — J. Krueger
RXKNephew and Harry Fraud — “Dub 4 U”
Prolific, hilarious, and irreverent Rochester rapper RXKNephew joins forces with legendary producer Harry Fraud for a whole project of punchlines, pairing his rowdy energy with Fraud’s smooth, upbeat productions. On this highlight from LIFE AFTER NEPH, RXKNephew slides right in with his trademark wit, opening the verse with “I walked in, I’m too clean, baby get off me/ Just ’cause you beautiful you can’t be bossy.” Despite trading in his cloud rap-inspired beats for a much jazzier base, the tape shows that Neph doesn’t lose his trademark personality. — A. Sharp-Moses
Wishy — “Too True”
On the heels of their great new single “Donut” and a brief tour opening for Tanukichan, Wishy are back with another warm, blissed out-offering, “Too True.” This time, Kevin Krauter takes the lead, and his crystalline vocals sound perfect above the band’s sour, fuzzy guitars. The song’s chord structure isn’t necessarily complex, but each resolve seems to happen almost unexpectedly — especially when the chorus and concludes and Krauter lands on the edict “We can never go back to the same place.” Despite the wash of distorted guitars and occasional sonic tension, there’s a peaceful nature to “Too True,” and it’s as irresistible as ever. — P. Ragusa
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Song of the Week: The Smile Are Watching on “Wall of Eyes”
Jonah Krueger
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