“Guard Dog” album cowl
“A Guard Dog with a death wish, in the center of the ring, I lose.” This lyric comes from the second observe of Searows’ Sept. 30, 2022 debut album launch “Guard Dog,” titled “Roadkill.” It units the tone for the album’s idea of a guard canine with a loss of life want, an analogy used to explain an individual who’s at their restrict in life, wishing to rid themselves of the burden of existence. Despite this, a guard canine needs to guard these they love from ache, guarding them towards all hurt with the loyalty of a canine.
The entire album was written and recorded on GarageBand by Alec Duckart, often known as Searows, an up-and-coming indie, folks musician based mostly in Portland, Oregon. The following dissection of this album exhibits the way it flew too far under-the-radar and ought to be appreciated by SLU’s campus as a lot as “Punisher,” “Folklore” or “Sling.”
This theme of an amazing want to guard others is heard all through the album. In the observe “Used To Be Friends,” Duckart particulars an abusive friendship the place he feels tossed round and thrown to the bottom. But, regardless of all of the mistreatment, he cries out, “I never wanted you to take the fall,” exhibiting that he longs to guard even these which are the worst to him, as guard dogs typically do.
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Duckart being based mostly within the Pacific Northwest is a truth that’s unattainable to separate from his sound. One can almost hear the rain and fogginess in each tune. It is stripped again instrumentally, almost completely utilizing guitars and his siren-like voice to create a sound that’s unsettling, but attractive.
Duckart’s songwriting, masking themes of remorse, defeat and mistreatment, is harking back to Phoebe Bridgers, each managing to make the listener grieve occasions and loves misplaced that they by no means had an opportunity to expertise. The greatest think about garnishing this comparability between the artists is little question Duckart’s voice.
Searows has a sound that enchants the listener and undoubtedly reminds them of Bridgers’ extra soul-crushing songs like “Funeral” and “Waiting Room.” “Guard Dog” serves as an appropriate addition till Bridgers’ third report lastly releases and listeners notice Searows’ work little question holds its personal.
This is obvious from the second the report begins, as on the primary observe, “Start,” you’re instantly greeted by Duckart’s buzzing overlaid with what appears like a toddler talking. Hearing these sounds distinction, it’s arduous to pinpoint if it sounds endearing or horror-esque. It is an expertise of unnerving magnificence, not not like “Halloween” by Bridgers. One might hearken to the sound of his voice and instrumentation and get goosebumps-not figuring out if they’re from the wonder, the haunting environment or each. This creates an expertise, particularly because the leaves change and the climate cools, that you don’t want to overlook out on.
The concept of this sound shouldn’t be misplaced on Duckart, as noticed within the aptly named observe “Haunted,” the place he leans into this idea of an unsettling love tune. He particulars grieving somebody he’s misplaced and walking round his home hoping it’s haunted by their ghost, simply so he can see them once more. For a lot of the tune, you’re led to consider this particular person really is lifeless, as he even particulars a hallucination of seeing them as an angel throughout the desk from him.
However, in direction of the closing of the tune, he throws that concept within the air with the lyric, “I am a picture in a movie in a moment in your head.” Is this particular person actually lifeless? Or has Alec simply turn into fully insignificant to them, a mere image on the wall of a second within the film of their life? Does this dissolution of involvement in one another’s lives merely really feel like the opposite died?
There is not any absolute reply, nor ought to there be. The fixed ambiguity in Searows’ songwriting appears much like the ideology of David Lynch, who infamously inspired every particular person to derive their very own that means in artwork. To one listener, it might remind them of a liked one who handed; to a different, it reminds them of a greatest buddy who won’t ever converse to them once more. They will each interpret these songs in several, but fully correct, methods. By inserting their very own experiences into the album’s unsure narration, they make the artwork distinctive to them. After all, what’s extra hauntingly stunning than a narrative you helped write?
Searows’ new single, “I Have More Than Enough,” is out now in anticipation of a sophomore album this fall. Listen to it right here:
