Strange Names - Use Your Time Wisely

Strange Names
Use Your Time Wisely
2015

Many artists are looking for that "Song of the Summer" moniker that is going to set their career ablaze and change everything we thought we knew about music. Many try, most fail. Strange Names seems to be on that trajectory even though they aren't trying. The Minneapolis trio follow in the hallowed footsteps of acts like Prince and Morris Day & The Time coming out of the twin cities. Their preferred genre though is more Pop Rock with driving deep bass lines and the occasional syth run. Their production and album releases read like Indie royalty: released an EP with White Iris Records (Best Coast, Fool’s Gold), are signed to Frenchkiss (Bloc Party, Local Natives) and recorded their album with Andrew Maury (who produced and mixed Panama Wedding), with mastering by Joe LaPorta (Vampire Weekend, Parquet Courts, Beach House). They’ve opened for Yeasayer, Mac DeMarco and the Walkmen and are going on tour with Azealia Banks this summer. Use Your Time Wisely is an example of when great writing and catchy hooks come together and make something great.

The themes in many of Strange Names' songs can be dark, but the brightness of the music elevates the songs to newer greater levels. There is a tinge of avant-garde in the music which Strange Names have admitted needing to keep in check but it's never too experimental or too out there to be unapproachable. "Overused Phrase" is probably the most experimental track on the record with it's almost floating style but the crystal clear vocals never let it slip to far into the art rock style. This record really sounds so well produced like it was a very distinct directive, but it never comes across as inorganic, everything flows beautifully track to track, minute to minute. Use Your Time Wisely is a really great record and you can expect to hear big things from Strange Names in the upcoming future. Get Ready.

8.3 out of 10