Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “You're Out Wasting” by Andy Shauf from the 2015 album The Bearer of Bad News on Tender Loving Empire.
Andy Shauf - You're Out Wasting (MP3)
In his debut LP, The Bearer of Bad News, Andy Shauf displays all the trappings of a pop genius. Meticulously structured arrangements featuring clarinets and other non-traditional pop instruments conspire with melancholy and self-doubting lyrics to paint the familiar portrait of a loner artist toiling away in quiet, if not abject solitude. The fact that Shauf self-recorded nearly every instrument on the album in his parent’s basement does nothing to dissuade this image. But if the Saskatchewan based artist is indeed the messenger to whom the album title refers, than his work is the stuff of of alchemy, transforming inner angst to sonic gold. No songs proves this more than “You’re Out Wasting”, where little decisions such as using kick and cymbals but no snare and featuring ragtime-esque piano in only brief, sample-like snippets all add up to drastically alter the landscape of an otherwise minimalist track. As Shauf belabors himself in illuminating the abstract darkness of a busying mind, his musings provide a sort of security blanket for any in search of the more illusive meanings behind life’s bad news.
Andy Shauf is coming to Seattle on November 21st for a show at The Crocodile, the last of his world tour. For more dates and other news from the Canadian artist, check out his website and facebook. Enjoy the video for “I’m Not Falling Asleep”, also off his debut LP, below:
Check out some of the KEXP DJ’s favorite artists from the Pacific Northwest and around the world on-the-go. KEXP’s Music That Matters weekly podcast brings you an exclusive mix of new music from the world’s best independent artists.
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Aft…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Mid…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Aft…
