"Sent the word out on the wire / You need to know what will transpire / I hope you get my message soon / The cold is coming any day (The cold is coming any day)..."
The emotional sucker punch of "Wire" by kevin. stuff. and things., the project name of Denver, Colorado based singer-songwriter / multi-instrumentalist Kevin McDonald, hits me squarely in the stomach wet with tears (figuratively speaking). It took a couple of listens and quite frankly the musical shapes, constructions are pretty simple. No weird switch ups or sonic abstractions and I only bring that up for those who visit this little blog and know that I gravitate to the wonky, to the poetically vague, to things that feel obtuse in some way. I do have many tastes and like a lot of things. Sometimes there is a crack in my sometimes cynical skin that a piece of art will penetrate and move me in strong ways. This is what happened when listening to "Wire".
Of course, it is not just that one thing (more on that later) that gets to me while listening to this inspired piece of work. There is so much lovely things going on that veers artfully away from normie music. The austere sad synths that fall somewhere between strings, mellotron-esque, vocoder choir-esque are beautifully melancholy and, god, I like when all those things mimic organic voicings. There is something vintage sci-fi that makes it feel so forlorn. I love, for example, how Radiohead uses the choir electronica textures in songs. McDonald's vocal countenance feels purely wrought and he can belt it out and his self harmonies are extremely magnetic here adding gravitas. Then there are the military-esque drum beats that feel like funeral touchstones. All this universe building feels poignant, feels cinematic.
But the emotional spearhead that penetrated straight through to my heart (expressed throughout the entire song really) feels most crushing via this lyrical passage:
We think about you everyday
I wonder if you feel the same
Maybe we don't have the right
To wonder where you'll sleep tonight
Or if you'll hear us call your name"
As a parent, it sums up my darkest fiction and non fictional stories in my head. Stories to personal to reveal but stories just the same that if recounted would turn me into putty instantly.
"Wire" is from the kevin. stuff. and things. eleven track debut album "(Dis)Connected" that dropped in February. [Kevin wrote, recorded, produced the entire endeavor from his home in Denver, CO, with a focus on songwriting first and foremost. He hopes to serve as a reminder that dreams do not come with an expiration date.] Dip into a song or two and then dive into more.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvHocwJFXqh1oBZFE0CdrCg
https://www.instagram.com/kevinstuffandthings
Kevin McDonald (aka “kevin. stuff. and things.”) grew up with music as an important part of his life. But upon leaving college, he turned his back on music, and stayed away for decades. He’s finally attempting a reconciliation with all he walked away from via his debut album, “(dis)connected”. Kevin wrote, recorded, produced the entire endeavor from his home in Denver, CO, with a focus on songwriting first and foremost. He hopes to serve as a reminder that dreams do not come with an expiration date.
kevin. stuff. and things., singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, Kevin McDonald, indie rock, alternative, folk, storytelling, organic, electronica, post rock, "Wire", debut album, “(dis)connected”,
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