“Martin” by Car Seat Headrest

It’s been a decade since Car Seat Headrest began quietly and consistently releasing quality music. It’s hard to believe they’ve haven’t penetrated alt radio play on a more regular basis. Aside from “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales,” they haven’t taken hold of the American consciousness in the same way as acts like Tame Impala or even Parquet Courts.

@notcarseatheadrest often expresses ideas that are not quite outside of the box, but box adjacent. The aforementioned “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales,” for example, takes a softer (but still serious) take on drunk drivers. Their songs often seem to have a certain amount of disillusionment with the disillusionment about society, which is rather refreshing.

Well, folks… “Martin”, the band’s latest single is different. It’s about a relationship and it’s kind of has a pop vibe, two things I’m a sucker for. Lead singer Will Toledo croons about a person named Justin, and describes the emotional rollercoaster Justin seems to be putting him on. The song features both acoustic and electric guitars pretty prominently forming a melody that feels simple but is littered with beautiful subtle details. There’s a lot that you can listen for and explore. The imagery of the lyrics is beautiful… with particularly creative illusions to describe both night and morning. The chorus is larger than life as Toledo harmonizes with himself.

In a lot of ways, I’m describing a lot of the band’s catalogue. The energy of Martin, however, is different. It has an energy that feels pop, and somehow slightly more polished than previous releases. Even for a band that always feels like a breath of fresh air, this feels new while also being familiar. “Martin” is a great track that deserves your attention. Car Seat Headrest is on tour now, and Making A Door Less Open is due out May 1st.