You and Your Friends by Peach Pit
This could be an album review for Peach Pit’s excellent new project, You and Your Friends. In fact, it was supposed to be. I could tell you about the moving descriptions of troubled love woven throughout the first seven songs. I could tell you about my favorite songs (“Black Licorice;” “Camilla, I’m At Home;” “Second Life with Emily”). I meant to. I even took serious notes. But then I made it back to the song that brought me to the album in the first place. “Live At The Swamp.”
It’s a song that stands apart from every song ahead of it. Things open up with a beachy guitar riff and we jump into the eyes of a person falling in love. They’ve shared some intense experiences, seemingly in a relatively short time. You sort of know that it probably comes to an acrimonious end, but the music invites you to (re)experience the rush of feeling new love. The excitement. The anticipation. The energy.
It’s incredibly danceable. It matches the intensity of the lyrics perfectly, but with a care-free way about it, like our new young couple. Neil Smith’s inflection throughout the song carves up the rhythm and the guitars like a surfer on a wave, cutting it’s own path, but ultimately working well together. The rhythm section is great; Mikey Pascuzzi is impressive on drums, playing with great energy. Peter Wilton provides most of the song’s core on the bass, in a role you might normally get from a rhythm guitar. That’s excellent because it now means both of the guitarists are free to shred. Smith and Chris Vanderkooy do. The verse progression is light and fun, but still sharp. The chorus features some very intricate guitar work, and there’s a nifty little solo towards the end.
The song mirrors the rollercoaster ride that our two characters have been experiencing together. It’s off the rails but it’s fun. It’s like being invited to a party at Holly Golightly’s apartment. Thrilling is really what is comes to, and for me personally, it has some serious one-of-my-favorite-songs-ever potential. You should listen to it. I literally haven’t finished the last 4 songs of this album because I keep repeating Live at the Swamp. Seriously. Go listen to it. I still am. @peachpit17 I promise I’ll finish listening.