Thursday, November 16, 2017

"Number One Hit Of The Summer (Fade Out)" by Noah Gundersen – A Song Review

     Indie Obsessive admires risk-takers. In music, reinventing yourself after gaining traction is a career-jeopardizing move. There will almost certainly be some alienated fans. Sure, there are examples of successful reinventions (two examples are David Bowie first entering and then leaving his Ziggy Stardust phase; Radiohead’s “OK Computer" is another example). But some reinventions fail, miserably.

     Noah Gundersen took a chance with his release of the album “White Noise.” Gundersen was experiencing success as an Indie Folk singer/songwriter. His concert performances were praised and more than one single found the way onto a TV show soundtrack. So, “White Noise” is a modern-day equivalent to Bob Dylan walking onto the stage at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival with electric guitar in hand.

     We are in favor of the reinvention. Two songs from the latest album are embedded below. It’s not merely a heavier reliance on the electric guitar. "Number One Hit Of The Summer (Fade Out)" includes synth-generated warbles and other elements of Psychedelia. Noah Gundersen now has a more energetic, ready-to-experiment persona.

     Quoting press materials:
  “’Number One Hit Of The Summer (Fade Out)’ perfectly articulates Gundersen’s artistic vision – a gonzo American road trip painted in sun-drenched Californian guitars and smooth vocals. 'Is this the good life you were imagining?' Noah asks, Tied up and tired of everything.' The upbeat Indie-Pop vibe of the single is struck through with subtle discordances, like blood in the water. Playing with genre and sound in a manner reminiscent of Thom Yorke and Kurt Vile, ‘Number One Hit Of The Summer (Fade Out)’ is an intoxicating blend of youthful frustration and euphoric release, from an artist at the peak of his abilities.”

     "Number One Hit Of The Summer (Fade Out)" by Noah Gundersen


Lyrics of "Number One Hit Of The Summer (Fade Out)"
Is this the good life
You were imagining
Tied up and tired
Of everything

Overreacting
Everyone's laughing
Totally distracted
Just one of the masses
Cut up, cut up to pieces

(Ooh, ooh, ooh...)

Deer in the headlights
Frozen in the street
Head above the water
Still swimmin' up stream

Fade in, fade out
A car crash
We can't stop now
When everybody's watching you drown
So fade out

All of the bodies
Up against the line
Coming over
One at a time

The only way out
Of this god damn landfill
Number one hit of the summer
You can go and fuck yourself

Fade in, fade out
A car crash
We can't stop now
When everybody's watching you drown
So fade out
Fade in, fade out
A car crash
We can't stop now
When everybody's watching you drown
So fade out
Fade out

(Ooh, ooh, ooh...)

"The Sound" by Noah Gundersen


2018 Tour Schedule
Jan 18, 2018 - Wild Buffalo, Bellingham, WA
Jan 19, 2018 - The Bartlett, Spokane, WA
Jan 20, 2018 - Top Hat , Missoula, MT
Jan 21, 2018 - Pub Station, Billings, MT
Jan 23, 2018 - Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO
Jan 25, 2018 -  recordBar, Kansas City, MO
Jan 26, 2018 - Off Broadway, St Louis, MO
Jan 27, 2018 - Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL
Jan 28, 2018 - HI-FI, Indianapolis, IN
Jan 30, 2018 - Southgate House Revival, Newport, KY
Jan 31, 2018 - Skully's, Columbus, OH
Feb 01, 2018 - Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI
Feb 02, 2018 - Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
Feb 03, 2018 - Rex Theater, Pittsburgh, PA
Feb 05, 2018 - The Haunt, Ithaca, NY
Feb 06, 2018 - Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
Feb 07, 2018 - Port City Music Hall, Portland, ME
Feb 08, 2018 - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
Feb 10, 2018 - The Southern, Charlottesville, VA
Feb 11, 2018 - Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, NC
Feb 12, 2018 - Pour House, Charleston, SC
Feb 13, 2018 - Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA
Feb 14, 2018 - Proud Larry's, Oxford, MS
Feb 16, 2018 - Common Grounds, Waco, TX
Feb 17, 2018 - ACM Performance LAB, Oklahoma City, OK
Feb 20, 2018 - Santa Fe Brewing Co, Santa Fe, NM
Feb 22, 2018 - The Wayfarer, Costa Mesa, CA
Feb 23, 2018 - The Siren, Morro Bay, CA
Feb 24, 2018 - Sweetwater, Mill Valley, CA
Feb 25, 2018 - Harlow's, Sacramento, CA
Mar 05, 2018 - The Borderline, London, United Kingdom
Mar 07, 2018 - Festival del Millenni - El Molino, Barcelona, Spain
Mar 08, 2018 - Cafe Berlin, Madrid, Spain
Mar 10, 2018 - Serraglio, Milan, Italy
Mar 12, 2018 - Bogen F, Zurich, Switzerland
Mar 14, 2018 - Nachtleben, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
Mar 15, 2018 - Artheater, Köln, Germany
Mar 16, 2018 - Lantaren Venster, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Mar 17, 2018 - Hakken, Hamburg, Germany
Mar 19, 2018 - Atlas, Aarhus, Denmark
Mar 20, 2018 - Lille Vega, København V, Denmark
Mar 21, 2018 - John Dee, Oslo, Norway
Mar 22, 2018 - Bryggarsalen, Stockholm, Sweden
Mar 23, 2018 - Folk a Rock, Malmo, Sweden

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