By Ted McLendon
The Everydays
Sometime Trooper
so local it hurts records, 2000
The name "The Everydays" describes this band beautifully. With a sensibility for delicate nuances, these songs were written not to conquer great worldly issues, but only to reflect on the details of daily life. I find that very comforting. It seems that all too often, bands strike out with some sort of social agenda. They take it upon themselves to be adversaries of political injustice and social ails.
This works sometimes, if the songwriter is particularly skilled in sociology, like Billy Bragg. For the most part though, "agenda-oriented" bands spend so much time focusing on their indignation that their songwriting suffers and they simply become annoying. In contrast, what makes the Everydays so enjoyable is that the focus of the lyrics is entirely self-indulgent.
Justin, who writes all of The Everydays’ material, writes about the elements of his own emotions. His songs are very personal, and as a result, very original. Sometime Trooper is an exploration of a broad span of emotions. From the existential unease of "following a suit" to the nostalgic sentiment of "Chicago aftertaste" and around the depths of shyness in "sometime trooper", one finds a genuine sense of humanity. The spans of this self-search reveal a level of maturity that is remarkably refreshing, as well as admirable. For the music market, it seems, is plagued with bands whose only expressed emotion is anger.
While anger is certainly a valid emotion, to focus on it and not evolve beyond it is counter progressive. It limits the capacity of where the music can go. The Everydays don’t suffer such limitations. In compliment to the compelling lyrics of Sometime Trooper, the musical composition is very diverse. Series of overdubbing creates rich textures that are constantly changing gears. A song will slide along sleepily and rise to a fully energetic boogie. A great example of this is "electric punk", which teeming with Smiths references had me smiling instantly.
In overview, this is an album of gripping song writing and lyrical niceties that lacks any pretension. The amateur production quality and modest equipment used also add a feeling of authenticity that gives Sometime Trooper a very comfortable feeling.
This is an album I definitely recommend spending some time with.
If you want to obtain a copy of Sometime Trooper, you can call Luna Music in Indianapolis, Indiana (317) 875-5862, or email me: thmclendon@yahoo.com