A track that especially stood out to me on his debut full-length Forget I Brought It Up actually opened the record. Titled “Barstools and Haircuts,” this song has an almost surf-rock vibe with vocals that reminded me a little of the band Wavves. It may seem like an upbeat, lighthearted song, but the lyrics are a bit heavier than I expected. Gordon identifies as straight-edge, which is often reflected in his music. He challenges what is commonly accepted in society, which I find commendable because many artists stay away from controversial topics. This goes against the stereotype of emo music because it remains predominantly about heartbreak and relationships.

 

Another track that caught my attention was the relatable “Revelation Summer.” It narrates the internal dialogue of someone questioning whether or not what he has been doing really has much meaning. The guitar part in the beginning of the song is what initially drew me to it, reminding me of something that could have been from an old Title Fight song. The riff gives it a drone-like feeling, adding to the slightly somber message of the song without having it be too sluggish, which often makes songs too much of a bummer.

 

Sounding rather unique from the rest of the album, “Kerouac Ending” was one I also particularly liked. I liked the instrumental part of this song above the rest;, it has a lot of energy, is really catchy, and the guitar tone sounds especially pretty. The guitar starts out really crunchy and somewhat distorted, then shifting to a cleaner tone which drives most of the song’s powerful energy.

 

Forget I Brought It Up, Grey Gordon’s debut album, is available on No Sleep Records’ website as a digital download, CD, and cream or tri-colored LP. I was really excited to be assigned this artist to review, because I recently booked him to play a show at my house venue in Savannah, GA, The Bomb Shelter. I am ecstatic to see him play live in my living room! Also after having to review this album, I have probably listened to it enough to be able to sing along to every song. You can sing along to the tracks from this album on any of his tour dates with The Fossil Youth