I frittered through New England d.i.y music in my younger days. I went to shows in Keene at Local Burger a bit. Those shows were pretty amazing, especially when you had dope bands roll through. I can't drive and never have been able to really so I never got to just roll around and cruise the wider New England d.i.y scene. My brother did drive me to a show with Ramshackle Glory in Worcester Mass. I feel some kind of way about my place I guess. I never had friends in Highschool who liked that kind of punk shit. it would be College before any of my peers cared about that kind of thing, or that seeing bands in cramped gross basements would be considered cool. I only cared because my upstairs neighbors were in a band I loved. Inspite of a more tangential relationship, I still have such a big open soft spot in my heart for New England d.i.y music. I think that's why the new album from The Michael Character is blowing my doors off. or well part of it anyway.
The Michael Character are a punk outfit from Mass. I know very little about them other than Oh Shoot is their 13th album. I have never seen them live. It was released last month on Dollhouse Lightning Records (or printed on physical media through that label). I know when I was in highschool they were on a comp called Please Make Sure Someone's Singin' Somewhere For You, which was more or less my window into the Worcester area, and the broader New England, d. i. y scene. It was a benefit record of sorts for artist Gregory Mckillop, who was a pillar in that scene (and makes music under the name R.U.U.N.E these days). Somewhere recently I found my way listening to them again on Bandcamp and then tonight I saw they had released a new album and here we are. Its 2:29 am and I had to write about them and their intensely political humanity. (It's now December 2nd as I take another swipe at this .(It's now the next year as I take another swipe at this.)
It's noon the next day (the 24th). I am on my second listen of Oh Shoot! today. I was listening on the couch in the living room of my mom's house where I live and wanted to cry so I ran upstairs to grab my laptop so I could write this. Never have I heard music so explicit in its political language be so effective emotionally (well outside of rap). I tend to find folks using the language of politics in describing that which is inherently political breaks all emotional spells they could have cast.
I think the magic to this record is because of the particularly radical nature of the politics and the deep self critique that is on display. This isn't some obtuse liberal protest song. This is a kiln of self imposed pressure about how we as people seeking a radical change in the world go about dedicating all the limbs of our life to that change. A concept that I find carries a lot of weight as a masc white girl. My body just isn't on the meat grinder like some others are. Do I really care enough? I know I care. I read things. I think about things. But do I CARE. That's how white supremacy works, I am draped in security and privileges and wealth. These days I am so comfortable. Am I doing enough inspite of my privileges' and comforts is the greater point here, the songs dealing with this idea of how to know if you are living to your ethics ENOUGH. And deal, in a different way though deal none the less, with the emotional and psychological investments of radical politics. Of course I know these aren't the questions being asked by the singer, but it is how I feel about them. The interior journey I take with my own sense of failure and a deep, almost unyielding desire to recede from life. What the hell can I do for anyone anyway.
I digress. The album doesn't pose these exact questions. If you aren't new to the blog you understand what's happening. I don't really write reviews.
Every track is worth while, there are no duds on this album. There's a bonus track on the Bandcamp now that's kind of annoying. It's now 2 pm. I am on my eight or ninth listen through to Oh Shoot!. Some favorite tracks are starting to emerge. The beauty of this album, as with all great albums, is that every song makes an amazing case for itself, all the while making a singular coherent message. Oh Shoot! is itself a singular entity, made up of some really steller tracks that you can latch onto as individual pieces. The two standouts to me at this point are 'The Social Wage' and 'My Conspiracy Neighbors'. Both I find make a micro cycle for the albums themes of revolutionary politics, critique, history, introspecting, and a deep commitment to the politics of the personal. 'Neighbors' is a particularly vulnerable look into the intersection of radical politics and personal, communal relationships. "Problem is I kind of feel like I am better." I feel like its a rarer cut to admit you're the asshole in any situation. That you're the one looking down or out at someone else. I will never not respect that kind of transparency in songwriting.
A similar moment happens on 'New Song 9' when the singer belts " When I can barely make it through a day without a lie like/ 'climate crisis is gonna wait for me to buy a house or retire or live a normal life (yeah, right...)" It's probably safe to say we've all thought too little about any of this. All thought climate crisis would stave until we build our pillars of life. Our families, our carriers. Our loves. But alas. Nah. It's coming. Anyone can say they are scared of the coming climate crisis, but not everyone would say they participated in the illusions which keep us from really acting. Political and confessional songwriting that is strengthening, damn near healing.
I love this album. It's frankly probably my favorite album of last year. It sound amazing; the guitars are chunky, the little sounds and noises add beautiful texture as do the pianos, the bass keeps the low end full and moving, what sparse percussion all fits perfectly, the singing is breathtaking. The recording was limited due to Covid restrictions, done in a more decentralized manner. it's so wonderful to behold the byproduct of met and surpassed limitations. The songs feel so whole and of themselves, not lacking or in need of anything else. Whatever the influences are doesn't feel painfully obvious or overly flaunted. They just feel like beautiful songs. a record which seamlessly runs the gamut from the historical macro to the neighborly micro. As essential a release as I can imagine for our times. In the liner notes it says that this isn't considered a full The Michael Character record. I can't decide if I find that derisive to this masterpiece that is Oh Shoot! or gets me really fucking stoked for their next full record.
