Spring has finally arrived so I put on my headphones and fired up Today / Tomorrow by The Beatniks for a first listen while doing some much-needed housework. The songs flowed effortlessly and my mind wandered as I focused on my chores. Before I knew it the opening track, Another Day, was being repeated for the third time.
Not once had I reached for the volume control, the skip button or even felt like I needed to listen to something else. This is no mean feat as I am someone who “likes what he knows” and I am regularly admonished by Spotify’s AI DJ for repeatedly skipping entire new music recommendations with barely a second of play.
Today / Tomorrow has a polished sound yet retains an indie feel. The experimental/progressive elements of all the songs are carefully contained and well planned, nothing feels out-of-control or thrown haphazardly together. Each track also provides just a hint of nostalgia (for me anyway) to trigger that dopamine comfort we all tend to seek in the familiar sounds of our adolescence.
I feel like the opening single, Another Day (a separate review for this song can be found on this site) was heavily influenced by Tom Petty’s Breakdown. It starts as a minimalistic jazz-like arrangement with soft lyrics and an Avant Garde delivery that gives way to howling gritty blues. The video for this song is on YouTube and well worth a watch.
This is followed by the brilliant Kettle Song, a delicate acoustic folk/slide guitar instrumental that develops slowly and segues perfectly into the Sabbath-crunching offering of Torn where singer Sam Charlesworth switches between raging and exhausted resignation with his delivery of the lyrics.
The short, punchy Niksick has a jittery energy similar to the Violent Femmes. The verses are urgent and desperate but resolve into a focused rock chorus. Part of me wishes that this song went on for another verse, however I also think the abrupt nature of this song highlights just how well planned and executed this whole EP is.
With Confessions and Leave Me (To Tomorrow) it’s almost impossible not to make the comparison with Radiohead. Guitar-driven Confessions varies from jangling and clean to distorted and dripping with effects. Sam’s vocals range from a sad mumble to bitterly tortured and frustrated. Confessions could slide easily into The Bends. While Leave Me (To Tomorrow) with its multiple musical themes punctuated by abrupt tempo changes and singing that evolves from soulful to ethereal with a touch of melancholy, could float its way into OK Computer.
As an EP, Today / Tomorrow is an eclectic mix of songs that, rather than being a sampler, is more of a journey through The Beatniks’ creative process. A thoroughly enjoyable listen.
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About the author Sean Moynihan
“I used to be with ‘it’, but then they changed what ‘it’ was. Now, what I’m with isn’t ‘it’, and what’s ‘it’ seems weird and scary to me. It’ll happen to you…”
