One of my writing muses once said to be a good writer, you merely had to “write a lot.” So if everything falls into place my piles of notebooks and endless nights blogging will pay of soon. If not, I’ll just keep trying harder. That thought came to mind not only because I’m not wasting any time on this trip to Wal-Mart, typing out my thoughts on the new Trees Above Mandalay’s Growing Pains but also because they have one song in particular about growing up that touched me profoundly. Not in that way pervert.
Before I get to the sentimental side of why Trees Above Mandalay might’ve created one of my favorite songs of 2013, I’ll clue you into the rest. Lead single “I’m Leading, You’re Biting” came to be second best and showed off the vocal styling of a man who could be a manlier Brendon Urie and the musical ways of an older There For Tomorrow. “As Easy As Breathing” was weird. Okay to be fair, it only starts out weird then continues to play like the rest of the record, but when it started? One could only imagine Keira Knightley in one of her many period piece films dancing in a Victorian gown.
“We Felt Like Astronauts” is the song that made me want to give this band a chance. Often times when I listen to an album for the first time, few words make my head perk up. The line “everyone moves on, don’t let this go” referred (to me) to friends growing up and growing apart. As I listened on repeat to that one line, my heart wrapped around the song as a whole because I notice people growing and changing every day and it sucks. Hey friends, I don’t want to let go, but when you act all high and mighty “adult,” it’s annoying.
Trees Above Mandalay’s Growing Pains kept me busy through checkout lines and bus stop waiting games, and if you’re a fan of bands like Dance Gavin Dance and Mayday Parade, then you’ll gladly let them ease the idea of getting older. Growing Pains is out now, so check it out and be impressed.
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