“You put your toys away
Tried to remember your face
You left with the dogs again
And she’s at the back again”

Artist: The Twilight Sad
Song: “I Could Give You All That You Don’t Want”
Album: Nobody Wants To Be Here And Nobody Wants To Leave
Year: 2014

Song Meaning

It’s like, “Hey, I’m right here! I’m a good guy!” while this immature girl gallivants with the toolbags and ragamuffins. Then she gets burned one too many times and swears off all men. Or so I gather.

Glasgow in Gloom

The Twilight Sad puts me in a different place emotionally. I don’t know if it’s the thick, burly vocals mixed with the atmospheric grunge melodies, but the music just feels so… desolate. This should be expected given the band’s fitting name.

Does anyone else ever feel that? Certain bands just have this deep, overpowering flavor that weighs your chest with uncomfortable emotion. The music doesn’t take my breath away, but it does complicate breathing. Goodness, I am not explaining this well.*

The Twilight Sad has one of the more unique sounds I’ve heard in recent years. I’m listening to their catalog right now on a bright summer day but I feel stuck in a grey marsh. The music is so thick with solemnity that is has rendered my surrounding stimuli ineffective. These songs refuse to remain background noise.

This is more a testament to sensational songwriting and the performance behind it. The Twilight Sad’s newer material features bolder vocals, giving a forceful gravity to the mood their trying to set. I can’t find an uplifting song in the bunch. “The Airport,” perhaps? Maybe Glasgow, their homeland, is void of all color.

Yes, I am recommending this band to you.

A funny thing how even the most gloomy music can bring joy to a listener. Try it and see!

Random Notes

• I’m a sucker for big, crushing bridges. And don’t worry, we’ve got a great one here (“This sill-ayy li’l girl’s gone shy/Don’t da-hre, don’t you da-hre say no”).
• Singer James Graham’s accent is so thick, I can’t decipher some of the lyrics. I love it so much.
• *Other notable bands that put me in a weird emotional space that I have a hard time explaining: Smashing Pumpkins, Silversun Pickups, Alien Ant Farm.
• I would see this band live. Googles “Twilight Sad Kansas City.” Sees they performed here a year ago. Hangs head.