Fred Thomas
Aftering
Release Date: Sep 14, 2018
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Experimental Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter
Record label: Polyvinyl
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Album Review: Aftering by Fred Thomas
Great, Based on 2 Critics
Based on rating 8/10
Continuing in the direction of Fred Thomas' previous two albums, the equally outstanding All Are Saved and Changer, Aftering is filled with vivid descriptions of particular moments from throughout the prolific songwriter's life, as well as more general encapsulations of the bleak, uncertain feelings clouding the landscape of late-2010s America. The album is split between concise, adrenalin-spiked garage-pop tunes and more sprawling experimental pieces which sometimes recall Flashpapr, the slowcore group Thomas formed back in the mid-'90s. Throughout the album, numerous past collaborators and tourmates pop up like memories in order to contribute vocals, strings, horns, and additional instruments and textures.
Based on rating 7.5/10
On "Good Times Are Gone Again," the first single from Fred Thomas' new album, nobody's talking about how incredible their summer's been. Maybe they had an incredible summer, but they're sure not gonna talk about it--what an insult that would be to everyone else suffering from this pervasive American malaise that makes enjoying a tall glass of lemonade seem like a willful act of ignorance. Because it's 2018, we have to assume it's probably about Donald Trump.
'Aftering'
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