ALBUM REVIEW: Field Medic - grow your hair long if you're wanting to see something that you can change
Field Medic is the stage name of American artist Kevin Sullivan, who's been making a name for himself with a lofi-inspired folk/indie sound since the launch of his inaugural EP Crushed Pennies in 2013.
Does Field Medic's brand-new release, grow your hair long if you're wanting to see something that you can change (or as I like to call it GYHLIYWTSSTYCC - rolls off the tongue!), have what it takes to stand out in the massive field of upcoming indie albums? Find out what I think below!
Overall Impressions
If there's one thing that you need to know before listening to GYHLIYWTSSTYCC (trust me it's so much easier to say, try it!) is that you need to pay attention. From a dense sound that combines banjo, acoustic guitar and a myriad of synth tones to incredibly poignant lyrics, Field Medic's latest album knows how to keep your ears engaged and immersed.
To get the best experience, I'd recommend taking a roadtrip across some American highways with a close-knit, loveable group of friends. Why? Simple - this album has such a beautiful nostalgia and poignancy to it, it's practically begging to be the soundtrack to a coming of age movie. However, I must admit sometimes the songs lean a little too hard into this sound, leading to some bleeding into one another.
Tracks of Note
For me, the absolute highlights of the album were 'noonday sun' and 'house arrest'.
'noonday sun' is the fourth track on GYHLIYWTSSTYCC, and leans heavily into a classic folk sound. In fact, I'd argue this track wouldn't seem out of place on a Nick Drake album - an impressive feat! I have a sneaking suspicion this might have been an intended comparison too, thanks to the title's similarity to 'Saturday Sun'. What really sold me on this track, however, was the moment the drums come in toward the end. Wow!
'house arrest' is one of the longer tracks on this album, only beaten by the track after it, 'stained glass'. house arrest uses this time to tell a gorgeously lyrical story about - you guessed it - a woman on House Arrest. With its stripped back guitar and distant woodwinds, I can picture some fans seeing this as a lull in the album. For me however, especially as someone listening to Field Medic for the first time, it served as a quiet respite in the middle of this wonderful work that really gave this artist a chance to shine.
Final Thoughts
Despite its shorter length, Field Medic's "grow your hair long if you're wanting to see something that you can change" managed to leave a strong impression on me. With his broad range of inspirations and undeniable skill in the songwriting department, I'm confident Kevin Sullivan will only continue to improve as he continues in his career - as he has done with this release. I'd definitely recommend a listen to GYHLIYWTSSTYC today - even if it's just for the bragging rights of being an early adopter when he makes it big.
