Razor Braids - "42"

Razor Braids dropped their debut record, I Could Cry Right Now If You Wanted Me To, on Friday, and over the course of repeated listens this past weekend, I volleyed back and forth between which track was my favorite. There’s much to enjoy amongst this meticulously crafted and emotionally charged record, including the slow-burning “Arms,” the anthemic “Don’t Stop,” the unbridled, energetic rallying cry of lead single “Not Dead, Not Yet,” and the psychedelic-surf rock tones of “Sex In The City.” There are clearly a lot of solid contenders, so it certainly wasn’t an easy decision, but I ultimately found myself most drawn to the rawness and sonic tension of “42,” this week’s Look At My Records! Song of the Week! 

“42” grapples with the prospect of finally moving forward after a series of devastatingly numbing life events, and the band dissects these feelings in a manner that’s akin to a deep purge. Frontperson Holly Bynenum hammers on this level of emotional exhaustion several times, singing “I couldn't feel, I couldn't feel” and “You broke me, you broke me down. I couldn't feel where we were.” When that excision-like process is all said and done, the band lets out one last gust of musical firepower, as their guitars, drums, and bass all swirl together for one final exhalation of pent-up ire. It’s a pretty epic conclusion to I Could Cry Right Now If You Wanted Me To that builds suspense and in many ways, releases those lingering demons that pop up at several points throughout the album - with an eye towards turning the page for new beginnings.

Stream “42” below!

You can purchase I Could Cry Right Now If You Wanted Me To on Bandcamp or stream it on your platform of choice. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.

To learn more about the band, you can revisit their March 2020 appearance on Local Fidelity here on the site or on Spotify.

Photo by Jessica G.