Tyler Suarez has consistently dazzled us with his highly conscientious, intricate music over the years. The last release of his which we looked at was 2020’s Weird Times album, written during the height of COVID-19 restrictions, and which we found to be a “wonderfully inviting, nostalgic alt-rock/pop-punk mix of tracks that melds its energy with a heady dose of insightfulness”. Plutonomy is the Connecticut musician’s latest album and it sees him take a similar approach to his previous work, pointing a mirror toward society and presenting the images to us through atmospheric soundscapes. Suarez tells us that hyper-commercialization, and consumer culture, particularly in relation to art, were the main inspirations behind these songs. Suarez produced, played, and sang all of the album’s parts.
Looking Forward to the Past juxtaposes the warmth of a strummed acoustic guitar part with a kaleidoscope of otherworldly synth layers. The lyric is concerned with finding one’s path in life, and not knowing whether you have made the right choices until the moment is well behind you. The track features a brilliant guitar solo by Suarez, which places emphasis on note selection and the repetition of motifs rather than showy playing.
Have a Nice Day is an indie-pop gem that is riddled with Suarez’s trademark sarcasm as he takes aim at society’s preoccupation with small talk, and unwillingness to engage in meaningful conversation. He shows his gift as a sound designer, using an enchanting synth arpeggio as the song’s central motif, and an ultra-sweet counterpart to the frustrated tone of the lyric.
The End presents itself as one of the record’s standout tracks and is truly captivating from the outset. The introduction begins with an eight-note synth pulse, around which a cello melody twists and unfurls before Suarez sets out the angst-ridden tone of the song with the repeated vocal line “Is this really happening? / Is this really happening?/ Is this the end?”. The health of our planet is a theme that Suarez continually addresses throughout the album and it becomes the focal point of this particular lyric… “Cause nothing really matters if you don’t got a planet to do it on / And if there’s money to make somebody’s making it”.
There is no doubt that Tyler Suarez is continuing to hone his skills as an artist and Plutonomy is yet another stunning collection of songs from the young musician. Fans of his should waste no time in getting this album on repeat, and those who haven’t come across his discography yet will find a wealth of beautiful music in his previous releases too.
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BELOW: Listen to Plutonomy and connect with his website and social media platforms. Please support Tyler Suarez by visiting him online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing his music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
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