Indie Focus: Love X Stereo challenge themselves on experimental ’37A’

When Love X Stereo announced their Patreon to release 37 songs in a year, I was surprised due to the sheer scope of the undertaking. If you support the band through their Patreon, you’ve heard these songs already, but for the people who are just hearing ‘37A‘ now in album form, understand that what you’re hearing is a more unrestrained Love X Stereo who are creating music with the direct support of their fans.

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What I realized listening to the individual songs as they were released is that Love X Stereo isn’t so caught up on sticking to a specific sound and style. ‘We Love We Leave, Part 2‘ was an expertly polished EP that showed a different and more mature side of the band, and ’37A’ is a continuation of that drive. I’ll be the first to admit that some songs don’t have the hooks of past songs, but what I appreciate is that Annie and Toby are making these tracks in the first place and releasing them for people to hear. As a result, by the end of the year, Love X Stereo is going to have grown musically at what will feel like light speed.

For every song that I scrobble through, there’s another that I’ll listen to on repeat. Like “Lemon Spark” isn’t the most engaging song to me, but “Dark And Light” is goddamn excellent. Love X Stereo are challenging themselves in 2017 and this May release marks five months of their work. Their earlier songs set the stage, but the songs released recently are like the first third of an amazing show. ’37A’ isn’t a customary album in Love X Stereo’s discography. It’s a timeline marker. ’37A’ in album form doesn’t have a tightly cohesive sound, but that’s what I enjoy about it the most, since it’s a set of experimentation, exploration, and a journey as musicians.

If you like Love X Stereo, you’ll definitely enjoy ’37A’. If you’re a new fan, then what you’re going to hear are seasoned musicians challenging themselves. You might be better off with the dual EPs of ‘We Love We Leave‘ as an introduction to the group and then coming back to this, but if this is just the beginning of the ‘37‘ series, then I’m definitely excited to hear where it goes.

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