B-Side Guys

Tyler Anthony, under his Cereus Bright moniker, delivers a haunting exploration of inherited trauma with “Boys,” the title track of his latest EP. This freak-folk offering weaves a tapestry of familial dysfunction, societal expectations, and the cyclical nature of pain with the deftness of a seasoned storyteller.

The track opens with a deceptively simple question: “Where do we put all the boys who had mothers / Who drank themselves silly waiting for husbands / To come home with money?” Anthony’s baritone vocals, rich and somber, float above a sparse arrangement of hollowed guitar picking and hypnotic bass grooves. The effect is mesmerizing, drawing listeners into a world where childhood innocence collides with adult disillusionment.

Lyrically, “Boys” is a masterclass in subtle devastation. Anthony crafts vivid vignettes of domestic unrest, each line a punch to the gut: “No cake until your plate is clean / No love until I know that you can give it back to me.” These conditional statements of affection speak volumes about the ways love can be weaponized, creating a cycle of emotional austerity that spans generations.

The production, warm and soft-psychedelic, creates a dreamlike atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the harsh realities described in the lyrics. This juxtaposition mirrors the cognitive dissonance often experienced when confronting familial trauma – the desire to soften painful memories clashing with the need to acknowledge hard truths.

“Boys” marks a pivotal moment in Cereus Bright’s artistic journey. Anthony’s songwriting cuts through layers of family history, societal norms, and unspoken truths with surgical precision. The track’s narrative complexity challenges listeners to confront their own inherited stories, pushing beyond the comfortable boundaries of typical folk fare. In the current musical landscape, where authenticity is often performative, “Boys” stands out as a genuinely raw exploration of the human condition, unafraid to probe the darker corners of our collective psyche.