B-Side Guys

“When the smoke is solid/And you can’t breathe anymore” opens SLACK’s “Anyway” with an immediacy that sets the tone for what unfolds as one of the band’s most emotionally charged offerings to date. The third single from their forthcoming album “Can You Hear Me Now?” demonstrates the Hudson, Massachusetts outfit’s evolution while maintaining the muscular foundation they’ve built over their near twenty-year run.

The interplay between Ed Farrington’s rhythm guitar and Phil Juels’ lead work establishes a dynamic tension that carries throughout the track’s verses, with each player carving out distinct sonic territory. This instrumental conversation builds steadily through the first half of the song, supported by the lockstep rhythm section of Joe True’s drums and Rob Hewlett’s bass work.

The lyrics paint a portrait of emotional exhaustion, using imagery of smoke and ice to frame a relationship’s dissolution. Lines like “Who were you saving/When you needed help the most” cut through the mix with particular resonance, enhanced by the raw delivery in Farrington’s lead vocals and the strategic deployment of Barbara Farrington’s backing vocals.

It’s in the bridge at the two-minute mark where “Anyway” truly reveals its ambitious scope. The arrangement opens up dramatically here, with Juels’ lead guitar work taking center stage while the rhythm section modulates its intensity. The introspective turn in the lyrics (“Did I hold on too strong/Did I make you worry”) is perfectly matched by this instrumental shift, creating a moment of genuine vulnerability amidst the track’s otherwise forceful presentation.

The production strikes a careful balance between polish and grit, allowing each instrumental element to maintain its character while cohering into a unified whole. The mix particularly shines in highlighting the interweaving of the three-part vocal harmonies, with the Farringtons and Hewlett’s backing vocals adding crucial texture to the chorus’s repeated refrain of “I’ve got nothing for you.”

SLACK’s ability to synthesize their various rock influences becomes most apparent in the song’s final third. The outro section beginning at three minutes transforms the previous tension into a cathartic release, with all five members pushing their instruments to new heights while maintaining the structural integrity of the arrangement.

The song’s thematic focus on finality and emotional depletion (“I’m not sure I’m justified/But I’ve got my regrets”) gains additional weight through its placement as the third track on the upcoming album. It functions both as a standalone statement and a crucial piece in what promises to be a larger narrative arc.

This stylistic departure from their previous singles showcases SLACK’s willingness to push beyond their established sound while remaining true to their core musical identity. The band’s experience, honed through years of performing across New England, is evident in both the confident execution and careful attention to dynamic contrast throughout the track.

“Anyway” stands as a testament to SLACK’s continued growth as songwriters and performers, suggesting that their upcoming album “Can You Hear Me Now?” may represent a new high-water mark for this veteran Massachusetts outfit. The seamless integration of hard rock muscle with alternative sensibilities proves that nearly two decades into their career, SLACK continues to find new ways to evolve their sound while maintaining the qualities that have defined their work since 2004.