B-Side Guys

Time seems to accelerate with age—places change, people disperse, and suddenly your hometown becomes unrecognizable. Portland outfit Risley captures this particular displacement on “Keeping Score,” a track from their recent album ‘Umbra Penumbra’ that transforms generational lament into something both timeless and timely.

Named after a cat and formed in 2016 by Portland music veteran Michael Deresh, Risley has evolved from a rotating collective (featuring 12 friends across their 22-track debut) into a focused quartet. This current lineup—featuring LA transplant Jaime Hazerian on guitar, Andrew Meininger (formerly of Wampire and Bed) on drums, and Tyler Rachal on bass—demonstrates remarkable cohesion on “Keeping Score,” creating sonic architecture where nostalgia and criticism coexist in productive tension.

What distinguishes the track is its exploration of modern disconnection without resorting to simplistic “phones are bad” commentary. When Deresh observes people looking “alone in a row, up at the bar,” his delivery suggests bewilderment rather than judgment. This nuanced perspective continues as he juxtaposes personal nostalgia for a time “when romance was alive” against the acknowledgment that “that’s what they always say”—recognizing how every generation believes their era represented some authentic peak.

The production choices enhance this thematic exploration, with “interlaced dreamy guitar melodies” creating atmospheric warmth that contrasts with the driving rhythm section. This sonic approach—nodding to ’80s British influences while maintaining contemporary relevance—mirrors the song’s central tension between romanticizing the past and acknowledging present realities.

Most compelling is how “Keeping Score” navigates between personal and global concerns. The lyrics move seamlessly from intimate observations about changing social dynamics to broader existential anxiety about a world where “half of the world is ready to explode and the other is fast asleep.” This oscillation between micro and macro perspectives creates emotional resonance that transcends typical nostalgic rock.

Deresh’s long history in Portland’s music scene (including founding PDXPOPNOW! and fronting Tea for Julie, which opened for acts like The Lemonheads and Snow Patrol) informs the track’s sense of earned perspective. The song’s resigned final question—”Who’s keeping score?”—suggests both liberation from competitive measurement and recognition that, ultimately, we all get “left behind under the weight of time.”

As Risley continues to evolve from collective to cohesive unit, “Keeping Score” stands as evidence that sometimes the most compelling musical statements emerge from artists who’ve witnessed enough cycles of change to recognize patterns without surrendering to cynicism.