B-Side Guys

Some songs function as mirrors—reflecting uncomfortable truths we’d rather avoid. Slovenian-born, New York-transplant Saso Sandic’s “Cryin’ Spade” operates with this unflinching directness, creating a confrontational musical space where façades crumble under scrutiny.

The track benefits immensely from Sandic’s remarkable collaborators—session luminaries who’ve backed legends from Steely Dan to Bob Dylan. This ensemble brings refined musicality that enhances rather than overshadows the composition. Producer Oz Noy (who also served as Sandic’s guitar mentor) ensures these contributions remain in perfect equilibrium, creating a sonic landscape where technical prowess serves emotional authenticity.

Lyrically, Sandic crafts images of contradiction and dissonance. When he observes “I can’t understand what you’re sayin’ but the words that come from your mouth,” he immediately establishes the gap between expression and meaning—communication compromised by insincerity. The recurring phrase “your mind’s detained” suggests psychological imprisonment, patterns of thought that limit rather than liberate.

The song’s architectural brilliance emerges through its deceptively simple chorus—”Listen to the pain/Listen to the game”—functioning as both warning and invitation. This mantra creates necessary contrast with the dense, imagery-laden verses, offering momentary clarity amid complexity. The juxtaposition suggests that understanding requires both attention to suffering and recognition of the systems that perpetuate it.

Sandic’s distinctive vocal approach, inflected with his European origins, transforms potential limitations into expressive advantages. His phrasing brings unexpected emphasis to lines like “burdened bliss is pulling dog by the tail,” creating unsettling imagery that lingers long after the song concludes. The occasional linguistic anomalies (“fragelité”) add textural interest, suggesting meanings beyond direct translation.

What prevents “Cryin’ Spade” from descending into mere accusation is its underlying musical vitality—the persistent rhythmic energy that propels the narrative forward. This tension creates necessary balance, allowing the song to confront difficult truths without surrendering to defeatism.

For listeners encountering Sandic’s work for the first time, “Cryin’ Spade” reveals an artist capable of transforming personal observation into universal insight. Supported by musicians who’ve accompanied some of music’s most celebrated storytellers, Sandic demonstrates that authentic expression requires not just technical skill, but the courage to dismantle pretense and examine what lies beneath.