Writing a perfect pop love song is an often attempted, rarely accomplished musical feat. But the perfect pop love song is something that Sean Nicholas Savage has absolutely mastered. The idiosyncratic Arbutus songwriter is impossibly romantic but also suddenly sad on his newest album Other Life. Savage’s music has taken a turn for the deeply personal and dark, resulting in an album that is excellently relatable. The tracks on Other Life reminisce about ex-lovers and lost summers while remaining pleasantly poppy. His signature synth sound proves to be as addicting and dance inducing as ever. Additionally, Savage’s gorgeous lyrics play a prominent role on Other Life. They lay out the lonely narrative that runs through the album. For example, on the title track, it is clear he is broodingly torn between the past and the future; the people and city he has left behind in pursuing that “other life.” He layers his charmingly imperfect vocals to tell the sad story, shamelessly showcasing his obviously broken heart. Other Life offers a refreshingly new display of what Sean Nicholas Savage does so well—the pop love song.
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