I've always thought of The Lawrence Arms' guitarist Chris McCaughan as a bit of a lyrical genius, being able to ever so eloquently put to those seemingly indescribable feelings of your mid-twenties to words. The real magic of his game is the ability to do all of this over the distorted guitars and colossal drums that are often the foreground to The Lawrence Arms' songs. Most of the epiphanies we have at this age are made in earnest, quiet truths that must be whispered to understand their seriousness. With the release of Four One Five Two, the new album from his acoustic project, Sundowner, the listener is able to digest his unique lyrical style with arrangements a little more fitting to the message he conveys.
I don't think Chris McCaughan is a sad man but rather introspective, reflecting on the highs and lows of his life. His lyrics come across as somber, both in content in delivery, yet they almost always hold glimmers of hope. The message is there is beauty in everything, not just the things that go right. Such evidence is found in the song, "Midsummer Classic", which boasts the following lines, "It'll take some time, but the dawn will come and the tide will rise." Things may not be their best right now, but they will go his way eventually. Hopefulness is a reoccurring element, reappearing in several songs. McCaughan is a man who sees the positives in all too negative situations," And since I've got nowhere to go I guess I've got nowhere I have to be."
While many see only terror in a perceived lack of direction, McCaughan sees it an unhinged freedom. Again, this is a common concern of those experiencing quarter life crises. A certain dread exists when the fear of aging and the need for a career hangs over your head. Four One Five Two allows listeners to breath, and then tells them, "Hey, it's just life."
Taking the name Sundowner to show this isn't merely a solo effort, McCaughan has enlisted the help of fellow Chicago native, Jenny Choi, to add a little more dimension to the album, incorporating both cello and piano work. This along with some sparse bass work by The Lawrence Arms drummer Neil Hennessy gives the album just enough layering to make it sound lush, something missing from a lot of acoustic projects.
The songs themselves are often mid-paced, perfect for idling around the apartment or taking those drives just to get out of the house. This is mood music at its finest. Each song seems to cater to activity described in its lyrics. The Lawrence Arms' website describe themselves as "Midwestern beer belly despair rock"; these could be considered alcohol soaked lullabies for the early morning or late afternoon.
For the diehard The Lawrence Arms fans, Four One Five Two also boasts covers of two The Lawrence Arms songs. The first, and probably the more interesting, is "Boatless Booze Cruise," which was actually written by the Brendan Kelly, the bassist and other songwriter in the band. Aside from the lyrics and vocals melody, McCaughan has morphed this song from a The Lawrence Arms classic into something fresh. The other cover, "100 Resolutions", is not only my favorite song from the band, but also quite possibly my favorite song ever. With that being said I was quite critical of this track the first few listens. To call this version a butchering would be a little harsh, but on the first few listens I believed that a lot of the urgency that gave the original its power was missing, leaving the track hollow. I couldn't believe what he was saying. After listening to the record a few more times, I listened more intently, this time imagining Chris waking up far too early, Still a little boozy with the stale taste of cigarettes in his mouth, singing this song while looking out the window of his Chicago apartment. This reworking has become a perfect anthem for the morning after.
The only down side to this album is that it only a side project of Chris', meaning that live shows may be few and far between and it could be some time before we get another Sundowner album. Still, this sure to a staple in the history of Chicago punk rock. Be sure to check out the Upcoming Talent section for an interview with Chris about the album and how the songs came to be.
