The Head and The Heart Share Their Perspective in "Aperture"
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The Head and the Heart are back to their signature sound in Aperture. The band has been around since 2009, and a lot has changed. Their newest album reflects on all of the changes, where they have been, and where they want to go. This theme of introspection is woven in and out of each song on the album. From storytelling elements to folk tunes about relationships, the band takes you out camping sonically.
Aperture opens up with “After the Setting Sun” - an introspective song discussing how the singer handles change. The vocals are soft with the accompaniment of strings. The instrumentation is amazing. Charity Rose Thielen does an incredible job throughout the album. The song continues asking questions: “Oh, but what comes after the settin' sun? / What if we arе all we've got? / What if no one's thеre when you need someone / Just to lean on?” These questions aren’t answered, and you’re left feeling that uneasy burden of what comes next.
The next track, “Time With My Sins,” shifts the focus to the relationship theme. The music is in the classical The Head and The Heart style with the guitar and mandolin elements. The singer talks about how they have spent time by themselves getting to know their sin. He seems to be telling his lover that he understands why she doesn’t like him. He doesn’t apologize for his sins, but simply acknowledges them.
“Arrow” is next on the tracklist. It is one my least favorite of the album. The instrumentals are great, but lyrically, it falls flat. The song feels more like pop music than the rest of the album. “Arrow” is a ‘lone-wolf’ anthem. Our singer talks about how they have experienced pain in life, but have always weathered the storm. The chorus is monotonous all about this ‘lone-wolf’ mentality: “There's times I need direction / There's times I need to roam / I move station to station / I showed up here alone / I am my own arrow”.
This pop sound continues into the next track, “Beg, Steal, Borrow”. The band does an amazing job with this track in the instrument department. They deserve their roses for doing a great job on this album. This track is more poetic. It talks about wanting to set this other person free, wanting this person to follow their dreams. But there’s also this element of wanting them to come back because this ‘lone-wolf’ is lonely and needs someone. “Come back to me / And I’m afraid what it might take to save me from myself now”.
Along with “Arrow”, “Cop Car” is one of the lackluster tracks of the album. I think it’s supposed to be funny, but it falls so flat it’s hard to tell if that was the intention. The song is sharing a story of a rough night out. The singer is being arrested and is telling his lover that he’ll come out a better person. Halfway through the song, they start singing “This Little Light of Mine”. It feels so left turn from the premise.
The next three tracks are strong, but in general less memorable. “Blue Embers” discusses what it means to believe. A couple struggling to continue on and wondering if there are any embers in their relationship. “Fire Escape” is a more upbeat track. It feels like a song you would listen to while wandering in the woods. It talks about getting lost and finding yourself. Lastly, “Pool Break” deals with characters wrestling with life. A son wondered why his dad didn’t teach him about pain and suffering in life. It is reminiscent of “Boy” by The Killers.
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The standout tracks appear later in the album with “Jubilee”, “Finally Free”, and “Aperture”. “Jubilee” is a fun, upbeat tune sharing the carefree feeling of falling in love. It feels like a true song for the summer. The lyrics feel light and bubbly: “Even when you know it's an illusion / I think I'm falling in love”. After the doom and gloom of the other tracks, “Jubilee” is much-needed relief. The next track, “Finally Free”, is a return to that bad relationship. Charity’s vocals in this track are haunting. We can’t tell if we trust the narrator or if they’re trying to keep their lover from leaving. The instrumentation adds to the eerie feeling. Are they really free or chained to be together? The last track is outstanding! “Aperture” is another upbeat tune that really puts a bow on the album. It feels more like a commentary on the world today with lyrics like: “Time was made for running out / Why did it take so long?”. The Head and the Heart are telling us to carpe diem - seize the day!
All in all, Aperture is a great return for the band. Musically, it is a triumph with all the instrumental work being done for each track. Lyrically, it could be stronger. I will be keeping “Jubilee” and “Aperture” in my summer playlist rotation. I’m excited to see where The Head and the Heart will be headed next. This reflective album is a great direction to see the band to head in. If you’re a fan of Noah Kahan or The Lumineers, definitely give it a listen.
