In Review: “October” by The Tasty Brothers (feat. Jon Latham)
by: Heracleatus & Tremblin’ Jack
Okay, first things first: If you like the smooth soprano stylings of Kenneth “Kenny G” Gorelick, you’re more than likely gonna hate this one. Further, given the year(s) we’ve had, though we all might feel wound as tight as St. Kenneth’s sweet, sensuous curls, “October” by The Tasty Brothers (feat. Jon Latham) proves to be just the sort of spiritual retexturizing that an unprecedented time such as this calls for. Yes, we did have to Google the opposite of a perm (you’re welcome), but that search proved only approximately 69% as illuminating as stumbling upon this hot new single on the band’s Bandcamp here:
https://thetastybrothers.bandcamp.com/releases
By clicking that link, you are signing up for a sumptuous injection of synth-laden garage rock that is as unapologetic as it is timely—and not just because it’s now…ya know…October. It possesses just the right amount of reckless sonic abandon paired with poignant lyrics which betray a caged emotionalism—a protagonist bemoaning a world in which his sleepwalking dream of that proverbial freeway which gives way to the wide open sky of possibility is stifled by isolation and an apathetic recognition of the barren reality we so often find ourselves in. East Nashville’s Jon Latham adeptly croons over the track, “No need to look so disappointed just cuz the new year that you wanted isn’t the new year that ya got.” Sheesh, who doesn’t feel that in their plums?
Fittingly, in the words of the band’s masterminds, Cory Nichols and Trey Call, the project has been “a way to stay sane” during the pandemic. Well, all we can say is we needed it: the blithe, trash-can looseness of the drums, the punchy Robbie Robertson-esque guitar interjections, and, of course, that sweet, sweet side order of stanky bass. The band, featuring some of East Nashville’s finest: Jules Belmont, Nic Milliner, Michael Webb, and, again, the incomparable Jon Latham on vocals, combine to create a track that truly is special—frankly, largely by virtue of not trying so hard to be.
“October” is a tune sprung forth from the very collective drudgery that we’ve all been subjected to despite our best laid plans, dreams, and the hopes that those may return on a timeline of our choosing. It is a song that dares to be messy in a time that invariably is—trust me, we’re wearing pajama pants that our moms bought us from the Old Navy. The pants are seriously really nice. We’re generally not a huge fan of plush material, but in this instance we’d have to say we don’t mind it. They really are the perfect balance of support and comfort. Joe Boxer was a great company, they really don’t get enough credit—*tire screeching sound*—much like The Tasty Brothers. See what we did there!?!
Anyhoo, be sure to check out “October” by The Tasty Brothers (feat. Jon Latham). Yeah, life has kind of sucked as of late, but it sucks a little bit less listening to this single and feeling seen—no matter our varying states of disarray. This single is Bohemian-Oatmeal-Certified Tasty (for pronunciation, see: “Fergalicious”), so dig in. In fact, to stretch the metaphor tediously further (our speciality), Halloween came early with this tune, so stick out your li’l punkin pail and take in this delectable bit of ear candy*! Yum!
*Note: It’s actually good candy, not like those Circus Peanut things. Those things are objectively disgusting. More on that later. Stay tuned!
