Fortunately, one of Twin Fantasy’s many brilliant qualities is that it indulges and hints towards both readings, as it’s an album about both the joy and heartbreak of aligning yourself too closely with another person.

The album’s subject matter oscillates between the life-affirming and soul-shattering moments of a relationship, as singer-songwriter Will Toledo jumps back and forth in time to give us the full picture of its formation and subsequent destruction. The number of layers in this thing is truly astonishing, as the album pulls you in further and further with each listen. First off, there’s the title: Twin Fantasy. This clearly alludes to the act of being in a relationship – but also the unlikeliness of relationships between young people ending in anything other than heartbreak – in other words, a fantasy. It also pokes holes in what people look for in relationships – some look for a friend, while others consciously or subconsciously look for a reflection of themselves – their twin.

Then there’s the tracklist, with all of its diametrically opposed couplets (the first track, “My Boy (Twin Fantasy)” is reflected by the last track “Twin Fantasy (Those Boys),” as are “Sober to Death” and “High and Death”). In “Stop Smoking,” the narrator implores his boyfriend, “Stop smoking, I love you.” By the time “High to Death” rolls around, the narrator is so hopelessly broken he tells him to “Keep smoking, I love you.” This combination of genuine sweetness and self-destruction is what makes this album such an unnerving, intoxicating and emotionally cathartic listen.

Plenty of artists have tried their hand at adapting adolescent confusion into a song, but few have ever done it quite as successfully as Toledo does on Twin Fantasy. When I listen to it, one of the many things that stand out to me is its maturity and wisdom – in that Toledo is wise enough to know that he’s completely out of his depth. There aren’t many motivational platitudes here. In their place is a full-blown account of someone grappling with their identity, their sexuality and the amount of cruelty they are willing to either receive or inflict on another person. Toledo’s just as confused as the rest of us, which is demonstrated by the fact that he wrote this album while in a relationship. This potent mixture of autobiographical and universally relatable storytelling is what gives this album its soul, and makes it more than just a futile exercise in witnessing someone’s self-destruction.

Few albums contain anything approaching the ecstasy of the chorus of “Bodys” or “Famous Prophets (Minds),” the nerve-shattering dread of “Beach Life-in-Death” and the precocious naivety of “Nervous Young Inhumans.” If you love this album, you’ll know that this is a piece of work that is truly felt and absorbed on a deeper level than pure sonic appreciation. Yes, it is just an album, but boy does it feel like a lot more than that.

Luckily for those of you who haven’t listened to Twin Fantasy before, now is the perfect time to experience this indie rock classic. It’s not currently available to stream, but for a very good reason. Car Seat Headrest has re-recorded the album and are releasing it on February 16th, after which the original album will again be available on streaming services and as a Record Store Day-only limited edition vinyl in April. In the meantime, you can listen to it on both YouTube and Bandcamp.

From the sound of the new versions of “Beach Life-in-Death” and “Nervous Young Inhumans,” they sound like the songs that Will Toledo always wanted to make but didn’t have the resources for. Time will tell whether the new version can live up to its predecessor’s legacy. I for one am anxious that the glossy re-recording will rob the album of some of its intimacy, yet some songs really do suffer from washed-out vocals (an effect that Toledo admits to using in order to hide his lyrics out of insecurity), and now we’ll be able to absorb them in real time as opposed to having to read his beautifully frank and literary lyrics on the internet. To which they are absolutely worth seeking out. Some speak to the universality of the need to avoid conversation (“As long as we move our bodies around a lot / We’ll forget that we forgot how to talk”), others suggest that the problems we attribute to the actions of others were a part of us from the beginning (“We were wrecks before we crashed into each other”), but each and every song is densely packed with texture, feeling and catharsis, either through the prompting of laughter or sadness.

All in all, Twin Fantasy is the album that every teenager with a bottomless well of ambition and a cheap setup dreams of making. Amazingly, its reach never exceeds its grasp, which is even more remarkable when you consider that Will Toledo wrote this album at the ripe old age of 19. I’m happy that with this re-release more people will be exposed to this great album (as I was just under a year ago), but please do yourself the favor and listen to the original version for yourself. I vacillate constantly on whether I prefer this album to Car Seat Headrest’s other indie rock classic Teens of Denial (2014’s excellent How to Leave Town is firmly in third), but it’s an hour of your time that’s extremely well spent.

There is so much truth to this album. It’s about how we can disassociate from ourselves and look for little fragments of our personality in other people. It contains the single most accurate lyrical depiction of depression (“It should be anti-depression / As a friend of mine suggested / Because it’s not the sadness that hurts you / It’s the brain’s reaction against it”). It acknowledges the inherent creepiness and romance of dedicating yourself to another person. But most importantly, it’s about the irrepressibility of feeling, and that no matter how definitively you move on from your past you will always be a scarred, altered version of the person you used to be. It’s through this universality that the album achieves its replayability. The narrative never really ends, as it folds back in on itself – trapped in a fantasy of its own making. The last repeated refrain – “When I come back you’ll still be here / When you come back I’ll still be here” – is a direct contradiction to words said earlier in “Beach Life-in-Death. Our protagonist is forever trapped searching for the very thing he knows is unobtainable. And so the cycle continues.

The post Revisiting Car Seat Headrest’s Twin Fantasy appeared first on SCAD Radio.

Navigating the line-up

Oh my gosh. With a line-up jam-packed with this much quality, where do you even begin? On Friday, music aficionados and dance enthusiasts alike get to jam to LCD Soundsystem, while Alternative fans get to get down with the Pixies. On Saturday, modern alt-pop fans get to rejoice with a mix of X Ambassadors and the XX to satisfy both sides of the spectrum. On Sunday, Ryan Adams and Phoenix close off the festival with their modernized approaches to synth and 80s pop. And that’s just the headliners! With a line-up this diverse, there’s something here to please everyone. To help navigate you through the sea of bands playing at Shaky Knees, SCAD Radio presents its top three picks for each day of the festival.

SCAD Radio’s Top 3 for Friday

Car Seat Headrest 

Will Toledo is an author. In Twin Fantasy and Teens of Denial, Toledo tackles the literary genres of romance and bildungsroman through the sound of lo-fi garage rock and polished alternative rock while self-deprecatingly re-examining them with a metanarrative context. In other words, he’s the voice of relatability for a generation of anxious, confused young adults. Listen to the poet speak.

  Pixies 

The Pixies are one of alternative rock’s all time greats. There’s a reason Surfer Rosa continues to appear on countless Best Album Ever lists; it’s a masterful work that perfectly describes and destroys genre conventions in one fell swoop. The Pixies are sure to put on an electric performance, and you wouldn’t want to miss it.

LCD Soundsystem 

LCD Soundsystem is the rare band that somehow manages to appeal to the guy who collects obscure vinyl and your friend who goes clubbing every Friday simultaneously. James Murphy isn’t losing his edge any time soon, no matter what he says. Be prepared to have your mind blown, Atlanta.

SCAD Radio’s Top 3 for Saturday

Dr. Dog 

While I’m not sure I would trust Dr. Dog to perform an operation on me, I’d probably prescribe to their unique blend of neo-psychedelia. Dr. Dog evokes the classic rock of the 60s and the 70s without trudging up old ground. Take a trip back to the past and see Dr. Dog, man.

Sylvan Esso 

Despite what some may tell you, Sylvan Esso isn’t a one trick pony. While the band is best known for its breakout hit Play It Right, this newly-formed band is just getting started. Sylvan Esso’s fun, unique blend of electropop and folk will keep your legs moving and your knees shaking even after the show has ended. It’s party time.

The xx 

The xx is back with revitalized energy after the release of Jamie xx’s In Color. While the band’s previous efforts have rewarded listeners with their subtlety and minimalism, their latest album eschews that approach for a multi-layered direction that’s refreshing yet distinctly The xx. On the forefront of their boldest work yet, the xx will definitely be a band to watch.

SCAD Radio’s Top 3 for Sunday

Hamilton Leithauser

If modern suburbia retreated back to the poodle skirt and letterman jacket days of the 50s, Hamilton Leithauser’s new album would be the soundtrack to it all. Leithauser’s latest album, I Had a Dream That You Were Mine, re-traces the do-wap sound of the 50s, shades it with the aesthetic of 80s art-pop, and ties it all together with modern production. Seeing Leithauser’s performance is a way to travel back in time, if only for a brief moment.

Bleachers 

If John Hughes’s coming of age comedies could be captured into a music artist, the end result would probably be Bleachers. Poignant and celebratory, Bleachers’ music shows the struggle and triumphs of growing up through bombastic indie pop. Self-reflection has never been this poppy!

The Shins 

The Shins are coming to Shaky Knees! Indie rock kings, The Shins, are back with their newest album in five years and here to put on an awesome show. These guys are guaranteed to metaphorically knock your socks off.

Want to see what other bands are playing? You can download the schedule and check out the full line-up here:

https://www.shakykneesfestival.com/wp-www-shakykneesfestival-com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/ShakyKnees17-Schedule-downloadable.pdf

What Else Can I Do?

So, what is one supposed to do when not jamming to bands and getting lost in the endless waves of people having just as much fun as you? Quite a lot, actually! There’s tons of things outside of concerts to experience at the festival. Here’s a sample of what you should expect.

Food trucks!

Listen. You may think this is silly, but I still haven’t forgotten the food I ate at last year’s festival. Never underestimate the appeal of exotic and strange food given to you out of a highly illustrative vehicle.

Random interactions with people you’ve never met!

Odds are, you’re going to experience a little bit of downtime in-between acts. And when you’re not staring absent-mindedly at your phone, you’re gonna be talking to people. Last year, a person came up to me and told me I looked like Carl from The Walking Dead. I’m still trying to figure out if that was a compliment or not.

Photo opportunities!

Last year there was a giant puppet that looked like Lemmy from Motörhead. And an inflatable sex doll that went crowd surfing. There’s always going to be something to document. Besides, there’s going to be me. I will always be a sight to behold.

More!

These are just a few things! Everyone is going to have a different experience, but you’re always going to have a memorable experience you’ll tell people about for years. And really, that’s always worth the price of admission.

General Tips

While there isn’t a wrong way to have fun at a music fest, there are definitely ways that you can enhance your experience. By following these simple tips, you’ll come across as a seasoned pro, and people will bow down at your feet because of your great wisdom. Or you’ll just save yourself from a lot of headaches. Probably the latter option.

Bring a portable phone charger!

If you’re anything like us, you’ll probably want everyone to know how much fun you’re having while you’re not watching concerts. Unfortunately, this also consumes precious amounts of phone battery. Save the heartache and bring a portable phone charger that’ll allow you to keep your phone energized and your friends perpetually jealous.

Get good rest before hand!

While it is tempting to stay awake all night the day before, salivating in anticipation for your fun-filled weekend, it will also make you feel like poop. Get plenty of rest a few days before the festival, because you’re going to want to party your butt off without fatigue. Be the pooper, not the poopie.

Save money for merch!

The year is 2017. With the advent of virtual reality, the line between what is true and what is fake continues to blur. The selfie is no longer enough to prove existence. The only way to shatter the illusion of reality is a t-shirt. Simultaneously help your favorite bands get paid and get a cool memento to rub in everyone’s faces who wasn’t there. Besides, what better way is there to start a conversation other than wearing a shirt of your favorite band? There isn’t*.

*We’re not just saying this because we’re a radio station. This is, like, a scientifically proven fact. No, I don’t have the journal reference on me; I’m a radio DJ, not an anthropologist. Besides, you’ve probably already seen that video that passed around Facebook about the guy who collects t-shirts. You should already know this.

Wear sunscreen!

Listen. We get it. Nothing sucks worse than having to rub white cream all over your body just to avoid getting cancer, but that’s them breaks. Suck it up and get through a few moments of discomfort so you don’t have to feel the pain of being personally touched by the sun. You’ll thank us later.

Don’t forget to eat!

While you may be telling your friends the only thing you’re going to be consuming is the sonic buffet of sound prepared for you, you’re going to have to actually eat, too. Thankfully, the festival has a variety of food trucks to keep your tummy happy and your body chugging along. And if the food trucks aren’t doing it for you, Waffle House is across the street. This is Atlanta after all.

Give yourself ample time to move from stage to stage!

While you may want to see it all, you’re going to have to cut some corners if you want to experience it all. While the various stages aren’t that far of a walk from each other, you’re going to have to plan ahead of time for the length of time. For bands you aren’t too big on, don’t be afraid to leave a little early to get to see the other band you really want to. And for the big-name bands you’re really excited to see, don’t be afraid to get to the stage thirty minutes early to get towards the front. Trust me, there is definitely a difference between watching Jesse Hughes of Eagles of Death Metal throw a guitar in the crowd and actually catching it yourself. As the person who caught the guitar, I would know from personal experience.

Band you like get snubbed? Have some tips you want to add? Just want a place to yell about how cool music festivals are? Leave a comment on our Facebook and watch out for our on-site coverage of Shaky Knees on our Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat!

The post SCAD Radio’s Handy-Dandy Handbook for Shaky Knees 2017 appeared first on SCAD Radio.