Album Review: Some Other Light by Drew Monson
Alright, so I gave Some Other Light by Drew Monson a spin, and honestly? It’s kinda stuck in my head now. Released back in 2020, this little gem blends electronic vibes with pop sensibilities, sprinkled with some vocal-heavy ballads that hit just right. The dude’s from the US, and it’s on some indie label (or no label, technically—“Not On Label” is literally what it says). Anyway, let’s dive into it.
The album kicks off with "My Friends," and man, this one's got a vibe. It starts slow, like you're tiptoeing into someone's living room uninvited, but then it builds into this warm, fuzzy hug of sound. The lyrics feel super personal, almost like Drew’s sitting across from you spilling his guts over coffee. You know those songs where you’re not sure if they’re about friendship or something deeper? Yeah, this is one of those. And the way the synths swell toward the end? Chef’s kiss.
Then there’s “Someone,” which is probably the track I’ll have on repeat for a while. It’s dreamy but not in a lazy way—it’s more like that moment when you’re zoning out during sunset and suddenly everything feels significant. The melody sticks to your brain like gum under a table, and the vocals are smooth enough to make you forget you’re listening to a song at all. I don’t even wanna analyze it too much because sometimes music just works, ya know?
Oh, and how could I forget “I’m Alone”? That one sneaks up on you. At first, it seems like another chill tune, but halfway through, it drops this emotional gut punch that makes you go, “Wait…is he okay?” Spoiler alert: probably not, but hey, we’ve all been there.
Overall, Some Other Light isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel or anything, but it doesn’t need to. It’s heartfelt without being cheesy, and it lets its melodies do most of the talking. Listening to it feels like scrolling through an old photo album—you get nostalgic, maybe a little sad, but ultimately kinda glad you took the trip down memory lane.
Random thought: If this album were a person, it’d be the quiet friend who always has the best advice but never brags about it. Just saying.
