photo courtesy of Charming Arson via Knyvet

Single Review of Charming Arson: “The Wednesday of My Discontent”

Last year, I reviewed Charming Arson’s cool single “Saving Chelsea.” Well, this summer (technically, late spring, I guess), Charming Arson released a brand new, catchy, garage rocky banger, “The Wednesday of My Discontent,” featuring the same line-up: Stefano Bellezza (lead guitar, keyboards), David Cameron (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Dave Gould (percussion), and Aaron Clark (bass guitar).

cover art design by David Cameron; image courtesy of Knyvet

The dissonance introduced by the song’s title – you know, its “something ain’t quite right”-ness – is embodied by the song’s opening harsh, distorted guitar riffs. Just when you’re about the reach the “OK, when will this end?” moment a minute into the song, musical tunefulness enters, and you’re hooked. In the end, it’s the sort of raw yet catchy, well-written alt-rock number capable of much broader appeal. The production and performance style are likely to appeal to ’90s alt-rockers, but there’s something in there for broader rock fans, as well. “The Wednesday of My Discontent” has the energy and melody of a power pop song, a kickin’ guitar solo just before the halfway point, and the engaging songwriting structure of a pop-rock hit. If you like any kind of guitar-based rock music, you need to give “The Wednesday of My Discontent” a few listens. The parts of the song that connect with your personal favorite niche of rock ‘n roll will hook you immediately; then the rest of it will grow on you until the song becomes a favorite.

As for the concept of “The Wednesday of My Discontent,” well, although “the winter of our discontent” may be appropriate for the grand themes of Shakespeare’s Richard III, I’ve gotta say this is far more relatable to everyday life. At least my life, seemingly Charming Arson’s, and – unless my readership skews a lot more heavily toward CEOs, world leaders, and other global movers and shakers than I think – probably also the lives of most of you.

photo courtesy of Charming Arson via Knyvet

Single Review of Charming Arson: “Saving Chelsea”

Boston-based Charming Arson is Stefano Bellezza (lead guitar, backing vocals), Dave Cameron (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Dave Gould (percussion, backing vocals), and Aaron Clark (bass guitar, backing vocals).

image courtesy of Knyvet

The band delivers a fun, memorable alt-rock (technically, I suppose alt-power-pop) track with “Saving Chelsea.” It kicks off with raw, distorted axe riffs before the initial vocals match the guitar’s intensity. However, finesse soon follows, leading pleasantly to the muddy, flavorful alt-rock chorus, replete with some stylistically appropriately strained harmonies. The grainy, fast-paced guitarwork in the transitions and late-song bridge to nowhere – a cool way to end the song, a bridge-esque guitar run that just leads to the end of the track. In all, just a tightly-written song that’s a fun repeat listen, in part because it manages to capture the feel of a live gig in a well-produced radio-ready package. Well done, dudes!

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You can find “Saving Chelsea,” along with five other songs (none of which I’ve listened to yet) on Charming Arson’s Another Kind of Vision EP.