photo by Chris McLaughlin; photo courtesy of Knyvet

Single Review of Soft Skies Inc: “Sin Some / Lose Some”

Soft Skies Inc – Ryan Rex (main vocals, guitars, and bass) and Martin Rex (drums, percussion, backing vocals, and keys) delivers a keyboard-heavy, ’90s-style, jangly, dreamily-floating alt-rock with the slightly off-kilter harmonies of “Sin Some / Lose Some.” This song reminds me a lot of the mid-’90s. It’s similar to the music I heard on the East Lansing music scene or among the featured acts at regional Northeast and Midwest music conferences during that time.

cover art photo by Lindsay Metivier; image courtesy of Knyvet

Musically, “Sin Some / Lose Some” is light but with a hint of darkness. Almost danceable but with a deceptively complicated beat that makes it hard to really hone in on, so when you hear it live, you just awkwardly sway like a pre-teen afraid to make the first move at a roller skating party. So what’s the song actually about? Well, according to Ryan Rex, “More than anything, I want people to find their own meaning in the song. But for me, it’s about the chaos of living a life that’s been off the rails for too long trying to wrestle control over things that were never really in your hands to begin with. There’s a kind of madness in that.” If you think about it, that’s kind of the same vibe. But yeah, lyrically the song’s more substantial than the visual embodiment I chose to personify its tweener energy might suggest.

More Recently

Since the release of “Sin Some / Lose Some,” Soft Skies Inc has released another single, “The Point,” with a more retro-’80s alt-pop/rock vibe. Of course, I’ve only played it once, so if I were actually planning to review it, I’d give it multiple listens so I could dig deeper. Still, combined with the pair of singles I reviewed last year – “Sooner or Later” and “Your Small Army” – it showcases the duo’s versatility.

photo by Chris McLaughlin; photo courtesy of Knyvet

Single Reviews: Soft Skies Inc – “Sooner or Later” and “Your Small Army”

Soft Skies Inc reminds me of some of the more creative, rock-adjacent pop music I’ve enjoyed over the years. Brothers Ryan Rex (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards) and Martin Rex (drums, percussion, backing vocals, keyboards) each man multiple instruments on these songs.

cover art by Ryan and Martin Rex; image courtesy of Knyvet

“Sooner or Later” was recorded with Chris McLaughlin in Deep Space Studios in New York, while “Your Small Army” is a 2017 release, at least per Soft Skies Inc’s bandcamp page, which was recorded by Chris McLaughlin in 1867 Recording Studio in Boston, but with a brand new music video, directed by English filmmaker/moving image artist Sapphire Goss. So, you know, the video is what’s “new” about “Your Small Army.” But I hadn’t heard the song before I received the video was released – and I’ll be most of you haven’t it, either – so I’ll review the catchy music. The duo self-describes Soft Skies Inc’s music as alternative and dream pop. Honestly, that’s a better starting point than I’d have otherwise come up with, so start with that general subgenre blend in mind, and let my descriptions build upon that.

The first single, “Sooner or Later” is a steadily progressive soft pop song, very drum-driven like a standard pop song, perhaps a little reminiscent of ’80s mainstream, keyboard-heavy Brit-pop acts but with a much lusher, richer sound. The song’s catchiness is kind of sneaky, notably how it lulls you to sleep a little before popping in with the crisp opening of the chorus, “Sooner or later you’d get caught” and the musical rise and fall during the lyrics “And even back in the day, you were already gone.” And, of course, the clever way the song slips into its brief bridges. It’s not often a brand new song will make you this stylistically nostalgic, but “Sooner or Later” will. This song will definitely grow on you after a few listens, and soon you’ll be singing along with the fadeout like it’s an old musical friend: “You get lost sometimes, you get lost sometimes, you get lost sometimes…”

photo and cover design by Christopher Sargent; image courtesy of Knyvet

Next, “Your Small Army,” the newer video but older song, provides an interesting variation of the duo’s musical theme. It sounds like it belongs on the same album as “Sooner or Later,” but it isn’t by any means a soundalike. And yet, as I dig into what makes it so memorable, I notice similar reasons. It’s a pleasant enough song to listen to. It seems there’s a little more guitar apparent than in “Sooner or Later,” though it’s still a soft pop song. Now, I know you don’t ordinarily hear echoey blasts of noise in soft pop music, but they’re the quirky cool bit that’s particularly unique about “Your Small Army.” And yet the song mostly slowly but pleasantly sways, which I suppose is where the shoegaze-y dream pop comparison quite aptly applies to this track.

Soft Skies Inc’s music is not exactly like anything else you’ve heard before, and it’s much more pleasant, catchy, and easy on the ears than most music I can say that about. Personally, I’m looking forward to hearing what Soft Skies Inc does next. Ryan and Martin are a talented duo.