MUSIC REVIEW: Today Was Yesterday - “Today Was Yesterday”
While I’m mostly only really interested in reviewing indie artists and artists I know and like, I do have admittedly a bit of a soft spot for anything Mascot Label Group sends me, because their rock artists—like Walter Trout, The Georgia Thunderbolts, Supersonic Blues Machine, and the like—have really drawn me back into my love of rock music from the ‘60s-’90s. As such, it’s always fun to check out new releases from anyone on their roster, just to see if I have something to say. The second release this year that caught my attention (the first, naturally, being Ayreon’s “Live Beneath the Waves,” which I attended for Tuonela back in September) was the self-titled debut album by Today Was Yesterday, which is set for release on February 23rd, 2024. Boasting guests like Alex Lifeson (Rush) and Robby Krieger (ex-The Doors), this was bound to be a quality release, if nothing else!
Usually, with Mascot artists, I throw on the promo and give a few songs a listen and make my decisions thereafter. With this release, it only took me one song to decide that this was going to be worth giving a proper spin. The first track, “Grace,” which is also the first song to feature Alex Lifeson, had me pretty much sold right away due to a combination of the funky guitar-driven intro and mellow vocals that bring some alternative acts of the ‘90s to mind.
This album is, on the whole, a fantastic collection of songs that feature a lot of slick prog-inspired guitar lines, funky bass that doesn’t just sit around and pluck notes, and drums that range from jazzy to rockin’ and everywhere in between, with an echoey distortion to them that makes for a really tasty atmosphere. Next, they don’t skimp on the low-end, which is something that I tend to go on about endlessly. Your bass and drums aren’t just there to keep the beat, they’re there to elevate the music, and that’s exactly what they do it this album. The bass moves around, finding a life of its own, while the drumming is full of wonderful fills and personality, which keeps the music from stagnating. Then, there’s the soft, slightly gravely, muted vocals… they aren’t going to punch you out of your seat, but rather, they’ll slide in subtly and you’ll be singing along without even noticing.
There are a lot of great moments, like slick singing prog-inspired guitars that open “A Louder Silence,” which then changes into a slow, funky rhythm. “On My Own” is a more chill track that has some very warbly guitars, “I Take All” has some fantastic organs that trail off in its outro, and “My Dog Is God” has some almost sci-fi sounding effects in the guitar sound and other effects later on that somewhat bring me to the ‘90s and otherwise just make me happy. The smooth, groovy bass lines stand out in “Faceless Faraway Song,” while “If I Fall (Silly Games)” is noteworthy for its different guitar sound, contributed by Robby Krieger, and its slow, ethereal ambience. “Rukus” isn’t as chaotic as its name would suggest but is a lively track that has some almost classic western-sounding guitar bits in there. Finally, as the album winds down, “Borrowed” feels straight out of the ‘90s because of the vocal lines and effects, with the little guitar fills that add flavor, and the last track, “My New Low,” works as a moody yet strong closer to the album with its lyrics and the uplifting feel of the chorus while the vocalist expresses that he’s at a new low.
Today Was Yesterday’s self-titled debut is really a masterpiece when it comes to smooth, ambient rock music with progressive guitar lines and gentle-smooth vocals. The rhythm section refuses to let the music sink into monotony by keeping things interesting and lively and the whole album has a consistent quality that will refuse to allow you to skip any songs… I wish I was more familiar with this style of music so I could figure out who it all reminds me of, but for that, you’ll surely need to wait for Jani Lehtinen’s review over at Tuonela Magazine, as he’s the king of these reviews, no question. From my end, I just think this is a really enjoyable album, so if you enjoy ‘90s progressive alternative rock, you’d better not miss this release!
Tracklist
Grace (ft. Alex Lifeson)
A Louder Silence (ft. Alex Lifeson)
On My Own (ft. Alex Lifeson)
I Take All
My Dog Is My God (ft. Alex Lifeson)
Faceless Faraway Song (ft. Alex Lifeson)
If I Fall (Silly Games) (ft. Robby Krieger)
Rukus
Borrowed
My New Low (ft. Alex Lifeson)
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