Although, describing Alex G's music as "indie rock" feels a little like calling a hot dog a sandwich.
[READER]( The Daily Reader I've been listening to Alex G a lot lately. He dropped an album last week, [God Save the Animals]( which partially explains my new habits. Alex G's indie rock also feels tailored for autumn, as much as his music can feel made for anything but his own voice. Describing Alex G's music as "indie rock" feels a little like calling a hot dog a sandwich; it's not wrong, exactly, but it's imprecise and a little awkward.
The components of Alex G's musicâlonesome singing, homespun guitars, shabby melodies that suggest intimacy at any volumeâsignify indie rock the same way parts of a Chicago hot dog can represent a sandwich. But the magic that happens when Alex G puts together a song or a hot dog joint prepares a char dog is nontransferable. Yeah, someone else can make an approximation of an Alex G song, but it's liable to feel a little off, like eating a sausage between two slices of bread. (One flaw in my argument: you're less likely to upset people by calling Alex G an indie rocker than suggesting a hot dog is a sandwich.) I first wrote about Alex G for the Reader [eight years ago]( and his music continues to challenge and perplex me. I sometimes think I've run out of language to capture the feeling of his stylistically slippery songs, which partially explains why I've decided to compare him to food. An artist who continues to make work that's inexplicable and invites careful thought is a gift, though I sometimes worry I've spent too much time wrestling with Alex G's work. Then again, I can't be on the clock all the time; if I'm compelled to sing ["Runner"]( to myself while walking through the park, well, that's just the thing that keeps me dedicated to music. Sincerely,
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September 15 - 28, 2022
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