"Reverse" by SomeKindaWonderful

SomeKindaWonderful: Guitarist Matt Gibson, Vocalist Jordy Towers, Drummer Ben Schigel, Backup Vocalist/Percussionist Sarah Dyer

Hey guys, Lia here with a song I've heard so much of by SomeKindaWonderful.

SomeKindaWonderful began in Ohio, when lead singer Jordy Towers, who was signed by record label Interscope, met musicians Matt Gibson, Ben Schigel, and Sarah Dyer at a bar. They promptly headed to a studio after they met and three hours later, their single, "Reverse" was created. I don't know why their band name has no spaces, but I can tell you that Jordy Towers is fascinated by reverse storytelling. In an interview on L.A. Music Blog, Towers tells them he loves the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and wanted to recreate that in song. If you haven't seen that movie, check it out. It's excellent and a rare serious Jim Carrey movie. Since SomeKindaWonderful is a new band so there's not much to their story. So far, they sound very pop, rock, and R&B.

The beginning of "Reverse" sounds a bit like The Lumineers' "Hey Ho," but then transforms as the spaghetti string sounding guitar starts up with the verse. Towers' voice reminds me of Jeremy Rutherford's voice (from The Neighbourhood) if Jeremy Rutherford spent a long time in L.A. and had a bit more soul. Melodically, it grows and relaxes like a wave throughout and evokes a mood of disappointment and failed relationships. "Reverse" is interesting in that it sounds rock and soul with the guitar licks and pop all throughout from Tower's voice, but doesn't really commit to any one sound. Although it is overall a melancholy song, there's a bit of an upbeat quality from the drums and tambourine. On top of that, it's super catchy while also being technically intriguing.

The problem I have with this song lies in the lyrics. It's cool that it's in reverse (kind of), but I have lots of problems with what he says in the song. The narrator, which I will assume is a man partly because Towers is a dude and partly because heteronormativity, cheats on his girlfriend. She then calls him up asking about where he was last night and the narrator promptly (badly) lies, saying it was just a "harmless sleepover." And then, in the chorus, the narrator says it hurts too much to see women ("legs and long hair") and not 'have' them. He then blatantly says that if he "could do it again," he would "probably do it again. He then has the audacity to ask "Could I get a do-over?" like infidelity isn't a big offence even after he admits that if he could do it over, he would still probably cheat on her! First of all, how dare you treat infidelity so lightly and how dare you say that you can't bear seeing attractive women and not sleep with them! Have some self-control and respect. Also, he doesn't even say he's "tantalized" by women, he says he's tantalized by "legs and long hair" like that's all the narrator sees in a woman. It could be just a romantic representation of women, but that is still definitely not good. They should just rename the band NotReallyKindaWonderful.

Although this song is catchy as hell, I...disprove of the message. But I guess people are entitled to their own opinions.

Lyrics (read verses in reverse just because):

"Reverse"

She hung the phone up and said "Fuck you it's over"

Sorry but this is the end

I said "Don't trip it was just a harmless sleepover"

See, we was just making friends

She said "then what were you doing there at 4 in the morning?"

"You told me you were at home"

I started with "darling please listen"

And then I picked up my phone, yeah

I told my story in reverse'cause it hurts

Girl it hurts too much to bare

But I'm tantalized by their legs & long hair

But if I could do it again

I would do it again!

If I could do it again

I would do it again!

If I could do it again

Probably do it again!

Could I get a do-over?!

Baby, ooh oh

Hey, ooh oh

I plugged my phone in as I backed out the driveway,

Then I started my car

Slipped out the door after I crept through her hallway

She left it slightly ajar, yeah

Threw on my kicks my socks my jeans and my t-shirt.

Then threw my hat on my head

I did it quiet so that I wouldn't wake her

Woke up in another girl's bed, yooo

I tell my story in reverse 'cause it hurts

Girl it hurts too much to bare

But I'm tantalized by their legs & long hair

But if I could do it again

I would do it again!

If I could do it again

I would do it again!

If I could do it again

Probably do it again!

Could I get a do-over?

Over, ooh oh

Hey, ooh oh

I told my story in reverse'cause it hurts

Girl it hurts too much to bare

But I'm tantalized by their legs & long hair

But if I could do it again

I would do it again

If I could do it again

I would do it again

If I could do it again

Probably do it again

Could I get a do-over? Over!

Yeah, oooh

I told my story in reverse cause it hurts.

Girl it hurts too much to bare

But I'm tantalized by their legs and long hair

But if I could do it again

I would do it again

If I could do it again

I would do it again

If I could do it again

Probably do it again

Could I get a do-over?

It's over

P.S: You better believe it's over. Insensitive jerk. 

Rating: 2 Records

Information: Wikipedia, lamusicblog.com, rock.genius.com

Photo: music-mix.ew.com