BETWEEN HOME AND SOMEWHERE ELSE - REVIEW
Between Home and Somewhere Else is a trio from the Southern Oregon area. Their self-titled debut album features the musical talent of James who produced the album on their own long before the other two members, Nola and Cliff, joined.
As of now, they have two releases. The aforementioned self titled debut, of which we will be discussing, and the recently released Trying Things in Small Towns, an EP that only helps to elevate their sound. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…
BH&SE features an interesting mix of punk, folk and Midwest emo. Their lyrics are often deep and personal. When paired with the punky rhythms of the PNW and abused guitar strings on both electric and acoustic, it creates this familiar yet refreshing sound. And as someone who has been in this DIY space for a long time, I find that kind of unified dichotomy to be extremely rare.
Sitting at a lean 24min and 14sec, BH&SE features 9 tracks. The album opens with We Gotta Get Out of Here, painting the scene of being trapped in a small town with big dreams of getting free of it all. The track here features just an acoustic guitar and James’ vocals with drums coming in at the very end to blend this introduction track in with the rest of the body.
The next track is Leaving Home. It shares a lot of the same motifs and melody as the previous track but now the sound is fuller with drums backing the acoustic guitar and vocals. Immediately this track announces their sound. Punky beats on the drums. Abused guitar strings ringing. Vocals that teeter between melodic and screamo. The album pretty much keeps up this energy for the remainder of the runtime so I won’t get into too many sensory details.
BH&SE is an album about getting out of a small town only to find yourself coming right back home. The album’s tracks progress from feeling stuck (We Gotta Get Out of Here) to leaving it all behind (Leaving Home), becoming homesick (Missing), learning more about yourself (Inhaler), losing your faith (God Hates Everyone), losing love (Disappear, Ghost, 99.9fm) and finally, finding yourself right back where you started (Going Home).
When I listen to this album it reminds me of my own small town. Of all the dead end streets and bumming cigs from older men outside of the Circle K. It’s been a while since I last left, but before then I must have trekked out at least half a dozen times. Once for school in Florida. Another time to Nebraska in the hopes of being a better parent. When all came crashing down I found myself in Mexico making my addictions worse and worse as the weeks progressed.
I found myself throwing my all into others, communities, family; only to find myself taking the long, slow walk back home. Much like in the tone of the album, there is some comfort to be found there. You can always go back home.
Highly Recommend This Album