Brokestring & The Empty Promises -- The Upside of Down
Brokestring hits rock bottom and figures out how to bounce bank with warm familiarity on his new album The Upside of Down.
Brokestring (aka Ryan Seiler) approaches hitting bottom with warm familiarity on his new album The Upside Down. A lifetime road warrior, Seiler gets back to basics here: just his gruff, inviting voice, a guitar, and a near-unhealthy amount of perspective. Seiler wrote about what prompted this album several weeks ago. (You can read the full article by becoming a paid subscriber, or snagging your copy of Rainbow Rodeo Vol. 6 in a few weeks.) Sobriety forces one to confront some uncomfortable truths, and The Upside of Down finds Seiler reckoning with those.
For the most part, the album takes on a winking, ambling sensibility – just as one might approach the beginning of a road trip (or tour) there's a sense of excitement about heading into the unknown and facing a change of pace. Even as Seiler expresses chagrin, such as on "Cynical Heart" or "Sensible Sedan," there's a warmth there. It's in the past, and the only way out is through.
It's not all roses, though. "Past, ______, Future" and "Paper Cages" vibrate with tension. It's all fun and games to pick a direction and drive, but at some point, you need to wonder where exactly you're headed. "Anxiety" captures this the best. We can practically feel Seiler clawing at his guitar as he desperately seeks to maintain perspective – but that humor is still there.
At the end of the day, The Upside of Down is about coming to terms with the past while embracing its consequences – for better or worse – but usually for the best.
