'Look Both Ways' by Fencetrees Out Now
If you take pride in impressing your friends with discovering underground artists, Fencetrees is your diamond in the rough. A cinematic experience, Look Both Ways aims to take the audience on a journey. The listener gets a chance follow the main character through an introspective battle as he reflects on his life.
With a nod to Grammy award-winning album, DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar, the use of skits and distorted voices represent the internal conflict the protagonist is facing. This narrative story stands out in the skits, both tracks 1 and 10, and the enterlude Entr’acte, but interjections from the narrator’s morally ambiguous inner monologue can be found throughout the album— even the title suggests being pulled in different directions.
Fencetrees’ frontman Branson Wilson said, “I’m going for a cinematic feel. Something that's abstract and going to grab your attention and turn your head. I want [the listeners] to tune in.”
The album's first collaboration is also the perfect opener. Detached featuring MER sets the tone for the album’s hazy vocals and transportive melodies that lull the listener into a trance.
Despite its February release, the title track Look Both Ways along with Hilarious are ushering in spring and summer vibes with their upbeat paces and strong guitar. It’s easy to get lost in these songs before you realize the lyrics continue to progress the narrative of the album.
OUTTA MIND, OUTTA PLACE is the second collaboration. It starts with a smooth transition from Hilarious, but don’t get distracted by the sonically interesting production and miss the back-and-forth between the distorted voices aka the angel and devil on the shoulders of the main character.
With a similar upbeat feeling, Unnoticed was the album’s only single and it’s a fan-favorite. Take my word for it, you’ll just want to blast it in your car with the windows down.
The album takes a serious turn with Holy Water, My Type of War and Promised Land. In typical Fencetrees’ fashion, these tracks deliver a solid melody with some stand-out guitar moments especially in My Type of War. Strong religious imagery helps draw the story to an emotional close.
Promised Land is a stand out and it’s the perfect way to tie up the end of the story. The main character seems to give up his internal battle, pleading with an outside force or greater power to end his suffering.
With upbeat songs and intriguing production elements, don’t let the deeper meaning of the album pass you by. Look Both Ways is an unfiltered, vulnerable discussion on redemption, forgiveness, and taking ownership of your life. If you're looking for good music that's meaningful, this is the album for you.