Local boys Porchsleeper open Every Day is Better than the Next with “Bulletproof,” a rocker with bittersweet twinges that summon vintage Buffalo Tom. That the quartet would recall a mature, melancholic sound from a decade ago isn’t surprising — maturity and its cousins jaded and cynical run throughout this encouraging debut. “Where You Been” brings in handclaps, power chords, and jealousy, while “Something to Drink About” (one of three song titles to not coincidentally mention drinking) finds a frustrated peace in its booze and loud guitars. There’s Southern rock in Every Day too, from the slight twang in Brian Raleigh’s voice to the album’s continuing taste for heartbreak and whiskey. “Since the breakup/ Been sleepin’ in the car across the street,” he sings in “If I Told You,” and he’s joined for the swaying, sing-along-ready chorus by piano, banjo, B3, and big, messy distortion. Porchsleeper’s definitely had it rough. They’ve been kicked out, messed up, and screwed over. In “Can’t Blame You,” Raleigh even admits that his ex probably had the right idea when she left him. Still, the resigned exasperation in their lyrics proves that Porchsleeper wants to set the record straight, then soak it in beer. It might suck getting old, but there are worse things.
Johnny Loftus writes about music for Metro Times. E-mail letters@metrotimes.com.
