There are few marriages of song and video as perfect as you find with Elsewhere’s “The Pledge”. The Boston trio’s new single release benefits the Alzheimer’s Association and has a less than cheerful subject matter, but Elsewhere produce a well-rounded musical and visual package that is uplifting rather than leaving viewers and listeners mired in despair. Bob Dylan once said in an interview the highest purpose of art is to inspire and the combined riches of the song and visual accompaniment succeed in investing this traumatic experience with the humanity it deserves.
MORE ON ELSEWHERE: https://www.elsewhereband.com/
It is a lyric video, but there are few listeners, if any, who will have difficulty deciphering what vocalist/guitarist Michael Aroian is singing. His thoughtful writing for “The Pledge” captures the variety of emotions someone likely experiences as they begin wrestling with Alzheimer’s growing effects. Many listeners will rate the band’s songwriting high thanks to their refusal to focus on the currently bleak prognosis for those affected and, instead, underlines how the heart and love endure even these moments if we choose to allow it.
This is an important part of the track’s success. “The Pledge” is a step away from the band’s usual material but their songwriting never misses a step; its aching emotion is real rather than manufactured entertainment. The mix of different musical elements is, however, every bit as critical. Elsewhere sound like a band who long ago learned the lesson that contrasting heavy and soft musical passages create dynamics for listeners recalling the flow of classical music, in some respects, but is a longtime staple of potent rock tracks.
They are, without question, a rock band. Elsewhere, however, are more than that – they have an assortment of influences ranging from Duran Duran to Rush to the Sex Pistols. You won’t hear any anarchy during “The Pledge”, but Elsewhere’s willingness to follow their own path rather than parroting any particular popular sound of the moment speaks to how seriously they take their art. They are not looking to craft disposable three minute pop confections. They are interested in recording music capable of withstanding posterity’s unforgiving glare and, with songs such as this, they arguably have a chance of achieving that goal.
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/The-Pledge/dp/B08NFF1LR8
The production has a bright sheen and Mark Needham’s mix for “The Pledge” frames the different instruments together with immense style. It is little wonder. It’s reflective of the band’s growing status they can secure the services of the Grammy nominated producer known for his work with bands such as The Killers, Walk the Moon, and Fleetwood Mac and is not any sort of gimmick move. His talents contribute immeasurably to this song’s power. There are future peaks awaiting Elsewhere and further glories to come, but their new single “The Pledge” and its video reveal a band climbing an upward trajectory with confident, relaxed ease. Let’s hope they continue to write and record new music for many years to come as they are an important artistic voice we need in the modern music world.
Troy Johnston