We're only one song in, but so far, Stray Gold isn't very stylistically dissimilar to Empty Atlas. "Stupid Answers" does feel a little more acoustic or singer/songwriter-y at its core compared to the full band's typical output, but it's still more of a mid-temp pop rock song than anything, with electric guitars, bass, and drums to round it out. If I heard the song without knowing it was a solo project, I likely wouldn't have guessed it. All that to say, if you're into Empty Atlas' music, "Stupid Answers" is going to be an easy song to grab hold of. Smith has a gift for creating earworm melodies that instantly carve out a spot in the listener's memory. Even if you don't listen to music for the lyrics, you're likely going to catch yourself singing lines like, "No one's laughing now" or "I have only stupid answers, that's what stupid questions get," at random times throughout the day.
Those who dig more into the lyrics will find Smith's signature dry wit woven into the relatable verses. Here, he waxes poetic about his tendency to resort to jokes, even when the situation clearly calls for something with more substance ("I can't help but say the wrong thing when the right one won't come out"). Again, relatable. The second verse is my favorite: "Next time we meet, down Ashley Street / 8 past 12 at the 7-11, you ask me what it means / and I have only stupid answers, that's what stupid questions get / I say maybe all the stars aligned, maybe you just wanted cigarettes." It's an easy go-to to avoid conversation (intentionally or not), but it's not always the best move.
If the goal of Stray Gold was to get me hooked, it worked. "Stupid Answers" is easily an early contender for my top songs list later this year, and it has me very excited about the future for the project. Smith is a terrific songwriter, and I hope we get to hear more from him (in any capacity, really) sooner rather than later. Fans of acts like Coldplay, Switchfoot, Keane, and Snow Patrol should make a beeline for Stray Gold.
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Charles Billingsley Replay [StowTown]
