The Geeks hit their stride with their latest release – Sitcom Theme Songs! While their last EP “Weirdly! Relatable! Content!” explored the use of warmth by using tapes to re-record the EP, this album sees the band embrace contrast by singing about lost people and places brought about by the pandemic while having a trumpet section in the unofficial pandemic anthem “All My Favorite Songs”. Who else can talk about impending doom while using a cowboy aesthetic – complete with gallop foley – in the aptly named “Tragic Cowboy Theme Song” not to mention the eerie tunes found in “Mags’ Existential Crisis”. The band still touches upon topics consistent with their previous releases – self-doubt, lost romance, nihilism, existential crisis – but this time with more life in the instrumentation. Slow songs are less frequent now and replaced by more danceable pieces. These are also more singable but beware the despair of singing lyrics like “I’m dead all over again” or “Annabell, I think that you are going to hell”. There were also some interesting choices in the album. Aside from the cowboy-esque song, the use of a guitar slide in some songs jump out and add more fun to songs in a move that is not regularly seen outside of the blues. Also prominent in this release is the use of more vocal features such as Jillian of Formerly Maryknoll in “The Song of Yesteryear” who adds a bit more depth in the storytelling – providing the perspective of a partner. Multiple guests were also featured in “The Score” to emphasize the collective and ubiquitous experience of having doubt in a relationship. It’s been hard to put into words how great this album is – it’s the Geeks at what I think are their peak form. As a fan of happy and upbeat music, It’s funny to hear songs that talk about finding excuses for failure and self-sabotage but with instrumentals that make me want to bop my head. If you are a fan of the band, you’ll love this release and if you are not familiar, give it a listen and get lost in the happy-sounding sad songs. Support the art & the artist: