Sufjan Stevens wrote a pretty interesting esssay a couple years back about “Friend Rock”, music made by friends, and the unusual moral conundrums that it can stir up in a music enthusiast. While he concludes that the term is non-evaluative and there is such a thing as good friend rock, the connotations remain of music that is simply tolerated to keep up good appearance. I’ve listened to enough “Friend Rock” over the years that I think I can tell the difference, and Scenic Square falls into the rare category of being really really good. Basically, I would dig this stuff even if I didn’t go to high school with these fellas.
Scenic Square’s debut album combines a variety of styles from math rock to shoegaze to post-rock and creates a dense sonic landscape of shimmering electronica. The bleeps and blops are matched with new-wave inspired percussion and Jason Robert’s breathy, hushed vocals. “I Don’t Want To Go” is the album’s most delightful and addicting track, with a glisten of beats and feedback-y guitar backing a sweetly romantic vocal hook “I may never ever be alone, but that’s ok cause I don’t want to go”. “Neon Lights” is a more restrained slow jam that features radiant bells and subtle vocal harmony. Like the rest of the album, it’s both sweet and uplifting.
MP3 I Don’t Want To Go
MP3 Neon Lights
You can download the album at the band’s website (name your own price).
Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good 
Always have been a huge fan of Jason, since I heard him working with Jeff Alvarez in The Wuffs.
I’ll be picking this up the moment I can get 15 dollars to throw down via the “name your price” feature on bandcamp.
Hearing a new rendition of Diagram has been a real treat, it’s been years since the first time I heard it.
Essay isn’t showing up…