Over the last couple of years, modern indie pop has seen a rapid rise in the cultural zeitgeist. The genre is, in many ways, a resurgence of the sounds that populated radio stations in the early 2010s and has been utilized for many a fictional ship edit on TikTok. Many artists have come out of the woodwork that are now staples of the scene, including Laufey, Djo, beabadoobee, and the artist formerly known as BoyWithUke. With Jon Often’s debut EP Frankie, he’s primed and ready to join this group with a collection of instantly memorable bangers and smooth, nostalgic slow jams. Having already cemented his prowess as the drummer for bubbly alternative outfit Beach Bunny (with monthly Spotify listeners in the millions) and the scream-laden rage duet Latter with vocalist Meredith Haines, the Chicago-based musician switches it up with a pitch-perfect mix of mellow vibes and anthemic guitar-driven party pieces that beg multiple relistens. Don’t be fooled by the slightly menacing Frankenstein statue wielding a bloody ax on the EP’s cover – these tracks are not abrasive grindcore but chill, clever, and in their jubilance, extremely catchy for any occasion, whether that be as an artist sketching out your characters, going for a morning run, or even making house cleaning a meaningful experience rather than a bothersome chore. Often (real name Alvarado) knows just when to have fun with the project and when to exercise restraint, allowing an equilibrium across the 19-minute runtime, where not a second is wasted.
Take the opener, “Always Down.” A whimsical groove fades in, and you’re transported through mesmerizing instrumentation and satisfying harmonies. Often, not only passes as a singer, but thrives in his new environment, an artist that’s outside of his usual territory but feels like he’s been here all along. Just within the first track, multiple inspired creative decisions blossom, from blissful harmonies to calculated repetition of phrases such as “what would I ever do without you?” In the stream of mainstream earworms topping the charts today, this earns its right to be stuck in your head for the next week.
The EP’s second offering, “Twenty,” offers an energetic burst of contemplative rock with powerful drum hits leading up to explosive choruses brimming with distortion, Often’s thoughts on mortality soaring above it all. It’s another instance where all aspects of the production work together to form a solidified vision, and the sounds that emanate from the louder moments are nothing short of rapturous. The liveliness it brings to the table, in contrast to some of the more understated songs, is perfect for dancing around your bedroom, but it would serve just as well to light up a stadium. Many of the lyrics are simplistic, yet carry a surprising amount of meaning and effectively complement the ideas being explored, especially when Often throws out personal sentiments like “even in the dark, I still wanna live.”
“Pieces” is the shortest track here, and still earns its place as a tender expression of love supported by a dreamlike lead melody and delicate beats. With intimate lines including “you can say what’s on your mind/speak it to me whenever you like,” it embraces a poetic voice and would be an excellent addition for a mixtape in hopes of winning a crush’s heart. This trend continues with the follow-up, “Joey,” which chronicles a friend who embodies freedom through periods of screaming into the street. A breezy tune that recalls the past while also looking forward to brighter days through rousing acoustic strumming, it expertly constructs subtle vocal layering that ties the composition together, recalling Jack Johnson and also possessing a flair unique to Often’s fusion of styles.
To round things out, “Honda” and “Seasons” are polar opposites, two sides of a coin dealing with the ups and downs of romance, and it’s a juxtaposition of moods present throughout the EP that gives it a constant diversity. The former treats desire as a curse, a vivid and permeating pain punctuated by striking descriptions of “softest skin” and “windows facing west,” amidst an ecstatic alt-rock instrumental that could soundtrack one of the Shrek movies. The latter, on the other hand, takes this anguish and tosses it away, proclaiming “loving you is like summertime, so effortlessly on my mind” with the most soulful arrangement thus far that ties things up with a heartfelt bow. With all its variation and masterful songwriting, Frankie is delightful, bittersweet, and once again proves that Often is a musical force to be reckoned with.
Written by J.H. White
