This song came to fruition in the midst of a very self-destructive relationship and that is self-evident from the powerful lyricism on display here.
Something I admire about “Gut Shot” is the instrumentation hits you from the get-go. Old Joy’s Alex sings about clinging to a rainbow whilst waiting for a paycheck, which paints a real and honest picture of trying to keep positive when it may feel like everything is up in the air. A good lesson can be found there for sure.
Alex sings about continuing with a doomed relationship, a situation many of us have found ourselves in before. It is impressive to hear a tackling of that introspection in an alternative, grungier track with pop elements, which takes me back to my teenage days. There is a lot to take from this emotional unpacking, delivered with a heavy guitar-driven blow.
You can hear the raw DIY band culture that will have no doubt shaped this track and subsequent records; it is refreshing to hear.
This ethos and approach to music reminds me of the early days of Allison Crutchfield’s Philadelphia-based project Swearin’; it’s something I was reminded of upon my first listen.
If you ever related to an Elliott Smith track, then I would say Old Joy are definitely the band for you as well. For Alex and his friends to be able to channel that kind of inspiration whilst at the same time carving their own unique sound is no easy feat, and I definitely admire them for that.
Take a listen to “Gut Shot” below.
Written by Dylan Cantwell
