The band Reserver teeters on the edge of noise rock and indie pop, echoing the distorted hooks and fuzzy guitars of familiar staples like Sonic Youth and Guided By Voices. Forged in the post-punk scene of Chicago, it is a hard-won musical project in which old friends repurpose their sound to contend with the grief and emotional fallout that too often accompanies the passage of time. The aptly-named “Heart Is a Bomb” reflects on these themes, revealing a songwriter–see Chad Preston–who can turn a phrase and craft lyrics that pack just as much punch as these well-used and overheated guitars.
The chorus relies on a basic but compelling metaphor: “My heart is a bomb.” The repeated line will stick in your head, begging the listener to consider the explosive potential and volatility of the body’s essential organ. In the words of Preston, “Sooner or later/ Time has its way.” Emotionally volatile, sure, but perhaps more to the point, the heart will eventually give way to time, a fact that we will all reckon with at some point.
The grief is palpable, but from the wreckage, an undeniable aesthetic and unshakable melody emerge. The guitar lines push and pull against this melody, realizing the limits of the song and pushing the signal in all directions. To that end, form meets content, as the band renders each note as though it might explode. At the end of the day, it is a perfectly executed pop song that strains against the form, one that you won’t want to miss. Check it out through the links below.
Written by SilenceKid
