Last month, Grubby raved about Stephen Becker’s track “Bad Idea”, the first single from the LA-born, NYC-based singer-songwriter’s upcoming fourth album, Gravity Blanket (out April 24th) Where that track was full of wistful slowcore introspection, the new single “Careless” turns the fuzz up to eleven and showcases Becker’s love for wordplay in the face of pain.
On “Careless”, Becker says: “I was stuck on the word careless and how adding a space flips its meaning entirely. In relationships, it’s hard to know whether someone’s just being careless (silly, impersonal) or if they actually care less (harsh).”
Though Becker’s vocals remain soft and high, he’s turned the gain on the guitars up all the way to communicate the confusion inherent in the song’s lyrics. Plus, after the chorus (“It’s obvious that you care less/It’s obvious that you’re careless/It’s obvious but not obvious to me”), Becker hits a ripping solo that cuts just as hard as his lyrics. The grit expands to Becker’s vocals and drums, but in a way that highlights the song’s ability to burn.
Everything about “Careless” feels raw and unpolished, but focused, just as one’s energy might be after a breakup. And as a breakup song, “Careless” does the job well: It is a resignation that the relationship has broken down to something irreparable, and there will be no sense in fighting it. The track’s accompanying music video shows Becker letting out his emotions on an inflatable tube man, symbolizing futility.
Take a look at the video for “Careless”, and follow Stephen Becker on his socials to get updates on Gravity Blanket and upcoming live performances.
Written by Will Sisskind
