Much of Shag Lab’s debut EP centers around feelings of dissociation and withdrawal — despite fitting quite well into the Lonely Ghost Records’ roster as a recent signing. A compelling sense of longing and alienation is threaded skillfully throughout the four-song self-titled release. The Cincinnati, Ohio group masterfully transition their inner doubts into self-conscious and uncertain lyrics, coupled with harmoniously light instrumentals.
Shag Lab has a way of inputting the listener right at the base of the narrative, to such a degree that being coaxed into the narrator’s struggles almost seems second nature. It’s a personal story filled with the anxieties that stuff a single person’s head, but there is a definite beauty in the ability to make this feeling nearly palpable to those lucky enough to tune in.
Opening track “Coconut Head” sets the mood for the rest of the EP, fully divulging the narrator’s desire to be needed. When they no longer feel like an essential aspect to someone else’s life, they feel defeated, claiming “everything is falling apart.” Frantic cries mixed with turbulent drum beats excel at providing a backing track to the narrator’s muddled and erratic thought process. Midway through the song, euphonic guitar strumming almost acts as a sort of moral compass for our narrator, keeping often wild thoughts at bay, and providing some much-needed perspective. As the song progresses, the narrator seems to once again have a solid head on their shoulders, eager to simply be led away “from the heartbreak,” onto a path of solace.
That persistent anxiety is echoed further on “Bad Skaters,” where they once again speak of the disconnect felt between the individual and their loved ones — even their cat. Social alienation is a major theme throughout, crooning, “Leave it up to me / I ruin everything / I’m fuckin’ leaving.” This estrangement is par for the course with the sort of emo DIY music gaining traction with listeners today. Heavy riffs and fizzy hooks add a sort of airy juxtaposition to those heavier subjects of depression, misunderstanding, and solitude.
On the whole, Shag Lab has created an EP that is as melodically sound as it is emotionally driven. Upbeat instrumentals are mitigated at precisely the right times, as the listener is nearly commanded to hear the band across a spectrum of experiences, empathetic anecdotes, and emotional nuances.
Make no mistake, Shag Lab is a band of emotive experts who have truly honed in on their craft and created something truly remarkable. The EP is an excellent debut from a band full of promise and potential. It’s a detailed listen teeming with charismatic, memorable tracks that help secure the validity of one’s own emotional journey.
Shag Lab’s S/T will be available on streaming services on Friday, February 7th, but you can listen to the four song EP now below — exclusively on Double Negative.
