Day-to-day living has become such a burden for so many of us in recent years, and for a sadly growing variety of reasons. The struggles, hardships, and barriers (sometimes self-inflicted as Hillsburn will address) have become a horrendously relatable weight we all rise to. Yet amidst all the depression, detachment, disenchantment, and despair; we find glimmers of hope and hopefully that is what Slipping Away leaves listeners feeling.
The band refers to the album as “portraying a society fraying at the seams” and while incredibly accurate, this depiction neglects how exploratory to the individual mind these expressions feel. This release expertly frames the internal thoughts, perspectives, and borderline ramblings of a person navigating amidst hurdles within and beyond. The protagonists in the songs are far from flawless and frequently find themselves floundering, frustrated or forlorn but what shines through, largely based on the musical accompaniment and keen ears; is the glimmer of sun/sense of hope we can all reach for.
Vocal harmonies stand out, as is their tradition, especially prominent on “Shame”, “Waking Up” and single “Get High”, with each song touching on the unique subject matter. “Shame” unsurprisingly fixates on the regretful aspects of our lives and the marks our pasts leave as well as the methods and outlets we seek to address them, which effortlessly leads into the next song in “Get High”. This “party song” title may be misleading though as the chorus seeks to “just get high with you, just like we used to do.” The song reflects through brief snippers of an undoubtedly larger story on one person’s difficulty sharing how they truly feel and ongoing desire to retreat to a safer yet not entirely fulfilling time in the relationship in question.
“Waking Up” finds itself also fitting into the comparatively upbeat efforts of “Skipping Away” and in a perfectly Hillsburn blend of dejection and enthusiasm. The song rises into an almost joyful declaration in acceptance that you may never be the rebel you had pictured yourself in your younger days (“I wasn’t born to be wild”) and that is, nevertheless, fine. Also checking in on my newly invented Soaring Sorrow Scale (patent pending) is “Emma,” A song that either borrows from or inadvertently pays homage to ’80s offerings such as “Take On Me” while heartbreakingly depicting both a toxic romance and addiction. This song is the epitome of Slipping Away and Hillsburn’s expertise on the juxtaposition of tragic topics and majestic musicianship.
The stylings of this selection of songs on Slipping Away will warm and fill your hearts while the lyrics break it ever so beautifully. “There’s sun through a window, but there’s rain in the air.”