This winter, everything is hard. It’s way too cold, there’s a thick layer of ice everywhere, and every task requires more preparation and energy just to weather the elements.
Of course, I’m still in lockdown, double-masking to make up for the failures of the elite and powerful that suggest even a single mask is a good idea. With seemingly everything adding to the unnecessary challenges of daily living, I’ve been gravitating towards music that is immersive and inviting, which has led me to Bored at My Grandma’s House debut, Sometimes I Forget You’re Human Too. Lyrically sincere and sonically engulfing, Sometimes I Forget You’re Human Too feels like a carefree afternoon at home, serene, reflective.
Bored at My Grandma’s House is the guitar pop project of UK’s Amber Strawbridge, whose layers of shoegazey guitars block my unnecessary stressors, zeroing in on what’s important. “Showers,” an ode to back-to-basics care, constructs walls of guitars like the frosted glass of a shower stall, and I feel contained, but not claustrophobic.
On the title track, the layered guitar lines bob with measured precision, setting me up for ultimate relief. It washes over me when Strawbridge declares: “Sometimes I forget you’re human too, I’m just like you.” The message is simple enough, but it’s exactly what I needed to hear: an earnest reminder that no one has it all together. I can’t expect that of myself.
“Lyrically sincere and sonically engulfing, Sometimes I Forget You’re Human Too feels like a carefree afternoon at home, serene, reflective.”
I can’t help but love “Skin.” As Strawbridge repeats, “My skin was your skin and I knew you knew that,” the backing guitars race up and down almost euphorically. It reminds me of the inner fireworks I’ve encountered when I can express vulnerability at last, especially in moments where I should be plainly sad. A breakthrough’s a breakthrough, after all.
On “Summer,” Strawbridge calls out to the warmer season, crying: “Summer come back/summer come fast.” It can feel silly listening to summery songs to warm up, but I’m freezing here – with wind chills hitting 15 degrees on a good day, I’ll call out for summer right along with her. At this point, I’m desperate. The EP closes with the reverberant “Safer At Sea,” with super-captivating instrumentals and an escapist message that feel akin to sailing aimlessly, taking to the open water for elusive minutes of serenity.
“The message is simple enough, but it’s exactly what I needed to hear: an earnest reminder that no one has it all together. I can’t expect that of myself.”
Sometimes I Forget You’re Human Too is the catchy and cozy 5-track respite I needed from myself. I pair this EP with green tea and a comfy couch to let each song mellow me out a little more, reclaiming my right to comfort when it seems I can’t find any.
Devon (he/him) is a Cleveland-based event organizer. He loves radical theory, loud guitars, and hash browns. He lives on Twitter.