A down-tempo, synth driven LP takes you back to a time you’ve never lived through.
This LP is a soulful mix between vaporwave and 80’s synthpop. At times it’s wistful and a bit moody, but one of the best things about it is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s like Sports constructed a big, spacey echo chamber and encourages the listener to step inside and lose themselves in it. I wouldn’t go as far as to call it psychedelic, but the album definitely has some of those heavily phased and surreal elements native to the genre sprinkled throughout. It makes me feel some sort of whimsical combination of driving at night with my sunglasses on and drowning in a kiddie pool.
Top 3:
#3: Panama
https://open.spotify.com/track/6JfqUlQHtbdWDi5o7bp6qd
This one wasn’t easy for me to put in the top three. There are definitely some other songs on the LP that could contend for this spot, but truthfully, this song is too iconic for me to ignore. It’s not my favorite song by Sports, but it’s definitely a fan favorite.. and, admittedly, for good reasons. It’s unique, it’s catchy, and it’s a fun listen. Although they aren’t my favorite types of songs a lot of the time, it’s one of those songs where the listener can just blast their speakers and sing along. I’ve got to give respect where respect is due. Honestly, to me it feels like a digitized version of ‘Africa’ by Toto, and who doesn’t love ‘Africa’?
#2: You Are the Right One
I’ve always believed that one of the most important aspects of an album is its first song. As the saying goes, first impressions count, and in this instance I think Sports hit the nail right on the head. The constant onslaught of punchy snare hits and the coming and going of the smooth undercurrent of synth chords sets the tone of the album perfectly. The calm, reflective verse and heavily saturated pre-chorus/chorus combo lend themselves to a very enjoyable and balanced arrangement, which is exactly how I see the album. Short, sweet, and dynamic.
#1: Dalton’s Wish
The other two songs I picked are some of Sports’ most loved songs, but I had to stray from the pack on my number one pick. This song is very dreamy and vaporwave-y, I definitely wouldn’t call it a hit. At the same time, however, it is very feelgood, it’s almost like you’re laying down in a spa receiving a very slow and pleasant massage with a hot towel over your face. Also, it’s a great setup for the heavy hitting wave of sound that is Panama. I think it does great things for arranging the mood of the album overall. In conclusion: very relaxing and very pleasant.
