Matt Duncan

Who Are You On Your Own? b/w State Bird

scum stats: limited 100 copies on hellfire red vinyl (this); there is also a black version

As now seems to be somewhat of a yearly tradition, on the anniversary of me blabbing about records here for just over FOUR YEARS, I'm focusing on the wonderful sounds released by the prolific Soul Step label.

Duncan is the "flagship" artist on the label and his smooooooth sounds are reminiscent of the 80's easy listening jams I fondly recall emanating from the speakers of my mother's Pontiac 6000. Little bit Hall & Oats. Soft vocals sooth for uncertain times.

A-side is previously released, but the flip is just hitting today. A synth-exploration worth the time it takes to listen. If you cannot roll with this, check your wheels.

Although I say it every year, I feel like the situation is more poignant now than ever. SUPPORT YOUR SMALL LOCAL INDEPENDENT LABELS. I have so much joy in the crushing numbers I hear Bandcamp reporting on their fee-free Fridays, it truly warms the cockles of my slowly congesting heart.

The lovely Melvin at Soul Step sent me two copies of this one, so the extra goes to the comment below with the best story about their state or region. State bird of Michigan is the robin and I always thought that was bullshit growing up. I wanted something like the cardinal or the oriole, mainly because of their baseball counterparts. The state stone is the petoskey, which as fossilized coral I think is pretty badass.

Tell me about your state, why it rules, why it sucks, whatever. Winner chosen solely at my completely biased discretion.

(side note: four years? I haven't given up? thanks so much for the comments everyone posts here, I truly enjoy like 72% of them)