On April 24th, 2020, Picturesque released their sophomore album Do You Feel O.K?
The album boasts a bit of a different sound for the Lexington, Kentucky natives. Compared to their debut record Back to Beautiful; Do You Feel O.K? consists of a package deal of rock meets electronic synth, plus the aggressively punk and occasional deep cutting lyrics.
At the heart of it though, the record is about heartbreak, and getting through it.
The record opens with “Necessary“, a track full of intricate and challenging guitar riffs. The music itself sounds heavy, but frontman Kyle Hollis sings with a calm delivery, sounding smooth and collected.
Now, those two takes might sound like they conflict with one another, but rest assured, because they most certainly do not. It is a style of music that when it’s done right, it sounds phenomenal. Take Sleeping With Sirens for example, they are the kings of this, doing it almost flawlessly.
Second after them though, is Picturesque. They’ve proved themselves worthy of being up that high on the totem pole.
“ATTN:” follows up as the second track. It has catchy lyrics, awesome guitar, and consists of a commentary on hook up culture. The guitar solo in this song one of my personal favorite parts of the record.
Additionally, “Swipe” tackles that same theme. Discussing the tribulations that come from using a dating app where you have the ability to “swipe” on people you don’t find interesting. It’s a fast song, with almost a rap/hip-hop style to it. It truly is a one of a kind sound, and will be stuck in your head for hours on end.
Next on the track list is “Crimes“. Full of elements of more popular music we see these days, with beat drops and clean breakdowns, the punk lyrics and their delivery are really what makes this song pop.
“O.K?” is the title track of the record. It’s catchy, the lyrics are deep, and really sends home the message of what it is like to go through a break up. It starts slow, builds into a crashing, loud, and almost therapeutic chorus. Hollis’s screams of passionate, raw emotion, plus the crashing cymbals and melodic guitar make the track a beautiful, deep song that will resonate and shake you to your core.
Once you listen to the first half of the record, you’ll notice those songs are more aggressive, in your face, almost angry. The back half feels like it is more about resolving your heartbreak and moving forward. “Pray” offers a look into that resolution. It is definitely full of the deeper lyrics, but it has the sound of a little optimism. Being comfortable with your feelings, acknowledging them, and preparing to move on.
The album ends with “Day by Day“, which reminds the listener that recovery from anything is a process that takes time, and can only be taken one day at a time. It is slow, raw, and an extremely moving sentiment.
All in all, Do You Feel O.K? is a very good album. It discusses the intricate, tiny details of heartbreak that not everyone experiences or covers. The songs are catchy, deeply emotional, and completely necessary on any break up playlist. You can listen to it with the link below!
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