Falling upon us like raindrops from the heavens, a melodic downpour ensues not long after stepping into the core of “Mosaic,” one of the twelve songs occupying the tracklist of Corey Stapleton & The Pretty Pirates’ Sea Change. There are no synthetic filters between the acoustic guitar and the vocal, nor is the arrangement supported by a negative indulgence becoming problematic in pop music these days. Sea Change’s best moments, from “Mosaic” to the soft “Even Though,” are catalyzed by one element and one element alone – Stapleton’s voice, which feels so much more intimate when it’s put before a simple composition than one made of grandeur.
This isn’t to say that his moderate rock balladry, such as the poised “Make This Work,” doesn’t have a place in this collection of songs; truthfully, the diversity of this material is quite ambitious and not something I’m used to seeing from a lot of singer/songwriters still trying to make a name for themselves. 2022 has brought forth a lot of interesting players, but of those who are making a splash among folk and indie rock fans, this one has quickly become one of the more provocative.
The title cut in Sea Change is straight out of the ’70s, even borrowing its profound sway from a Steely Dan song, but it doesn’t feel like an odd start to the tracklist at all. “The Coin” is a bit too experimental for my taste in terms of its arrangement and slightly plasticized percussion, but considering the fact that it immediately follows one of the best compositions of the record in “Western Son,” it definitely wasn’t set up to succeed. “As the Crow Flies” is the sleeper hit of Sea Change, and I would credit the chills its star vocal harmony offers as being the reason why I think it’s going to take off well with college radio fans. The Pretty Pirates are quite the impressive supporting cast, and while “The Pen” and “Kabul’s Fallen” feel a little more suited to a straightforward singer/songwriter setup as opposed to a proper band, they complement the larger narrative in the record broodingly.
Both the exceptional rock riffing of “My First Rodeo. Not.” and the somber acoustic melodies of “New Me” sound and feel natural for Corey Stapleton, and although I haven’t been listening to him long enough to develop a strong opinion about his future as a player, this is good enough reason to take him seriously.
Sea Change has layers for us to peel back, and for every moment of conventionality it has to offer the listeners, it’s got another complex element that, for better or worse, is different than what you might find when browsing through the music debuting in the American underground this year. Corey Stapleton & The Pretty Pirates are true to the indie aesthetics that influenced the general tone of this rookie release, and if they remain clear of the mainstream influences bringing their peers’ careers to an end, they’re going to do just fine in their scene.
Loretta Kim