As I turn up the volume, I’m no longer sitting in my hot car waiting for traffic to lessen. I’m walking down a burnt orange, tree lined street, taking in the scent of fallen leaves and wet earth. This album is consequently autumn, and I loved every second of it.
Under the name Shelf Life, multi-instrumentalist Scotty Leitch released his indie album “MTV” Sept 29. The record runs 25 minutes, packing in 13 punchy, rhythmic tracks. Drawing influence from bands like Pinback and Real Estate — and having drummed for indie artist Alex G — Leitch delivers a familiar and captivating sound that makes my heart warm and doesn’t disappoint.
The album opens with a snappy and electronic song titled “California Sober.” Reminiscent of ambient musician Aphex Twin, the quick drum kit beat is inspiring, young and nervous. The cozy, open and almost ghostly wooing repeated throughout the song made me feel like Halloween is around the corner.
“Sailors Take Warning,” “Lethal Threat” and “Big Pants” are my absolute favorite songs off the album. “Sailors Take Warning” features a deep acoustic guitar that grounds the listener. The chord progression, played using a distinct fingerstyle technique, feels familiar, crisp and reminiscent of the autumnal weather I love.
Leitch’s mellow vocals contrast strikingly with the industrial twang of the instruments in “Lethal Threat.” Each guitar strum and snare tap lingers on the edge of every beat, giving the track a swaying, powerful rhythm. Meanwhile,“Big Pants” feels conversational, with playful voice effects mimicking back-and-forth exchanges — a quirky touch that had me nodding along the whole way.
Songs like “Kindest Pain” and “Fairytale,” while catchy on their own, blend into one another and fail to distinguish themselves. Parts of the instrumentation and progression feel overused, and I can’t see myself turning back to them after my initial listen.
Nevertheless, Shelf Life’s album “MTV” features songs that transported me into a comfortable and desirable place, my favorite season — fall. Leitch delivers the kind of familiar, captivating sound that makes my heart warm, and it doesn’t disappoint.
