By Linc Bradham
With an endearing low-fi sound that gives real credence to the honest and genuine level of rock that they exude, DC’s own Smokin on Planes is here to tell you and the world that we’ve all got time to enjoy the simpler things in life in their new single “I Got Time.” The COVID-19 pandemic hit us all differently, but hearing this upbeat, optimistic take on the time that so many of us lost during that time is refreshing, unique, and hard not to dance to! The tone of the guitars adds to the overall ambience of the track, the bass drives and pumps the song forward, the drums are right in the pocket, and the variety of both male and female singers’ vocals helps push the collaborative tone of the tune even further.
The overall energy of “I Got Time” seems, at the surface, to harken to a simpler life before the pandemic, channeling influences like The Raconteurs, The Wallflowers, and Dinosaur Jr. Yet before moving into the optimistic chorus, the lyrics of the verses express something deeper than pure optimism, reflecting what so many of us felt during quarantine. “…Been cooped up in the panic box for over a year…we’re banging our heads for what…asking questions like, ‘What the ****?”
In all of their tunes (see our coverage of their single, “Oblivion“) , Smokin on Planes join raucous guitars and strong melodies to craft punk rock ear worms. Running through their songs are feelings of nostalgia and sense-making. They gravitate towards coming to terms with the past and navigating the myriad personal transitions we experience as our lives unfold. This sentimentality is juxtaposed by distorted guitars and an upbeat, danceable sensibility. Watch the incredibly fun music video for “I Got Time” here, and see and hear for yourself. Don’t forget to follow our Alchemical Multigenre Mixdown playlist on Spotify and on YouTube for more great music featured on the site.
Linc Bradham is an American multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, audio engineer, and songwriter originally from Savannah, GA. He has resided in the DMV for the last three years and has served in the active-duty Army for the last 12 years. He is in the process of switching Army careers into the Army Field Band as an audio engineering professional, with long-term goals of promoting music education in America and the Middle East.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
