Sometimes, sad girls are no longer sad, and no longer make sad music, despite what their fans might want. That was the criticism thrown at Lorde after she dropped the Melodrama (QRO review) goth look for 2021’s sunny Solar Power (QRO review), because we’re all still sad these days (particularly American girls…). Singer Chelsea Lee of SHAED may have married her bandmate Spencer Ernest and even had a daughter, but with Spencer’s twin brother Max the trio are still Spinning Out.
Leaning more towards the evening intimacy than a big explosion of feelings (SHAED is an appropriate name, even if they’ll never been Shade, The Changing Man – or Woman), the trio deliver their sorrow without feeling self-indulgent. “Maybe I Don’t Know How” to let go, “You Stole My Favorite Song” has two versions of that important subject, while “Love Is Painful” is smoother. This is a group that keeps itself in check, including the vox + piano title track and acoustic finish “Shapes”, while still delivering the sad goods.
We can all be happy for the achievements of others that we think deserve it, even if it might make them happier than us. Yet we all still struggle with our darker, shadier moments, when we risk Spinning Out.
