"Stay the Same" by TRAGWAG

Nice:

1. Pleasing; agreeable; delightful

3. characterized by showing, or requiring great accuracy, precision, skill, tact, care, or delicacy

5. minute, fine, or subtle

6. having or showing delicate, accurate perception

8. virtuous; respectable; decorous

Sometimes I say nice punk, referencing a type of exceptionally good punk rocker.  They're good in the sense that they’ve done their homework and they dress just how they are supposed to.  They are vegan and drive hybrid cars, careful to never offend or entice disapproval of any kind.  In fact, they are probably too talented and well-to-do for a scene of alleged rejects who want to be heard but don’t intend to become good at their instruments.  They are try-hards and have chosen punk rock because they need to recognized as the best in their field.  

Other times a nice punk can be artfully sincere with a talent for kindness. They don't blame their problems on society.  They practice love for everyone and genuinely care about the things they do and the things they create.  In a better sense of nice punk, the name TRAGWAG (that really awesome guy with a guitar) seems to indicate a call for self love.  However Tragwag isn’t just a group of slackers on the fence about quitting their band and moving to Austin or Philly.  Instead, all of Tragwag's instrumentation is written and played by Tyler Bisson.  

Every track demonstrates a clear respect for the work put into its conception.  In fact, Tyler’s attention to detail is baffling.  In riffs, beats, and feedback loops I know he is speaking my language in ways I cannot articulate.  Stay the Same affirms my belief that sometimes if you are the one to start writing a song, then you should be the one to finish it.  

I love the breakdown in Outlook and savored the clear rack tom and slick acoustic guitar while pondering nostalgia-injected verses.  The quiet, anthemic vocals remind me of the first time I heard Rainer maria.  Stay the Same is emo, but it’s not just emo.  It’s a lot of things.  It is the pacing and deep, dragging snare drum on Far.  It is the singing that is pretty without trying to be sexy.  It is that part in That Was Me that makes you remember the first scene you were part of and then that other part that makes you want to bob your head like you did at your first show and then the fade out to that gasp of fresh air as everyone piles out of the basement.  

Everything sounds nice, natural, and practiced.   For our enjoyment.  

Please note that I would like to claim permanent credit for coining the term Nice Punk.