Review: Jerry Paper – “Like A Baby”

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Drew Dawson, Music Staffer

Listening to Jerry Paper is like listening to the elevator music of the future (in a good way). Every track on Like A Baby will have you blinking slower and feeling foggy. There is something special about being able to make music that is some parts spacey, some parts funhouse, and just a touch of Mii Plaza theme (again, in a good way). 

Lucas Nathan, creator of Jerry Paper, uses his deep, froggy vocals to lull you into Like A Baby and the tracks stay gentle and dreamy throughout. “Your Cocoon,” released as a single before the album dropped, is groovy and upbeat. Not being able to understand every word that Nathan sings is pretty common, and I don’t really see that as a drawback. The vocals and lyrics are there and they’re good, but they aren’t the main event and aren’t supposed to be. The underwater vocals have to mix with the toned-down synth to make the lounge sound of Jerry Paper. 

“Something’s Not Right” is my favorite track on the album because of the intro and first couple of lyrics that culminate with “she can’t shake the feeling / she’s made some mistake that escapes her mind.” The song isn’t a narrative at all, but it’s kind of like getting up to get something and then forgetting what it was. The melody matches that sentiment well; the synth runs circles around In your head in the breaks between the vocals. Now that I think about it in those terms, the lyrics are like when you stand up to get something, and then the synth breaks are like once you realize you have no idea what you’re doing. 

Jerry Paper is perfect background music for anything. Some tracks, “Commercial Break” in particular, would be great for walking to class. Some, like ‘Losing The Game,’ are great couch songs. I recommend this album for anyone who likes mindless music to set the tone for their lives (good for studying too, since midterms are coming up).

Like A Baby is great for lounging and what’s better than that? 

Recommended: 4, 6, 12, RIYL:  Shintaro Sakamoto, Mild High Club, Dent May, BADBADNOTGOOD