Must Hear Tracks: “I’m Just Snacking” “Gum, Toe, and Sole”
If you don’t like Gus Dapperton, it’s because you don’t like him. It isn’t because his lyrics lack complexity. It isn’t because his musical style is underdeveloped. It isn’t because his songwriting is amateurish. And it certainly isn’t because his music videos are boring. At the tender age of 20, Dapperton seems to have mastered composing, songwriting, and creative direction. After winning a songwriting contest in 8th grade, he hasn’t looked back. He is a basement auteur; a fully-formed artist who is actively curating his own aesthetic. Yellow and Such, his most recent EP, is concrete evidence of his prowess. The accompanying visual media only reinforces the music.
Yellow and Such starts off strong with “I’m Just Snacking.” It’s a tale of lovers who are so similar that they gain nothing from each other. Verbose lyrics elegantly flush out this dilemma. “Honey, I’m whole so what are we snacking for?”, Dapperton croons at the chorus, painting a picture of a relationship that should be fulfilling. Still, they both look elsewhere for more. The song unfolds like a well-crafted short story, with one character described as a “broken bachelor” who doesn’t care much for “thrones of vermillion. His counterpart is the same; she doesn’t seek “colorful patrons” and their “false admiration.”
The music video for “I’m Just Snacking” brings the song to life in a way that is visually striking and thematically consistent. If the lyrics are a short story, the video is a brilliant film adaptation. It begins with Dapperton (the male protagonist of the song) at a party, making out with two women, neither of which are the female character in the song. There he is, drunkenly “snacking” away, while his forbidden lover lays in bed with another man. At the video’s climax, Dapperton and his ex run into each other on a dance floor. They lock eyes. Their chemistry is apparent; they dance like they’re meant to be together. But as the song ends, Dapperton is seen walking the streets of New York alone. As perfect as they may seem, it just doesn’t work. This solidarity between song and video is the mark of an artist with broad creative vision and the skills to turn that vision into reality.
Although Yellow and Such peaks with the first track, the remaining songs don’t fall flat. “Miss Glum & the Pursuit of Falling” is a melancholy dreampop number with lyrics that read like romantic poetry. The opening line, “I’ve heard all about you, once upon a jet-lagged cruise,” sets the melodramatic tone from the beginning. Then there’s “Gum, Toe, and Sole,” which starts with sing-along vocals and gradually layers in drums and bass to rope the listener in. The pacing is impeccable, and the song rivals “I’m Just Snacking” in terms of pure pop satisfaction. Wrapping up Yellow and Such is “The Fool;” a slower, R&B-leaning tune that maintains the lyrical complexity and airtight songcraft as the rest of the EP. In 14 minutes, all four songs float by without a hitch.
Taken as a whole, Yellow and Such is a cohesive and well-written EP. The songs each have their own distinct personalities, but they play well together when heard in succession. His compositions are exceptionally structured, but Dapperton’s lyricism emerges as his greatest asset. On paper, the words read like poems not intended to be sung, but he is able to shape syllables into satisfying melodies. In interviews, Gus Dapperton explains that his songs are inspired by things he hears people say. He builds the story and emotional landscape around that foundation. He says his gender-bending style comes in part from his admiration of David Bowie, and that the music video is an undervalued medium. These are not the half-baked ideas of an amateur. Dapperton is a creative force to be reckoned with, and “Yellow and Such” is just the tip of the iceberg. Or at least I hope so.
Sources:
(All Quoted Lyrics Taken From Genius.com)
https://genius.com/videos/Gus-dapperton-breaks-down-i-m-just-snacking
http://pigeonsandplanes.com/music/2017/08/gus-dapperton-interview-yellow-and-such
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