Written by Bethany Clancy
Album art by Sarah Krizon
Lake Saint Daniel, also known as Daniel Radin from Future Teens, has released a solo album, “Good Things.” According to Radin, the album is full of gentle songs about family, anxiety, love, and growing up.
The record starts off with a short intro track titled “Be Here Now.” It is probably the most calming track to start off a record, with lyrics like “But if I had slowed down, I wouldn’t be here now.”
The song dives into the embarrassment that goes through Radin’s head about still being a musician while his friends are entering the “real world” with corporate jobs. Personally, it really made me center in and reflect on life in 2020; eing a recent college graduate without a full-time job, but realizing how important it is to live in the now, and accept things as they are.
“Well-Lived” is the second track and it’s about...well...a life well-lived. That being a person and existing isn’t all about waking up, going to work, coming home then going to bed.
The depressing struggle with faith, and trying to not have life catch up to you. “If the best advice says to take it slow, then by my calculation the point is to quickly grow old.”
It’s about holding on, regardless of how dull and mundane this life can be, there will be something to hold onto. Don’t waste away thinking about when the good times will come.
Then we go into the title track, “Good Things” which explores the feeling of caring about another instead of worrying about yourself or what they think of you. Connecting with someone so strong, but having the wrong timing.
“We felt the same, but never at the same time.” Luckily, the characters are finally getting it right by the end of the song, “If good things are coming in the long run / Maybe this time I’ll wait around.” Daniel goes from driving around alone to having an “us” on a sunny day, showing good things can come.
“Faking Asleep” is focused on growing up and letting your childhood slip away unknowingly, then suddenly subconsciously becoming older, not realizing where to go from there. This track made me nostalgic for my own youth; I’m still young, but after listening to this, it led me to take in and appreciate the moments of innocence I still have.
It’s the kind of song that has you reflect on all parts of life so far. Being a kid, then suddenly you’re in your twenties, and you slowly start to think “what the hell? How did I get this far? What am I supposed to do?”
“Silver or Bronze” is the halfway mark for the album. Looking back at the past with present eyes is a big theme in this song, along with this whole album.
It’s all about getting a grip on reality and focusing on the right here and right now. It’s kind of also about losing your grip on reality at the same time.
It goes into not being able to spend time with friends due to the pandemic, just seeing them exist on the internet, and having to see them change and grow up right before your eyes. Life either goes by too fast or too slow, there’s no in-between.
“Move On,” opens with a slow melancholy indie-country sound. It dives into the process of how difficult can be to let go and move on, especially due to bad timing when you can’t pinpoint what went wrong.
“Maybe it’s time to recall the present and not just what’s passed / To accept where you’re going, you can’t get too fast.” It urges listeners to start letting go of your ego, believe in yourself, and not be afraid to let go.
“Night Song” is a slow intimate song about the innocent feeling of falling asleep next to someone and feeling safe. It encapsulates the thoughts and feelings that run through you when you’re starting to fall for someone and really let them into your life.
An ambiance of white noise leads us into “22”, which dives into themes of anxiety, depression, and giving up on love. “It’s what I’m made of, the fear of nothing running through my heart.” It goes into the complications of love at 22 and letting someone new into your life, ultimately falling hard for them.
“Rainbow Connection” is a solemn-sounding song that starts off saying how rainbows are visions, only illusions, and how they “have nothing to hide.” Daniel’s voice sounds so light and flowy, that makes the song sound like would be used to teach a lesson in an episode of Mister Rogers (in the best way possible).
The rainbow connection is for lovers, dreamers, and the protagonist of the song. This definitely leans towards one of the more optimistic songs on his album that discusses dreams and the future. Despite the slow melody, it comes off as a lighthearted song, which makes me optimistic about the future.
The closing song, appropriately named “Goodbye”, revolves around nostalgia for both good times and bad. The piano-ballad-esque sound it has to it makes for the perfect closing track. It takes all of the key themes and concepts from the album and incorporates them into one song.
Despite the somber tone through this album, it is very comforting for one to listen to, especially as a person in my 20’s who is dealing with the “I don’t what to do with my life” stage. “Good Things” is the best album to play while having a day of self-reflection on a rainy fall afternoon.
Lake Saint David is made up of Daniel Radin, Colby Blauvelt, Hayley Sabella, and Danny Hoshino. You can support them by following them on Twitter @LakeSaintDaniel and by picking up a record, shirt, or hat on their online merch store.
Have you listened to "Good Things" (available on all streaming platforms now) yet? Let us know what you think by tweeting us @lgndsoftmrw!
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