Written by Emily Lutz
Since their first release in 2017, Richmond, Virginia’s Telltale has only gone upwards. The band dropped their first EP “Good Intentions” in 2017, and two years later followed it up with their second release, “Timeless Youth” via Sharptone Records.
The opening and title track “Timeless Youth” is about, in simplest terms, growing up. There’s usually a societal expectation of what it means to be an adult, and this song recognizes that as well as the desire to break away from it.
These expectations can be damaging, and in turn, sometimes we lose people along the way, whether it be emotionally or altogether physically.However, we can always fight to keep our sense of wanderlust and restlessness.
Next up is “Bouquet,” a track full of metaphors that work together to create a strong message. It covers the ups and downs of a relationship, allwhile knowing that you’ll never be what that person truly wants and needs.
Vocalist John Carter explains, “‘I’ll never be your bouquet’ is my own way of saying, ‘There are things about me that won’t always be pretty, there are parts of me that are quite literally wilted and dying, and I won’t numb myself out or stop showing certain feelings just to look nice for your display.’”
“What We Live For” is bound to get you dancing. Revisiting the theme of societal expectations, Telltale expresses they have no intention of staying in the 9-5 corporate world.
This track is also perfect for those with a need to get out of their hometown to travel and just live their lives to the fullest. In the chorus, the group references their hometown of Richmond to say sometimes there’s a need to go "back to Virginia when [they] miss the coast", and that that's okay.
“Letting Go” slows down the EP for a bit. The messaging here is super relatable; we’ve all been in a spot of give-and-take in a relationship and ultimately needing to decide to move on to “better weather.”
The first verse starts out with the lyrics “If I had known all the things I know / I would probably just go”, speaking to the sentiment of feeling like you wasted your time with a relationship. Eventually, it all ends in leaving the situation and the titular phrase of “letting go.”
“Dazy” is the feeling of being young and beginning to transition into adulthood personified in a pop-punk jam. The chorus of this song is super memorable; “So get up and get out, yeah, get faded / Spend your Saturday nights feeling jaded / Never make the time for stress and never make amends.”
If there’s any track to truly describe the Telltale sound, it’s “Rose.” Two years later it’s still their most streamed song, and it’s not hard to see why.
This song is filled with brooding, self-conscious lyrics that hit home with many fans. While frontman John Carter may sing that he’ll “let you down again”, but this track does exactly the opposite.
The EP's closer, “Hereditary”, will pull at your heartstrings while showing you Telltale’s versatility at the same time. It opens with somber vocals and instrumentals before exploding halfway in.
As a whole, “Timeless Youth” has been a key factor in Telltale’s success thus far. There’s not a single track that’s forgettable, and it’s sure to be a staple in your playlists.
This release, along with the rest of Telltale's discography is available to listen to wherever you stream music; you can further support the band by picking up some merch and following them on Twitter @TelltaleRVA. Be sure to share your favorite tracks from this EP with us by tweeting us @lgndsoftmrw!
Commentaires