Other Adults is the music project of Philadelphia-based Zach Fogleman, who creates impressively thought-provoking indie rock music with touches of punk and grunge. Heavily influenced by the likes of Pavement, Pixies and Elliott Smith, amongst other indie heroes. On the recently released seven-track album Something To Fight About, Other Adults is not afraid to tackle complex topics from politics, childhood to adulthood, love, trauma, family and everything in between. The touching influence Fogleman's recently deceased father Herb has on the album gives it a beautifully poignant personal resonance, which can truly be felt throughout.
Something To Fight About opens up with the track “Consent," and the impressive driving guitar tone really sets the mood for the record and is just the start of the exceptional guitar work evident in the album. "Dial Tone" sees some of Other Adults’ best work, with its piercingly emotive lead guitar and spacey ambient production. This aligns perfectly with the sad sentiment the track conveys of the emotions and grief associated with losing a lost one. The addition of Fogleman's dad's personal voice message saying "Give me a shout or give me a buzz " give "Dial Tone" a hauntingly beautiful personal essence that will play on the heartstrings of any listener. An artist’s willingness to be vulnerable with the audience is always commendable, and Zach Fogleman goes above and beyond that on this track. On “Melodrama,” I love the call and response vocals by Fogleman, and his ability to humorously trivialize tough-talking subjects, in this case, relationship insecurities (very Pavement like!), as well as the catchy chorus, which is the most poppy Other Adults gets on the whole album. "Happy Life" is a suitable conclusion to the album, as it links all the tones prevalent throughout, ranging from childhood to adulthood, in a heavy reverb induced, climactic closer. Overall with Something To Fight About Other Adults has created an exciting, sentimental and emotive album. Fogleman is clearly a talented artist with ambitious visions and striking commentary of the poignant points of life (which is a rare ability to find in modern music) that we can all connect to. I think with better production (such as double-tracking some vocal parts, more reverb and grandiose instrumentation), Other Adults can produce even more spectacular work. But despite this, Something To Fight About is still a refreshingly honest and engaging listen from start to finish. Thank you, Zach Fogleman, for your bravery and honesty.
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