The Co$t of Life - Search The Night

​The Co$t of Life

Search The Night, Just Me & You, Anchor or Line
self-released; 2023

3.8 out of 5

By My Nguyen
​

The Co$t of Life is an electronic pop and rock solo project led by Jason Irving. The endeavor mixes Irving’s love of electronica, ‘80’s pop and synthwave, punk and rock to create something that a lot of us out there can appreciate. The sound is very airy and this definitely called in my mind ‘80s music. Irving went on to play in pop-punk band Surburbia’s Finest and to teach English in Japan. With his solo endeavors, Irving reaches out to his audience in an up-close-and-personal stance, talking about subjects close and dear to his heart.

We will be reviewing singles from the artist: “Search The Night,” “Just Me & You” and “Anchor or Line.”
First off is “Search The Night,” where some electronic beats, synths and chiming of bells brings across a very Eastern vibe. Next, Irving’s vocals come in in a breathless fashion. I was instantly reminded of ‘80s music. Irving mixes electronic and rock vibes.

On “Just Me & You,” some more ‘80s electronic riffs and synths come in here. The retro sounds really spoke to me. I loved the bouncy beats and happening vocals. Irving’s wife joins him for a compelling duet. The electronic beats sound very busy and there were tons of fuzz factors evident here. This proved to be an enjoyable performance from the husband and wife.

Last up is “Anchor or Line,” where some finger-picking on the electric guitar sounds out here. On this track, Irving mixes a rock sound with a hip-hop vibe. Irving spits out his verses in quick succession. His rap style sounds like a force of nature, just like a cyclone. In the mix, Irving belts out in a revved punk rock fashion. The blend of rock and hip hop recalled in my mind Linkin Park. It definitely made for a great listening experience. 

​Irving knows the sound he is going for and goes at it with his heart on his sleeve. He throws himself into his music and you can tell he gives his all when it comes to his music. The electronica and pop rock sounds felt very refreshing to my ears. I have a feeling his genuine approach will really speak to audience members. This was a great intro to his sound and I definitely look forward to seeing more great tunes from him soon!

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