Tom Markey is a musician who has been playing in bands since 1985. Markey mentions “I hadn’t written or performed in years, having raised a family, but when I found myself stuck at home and out of work, like so many people during the beginning of the pandemic, I turned back to my music.” The result would be Pale Ontology. It is the story of Markey’s life in Austin. He says the songs were all written between 1990 and 2000, but were recorded at home, during the ongoing pandemic.
“Light and Heavy” is the opening song and begins with a 4/4 beat, a bass line, reverb-laced guitar and what sounds like organ. The song is lush and atmospheric but still has a solid groove to hold onto. It’s a moody song, I wouldn’t call it upbeat but isn’t a downer either. “Worker's Lament” is next and is a little brighter. The song revolves around jangly guitar chords and kinetic rhythm section. This song had one of my favorite riffs on the album. The song seems to be about the general trial and tribulations of being a person. Markey sings “I’m much too young to feel this way / And everyone I know is acting just the same / So how could it just be me / Still I could be projecting Instead of introspecting.” “Little Bird” was a highlight. I thought the mixing on this song was good. The vocals felt nice and snug between the instruments. On top of that I would say this is one of the catchiest songs. The vocal melodies are memorable and there’s also some impressive lead guitar. It’s a fun and upbeat song that should put you in a good mood. “Walls” was an interesting song. The guitars are clean and the chord progressions are unique. There are some smooth transitions and a lot of them. It’s one of the more dynamic songs in the album.“Stepping Back” has its moments. The ’90s alternative vibe felt more infused with this song. There’s a very cool build around a minute-and-a-half in that peaks and then slows down to this serene and tranquil breakdown. This leads to an explosive crescendo where the drums are in overdrive. “Relations” has some very cool guitar work.The reverb, distortion and strumming style give the song more of a shoegaze aesthetic. “A Guess” feels like a plea for connection when Markey sings “Something full of comfort / Something to believe in / Somebody to pray to / Somebody who answers / But nobody answers.” “Dishwasher” is a short but catchy song while “Complaining” is a classic rock inspired groove that feels like it would sound perfect on a Saturday night. Last up is “Aggravated Cultivation” and this song has some of the best vocal delivery. It felt like another highlight. The recording quality was a little lo-fi at times but overall was solid for a home recording. There’s a good mix of songs here which surprisingly, given how far apart may have been written, sound cohesive. Overall, there’s a lot to appreciate here. Take a listen.
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