Sean Atkins & Carrington carry the weight of their songs within their storytelling. The core of their songs rest on the lyrics, which often balance humor and discomfort through absurd interpretations of everyday life. Lines like, “my nikes don’t like me,” “I love the movies,” and “we’re having a snowball fight,” find a sense of emotional vulnerability disguised within visualization of everyday life, tying humor into the heavy bits and earnestness into the mundane.

Harmonies from singers Sean Atkins and Riley Thayer emphasize the choruses with a disjointed majesty, which feel imperfect but all-the-more emotionally sincere. The sonic palette of the band relies heavily on the two contrasting guitars. Hatcher Cox, who sports a Seahawks helmet likely meant for a four-year-old, plays twangy, country-style lead lines. These melodies almost, but not entirely, clash heads (or rather helmets) with the thick, groveling tone utilized by Atkins.
I believe this tension between the two is what allows this band to not sit too comfortably within a single genre. Thayer’s keyboard playing and soft vocal delivery serves as the binding agent to the dense instrumentation, finding moments of clarity when able. Laila Jane’s country baselines act as a stabilizer in a room where stability was desperately needed, acting as a subtle but effective guide to each song.

Written by Bubba Mack