The Midnight Purchase, a folk band from Milwaukee, Wi, is offering to listeners a fresh sound that is equal parts “coming-of-age” nostalgia and rustic energy that can only be found in the Midwest. “Young/Naive” is the band’s first full length album and was released on April 18th of this year through Spectra Music Group. Members include Orlando Peña (Vocals/Guitar), Jake Stanzer (Lead Guitar), Jake Williams (Piano/Vocals), Marshall Holm (Bass/Vocals), and Lee Gray (Percussion).
The album begins with “Too Proud”, a song about struggling to achieve ones dreams. Orlando Peña’s vocals stand out immediately, with the entirety of the song showcasing his impressive vocal range which pairs incredibly well with the soulful folk sound the song maintains throughout the piece. The album then continues with “Good Days”. The song is hopeful, explaining the feeling of wanting to move towards a better future and the understanding that if you choose to remain stagnant, you can never obtain the life you dream of. The lyrics state, “What’s left for me if I never change?” emphasizing the idea that to have a better life, you must first choose to walk towards it and make the necessary changes.
“The Hard Way” continues the theme of change and growth, but this time explaining that it cannot happen overnight; that a true metamorphosis happens over time, with each decision and action culminating into a new stage of life. The song emphasis learning from your mistakes and internalizing the lessons that are learned along the way. The song features an incredible guitar solo accompanied by, once again, the amazing vocals of Orlando Peña as well as subtle background drums.
The next song, “Chasing Straights” circles back to the themes found in “Too Proud”. The song ponders the struggles of trying to chase your dreams, despite the setbacks and the detractors. “Chasing Straights” is a song for elder dreamers, for those who have never given up on trying to earn the life they dream about and accomplish the goals they have set, despite the years of trials and tribulations. It encourages listeners to find the beauty in the struggle, and to never give up, even when you feel hopeless.
“Caged Bird” is another song about growing, though this time it tackles the hopeless feeling that comes from seeing those around you change, grow and move on with their lives while you feel stuck in place. It’s the universal feeling of understanding that you need to move on to become who you need and want to be, while also being unable to let go of where you currently are. The song emphasis, though, that “a caged bird won’t sing as sweet”, and that loss is inevitable during periods of growth. “Looking Ahead” is a song about “life after quarantine” according to Peña. It’s about looking forward to brighter days after a period of darkness. The song has a slow, easy listening sound with light vocals and a twanging guitar in the background.
The album’s namesake, “Young/Naïve”, is a song emphasizing hope. It’s the feeling of being lost, but realizing that everyone else is just as lost and confused as you are and that there is something inherently freeing about being young and naïve. The song has a bit more of a country-rock twang than the rest of the album, giving it a place as a nice palate cleanser before wrapping the album up with “Asking Around” and “Santa Fe”. “Asking Around” brings us back down with a slower, softer sound and a melancholic energy with Peña’s vocals taking on a more emotionally tortured sound. Finally, the album wraps up with “Santa Fe”, a song about losing a love as life changes. Peña sings about an old fling who moved to Santa Fe to chase her dreams as he moved on to chase his own.
The album is familiar yet entirely unique, perfectly encapsulating the small-city vibes of Milwaukee, while capitalizing on the big-city sound of Orlando Peña’s vocals.
Written by Madeline A. S. Kilness
Be the first to comment