Eyelids
No Jigsaw
Jealous Butcher Records [2024]
Album Overview: Emerging from the creative crucible of Portland’s indie rock scene, Eyelids have captured listeners from the beginning with their soul-stirring melodies and poignant lyricism. With a sound that seamlessly weaves together echoes of alternative rock’s golden era and modern indie sensibilities, Eyelids craft music that is both timeless and utterly captivating. Their latest album, No Jigsaw, serves as a testament to their artistry, containing 26 tracks from the past 10 years, featuring unreleased songs, out-of-print 7″s, some more recent recordings, and covers of artists such as The Cars, Stereo Total, Big Dipper, The Clean, The Fall, Depeche Mode, John-Paul Sartre Experience, Camper van Beethoven, The Moles, Straightjacket Fits, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Peter Buck.
Musical Style: Eyelids’ musical style is a blend of indie rock, alternative rock, and power pop. They often incorporate elements of classic rock into their sound, creating a nostalgic yet contemporary feel. One can always find catchy melodies, lush harmonies, and thoughtful lyrics on an Eyelids record. Overall, Eyelids’ musical style is rich in texture and emotion, offering a compelling blend of vintage charm and modern relevance, and No Jigsaw showcases all of these elements, especially with a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes.
Evolution of Sound: With each album, Eyelids continue to refine their sound, honing their craft and pushing boundaries while staying true to their roots. This is particularly evident with the addition of more frequent collaborator R.E.M.’s Peter Buck. What is always fascinating about a “rarities” album is that you can hear all their artistic growth in one place. No Jigsaw contains all of those different avenues and showcases an even wider range of their talent, as this album’s focus is on the span of years than true album cohesion.
Artists with Similar Fire: Numerous bands come to mind when I hear Eyelids, especially on this album where their styles are more broad. One such band is The Feelies, known for their jangly guitars and catchy melodies, blending elements of indie rock in a manner reminiscent of Eyelids’ style. Another Northwest band is The Posies, whose harmonious vocals and power pop sensibilities echo the melodic charm found in Eyelids’ music. Additionally, Teenage Fanclub combines shimmering guitars with lush harmonies, evoking the same warmth and nostalgia as Eyelids. Finally, Tobin Sprout’s (Guided by Voices) penchant for memorable soft melodies maintains a similar vibe vocally and spirit to Eyelids.
Pivotal Tracks: “Anything Could Happen” is a foot-tapping rock song that served as one of the first introductions to the band back in 2014. The track is from a 7″ flexi disc split with the Woolen Men, so it’s nice to see it included here. “Bound To Let You Down,” from their self-titled 7″ in 2015, was one of my favorite releases, highlighting and providing a great introduction to the band’s soaring Teenage Fanclub melodies. “Broken Continue,” also from that 7″, is another perfect song from the band with its soft and memorable delivery. It’s nice to see “Holiday Inn” included as it was released in 2021 with Kill Rock Stars celebrating their 30 years. It is a Stereo Total cover, and Eyelids deliver a fantastic blend of Devo and The Sonics. The other covers here are also interesting and add to the fun of this rarities collection, especially their take on Big Dipper’s “Faith Healer.” Eyelids step up and nail the Boston band’s post-punk-meets-indie-rock style perfectly, showing a different side of the group!
Lyrical Strength: Eyelids’ lyrical strength lies in their ability to evoke emotion, provoke thought, and create resonant narratives that linger in the listener’s mind long after the music has ended. Through their thoughtful and introspective approach to songwriting, Eyelids have established themselves as storytellers who speak directly to the you. Once again, No Jigsaw stands tall in this department.
EYELIDS REVIEW HISTORY
A Colossal Waste Of Light (2023) / The Accidental Falls (2020) / Or (2017) / 854 (2014)
EYELIDS LINKS
Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Bandcamp | Jealous Butcher Records
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