Mightmare: Cruel Liars
Sarah Shook is a name that I’ve heard a few times surrounding the scene of music that I find myself tangled in, and somehow I’ve never taken the time to listen to the work that they did with their band Sarah Shook and the Disarmers. The second I hit play on the first song off of Mightmare’s Cruel Liars, I was immediately embarrassed for not being more familiar, but extremely grateful that this one did not miss me, and excited that I have a back catalog to dig through.
Photo by Jillian Clark
I listen to a lot of music from a lot of genres, and usually I find a takeaway or some piece of enjoyment in almost anything that I take the time to listen to. Rarely does a piece of music just hit me in the gut and drag me on a ride whether I’m ready or not. Cruel Liars is exactly that kind of record. There is a skill that I find to be one of the most intriguing and difficult to master: Saying a lot without using a lot of words, and Sarah Shook has that skill with room to spare.
There’s an ease to Sarah’s voice that’s immediately palatable. There’s no adjustment needed, it’s silky smooth, but there are layers and subtlety that really stand out over the course of the record. There’s a haunting power in the vocals that tell you nearly as much as the lyrics, which in case you were curious are a masterclass in efficient use of language.
Sarah’s work has always had an alt rock flavor, with some indie genes spliced in. This record may be the embodiment of a modern indie rock record, or at least what the modern indie rock record should be. Sure, there are elements of the rest of their work, but they stepped out on a ledge and took the one-man band approach. There’s a singular nature to the vision of this record that tells me it was almost entirely Sarah’s vision. For me, those records rarely hit the mark, if I’m being honest. The tension that comes from dialogue and bouncing off of several people usually add layers of intrigue, and depth; however, on this record, Sarah did the improbable and made a one-soul record that instead of the singular vision becoming monotonous, only focused the emotional content and sharpened it down to a razors edge.
Sarah’s passion for social change and their work for safety, especially in relation to the LGBT community, is only another layer of the person behind this powerhouse of a record. If Cruel Liars isn’t a record everyone is talking about in a couple of months, I’m not sure where we as a public went wrong. This record, the remainder of Sarah’s discography, and their social work show a constitution that deserves recognition and attention. There is so much to be proud of here for the North Carolina native.
I can honestly say that this record impacted me in a way that very few do. Sarah has earned a fan most likely as long as they decide to make music. My exploration of their back catalog after digesting Mightmare’s debut release tells me that they rarely get it wrong, but this record gets it so right.
I believe that you can start anywhere on this record and find something to impress. The opening track, “Come What May,” starts the cascade with a self-reflective lament.
Well I saw you waiting / Saw you hesitating / In that long gone way / but I had no spine / to speak my mind / and say I’ll always love you / come what may
This, following the opening of the chorus: I’m bein’ so strong doin’ my own thing / was it all for nothing. Even without context you feel a self-defeating attitude, where trying to hold it together is just gripping tighter while the sand falls through your hands; it’s heavy in a way that Shook’s vocals drive home effectively, painfully.
The album closes with what is in my opinion the best and most painful track on the record, “Sure Thing.” The opening line is an immediate punch to the gut.
I’m packin’ all my records up and turnin’ out the light / Ain’t gonna be no memories gonna haunt me down tonight / Draw all the curtains tight
There’s some real distress in that lyric that continues to only become more desperate at the closing of the track.
The room is dark and silent and I’m quieting my mind / interlace my fingers tight / ‘til each one is entwined / rearranged and redefined
It’s lyrics like this that describe a state of being, that don’t need context to understand the raw emotion attached. It’s these types of emotional heavy hitters that make the record shine against the backdrop of an expertly tuned melancholy symphony of drum beats and indie rock mastery.
Mightmare’s Cruel Liars releases all the places where music can be had, Friday, October 14th. I’m begging you to listen to this record, buy a copy for a friend, send them a link to Sarah’s work on streaming platforms, just spread it. This is a record with enough accessibility to have something for most and enough depth to be required listening. It’s not hyperbole, this record brought literal tears to my eyes, got me excited, and did what great records are wont to do: inspired me. I’m confident it can inspire you too.
Find out more about Mightmare below:
