You Fool! – What is the Meaning of This?


Newly-minted indie rockers You Fool! come from Washington D.C. Their debut album is called What is the Meaning of This? (WITMOT moving forward) and it spans the complete spectrum of indie rock, ranging from effervescent fun and danceable indie pop; all the way through post-rock; and even some dark, synth-pop moments. Between their exclamation point-laden band name and the could-only-be-an-inside-joke album title, it’s clear the fourteen (!) songs offered here come from a group of musicians who love what they are doing and are having fun doing it. After all, they started after an impromptu jam session inspired by karaoke performance of “Colors in the Wind” from Pocahontas. Guitarist and songwriter Josh Ryan explains the meaning of their album title below:

“The album title has sort of a double meaning… On the one hand, it reflects the introspective and contemplative nature of some of the tracks on the album. But on the other hand, it came from a phrase I overheard [wife and band’s songwriter and vocalist] Julia say to our cat. That duality of silliness and contemplation is something we play around with a lot.”

The album starts with an instrumental, “The Time We Have Left.” Here, the band experiments with squalls of feedback, subtle harmonies, and bitcrushed whirring, building suspense before launching into song two, “Mayday.” You Fool! truly kick things off with one of their more somber offerings, an 80s-tinged electropop song that tackles the everyday horrors we all have to endure. At a brisk 1:31, “Mayday” comes and goes without much of a second thought, much like the misfortunes that seem to pop up when we need them least. They follow it up with the similar timbre of “Light of the Moon,” a song that details the breakdown of a toxic relationship. It opens with slow burn energy – an impassioned plea from singer Julia Marasteanu rings out before it blossoms into something complex and beautiful. On that note, it’s certainly worth mentioning the rest of the band – Mayson Rangel on bass (who brings a heady rhythm to “Light of the Moon”), Mike Celone on drums, and keyboardist/guitarist Gregory Fine.

There’s a “happier” side to the album as well (if you can call it that, a lot of the album feels tongue-in-cheek). Even though it’s essentially cataloging the end of the world, lead single “hello Armageddon (Fuck It, We’re Dancing)” feels fun and, as described, danceable, with a sugary melody and a well-timed f-bomb. “Taking Notes” pairs a jaunty drumbeat with punchy stabs of guitar and a sparkly lead lick that immediately catches your attention. The buzzsaw guitars on “Stay The Same” are fun too, and they might be one of the heaviest moments on the album. There’s also the ’50s tinged “Vodka Ghosts” that, without it’s late-90s emo chorus, could ostensibly function as a doo-wop single.

At fourteen songs, there’s a lot to take in on WITMOT, so here’s a few more spitfire recommendations. “Wicked Teeth” is a bare-bones composition that is a breath of fresh air in their otherwise lush songwriting. “Learning To Walk Before You Can Run” feels like a post-rock song – a nice little Easter egg is the sample from home videos of Ryan’s sister teaching her little one how to walk. There’s also the clattering acoustic closer, “Heaven & Earth,” with its warm cello accompaniment. We’ll wrap things up with one of my favorite lines from the album, found on “A Butterfly’s Wing (What is the Meaning of This?):”

“Like the flick of a butterfly’s wing
I find ways to ruin everything”

Check out What is the Meaning of This?’s with the embed of “Taking Notes,” via the YouTube widget below. You can find all the ways to listen to the album and support this fledgling band via this helpful Linktree link.

Categorised in: Album Reviews

This post was written by Nick Sessanna

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