The word Zoetic is defined as: "of or relating to life, vital, living, alive." There really is no better word to describe music from The Rocket Summer. The Rocket Summer is the solo project of Texas native Bryce Avary. Affectionately referred to by fans as "B," Avary writes, produces and performs all of his own music. The sound of the Rocket Summer is difficult to confine to description. Each of Avary's albums has a unique sound characterized by raw, honest lyrics and musical ingenuity that can include everything from catchy synthesized keyboard riffs to typewriters as percussion.
“Zoetic” is The Rocket Summer's sixth full-length album, released on Friday, Feb. 26. The last album was released in 2012, so fans such as myself anxiously awaited B's newest masterpiece. While previous records could be described as pop-alternative, “Zoetic” has been described as "if Trent Reznor, Mutemath, and Paper Route formed a group in secret." As someone who has been listening to the Rocket Summer for several years, I agree it's different from past albums, but overall still holds true to Bryce Avary's distinct sound and testifies to his journey as an artist.
One of my favorite characteristics of The Rocket Summer is its combination of true-to-life lyrical analogies and energetic, varied melodies. In that regard, “Zoetic” definitely comes through with tracks like “Cold War” and “You Are, You Are” that put inner struggle into sound with the words you couldn't find yourself. Others such as “UNI” and “Rule of Thirds Kind of Life” employ the tasteful and convicting critiques of society that can be found throughout The Rocket Summer's discography, with lyrics reminiscent of Jon Foreman, but heavy guitar and just the right amount of rasp. As always, Avary provides plenty of solid jams that are extraordinarily insightful while maintaining that rock-out-and-sing-along quality that fans return to again and again, such as “FL, CA,” which is one of my favorites off of this record. While the comparison of natural disasters to relationships is usually tired or kitschy, Avary pulls it off in a supersonic fashion. Real life put to tunes with electronic elements, “Zoetic” doesn't disappoint.
Overall, “Zoetic” is one of those albums that you just can't grow tired of. It is too relevant to ignore, and too catchy to turn down. And you just may find yourself coming back to it again and again. In the words of B himself,it sounds like freedom.
(For more on “Zoetic” and The Rocket Summer, check outtherocketsummer.com)
