Mental Health in the Information Age is the debut album from Shortwaves out of Dallas, Texas. Singer, keyboardist, and songwriter Joey Shortwave is no stranger to this blog. His previous band The Lash Outs released one of my favorite albums of 2011 (a record which still holds up really well today). And now he's back with a new band that I think most of you are gonna really love.
To say Mental Health in the Information Age was a long time in the making would be an immense understatement. These songs were originally written for The Lash Outs, and some of them date as far back as 2014. After The Lash Outs broke up, Joey Shortwave was able to assemble a new band including Eric Martinez on bass, Brian Shaw on drums, and Ryan Moore on guitar. Shortwaves began playing shows in late 2022 and finally hit the studio last year to record a set of songs that had been gestating for a decade. All that time between when these songs were first conceived and when they were finally recorded may have been a blessing in disguise. When you hold on to songs for that long, it's an affirmation that you know you've got something special. And as time passes, perhaps those songs evolve past what they originally were. Clearly this album was influenced by a full decade of life experiences, and its personal reflections were no doubt shaped by the times we live in.
Musically, Shortwaves are a very different band than The Lash Outs. While there's a shared pop-punk influence, Shortwaves are more overtly power pop in a way that feels reminiscent of '90s alternative rock that was itself reminiscent of '80s new wave. The title pretty much says it all when it comes to the themes of the album. Many of these tracks reflect on what it's like to navigate the modern world with all its pressures and overwhelming stimuli — things that are not always conducive to maintaining optimal mental health. Elsewhere, songs ponder topics such as embracing the drive to create, wrestling with inner demons, working an unfulfilling job, and struggling with social interactions. This is relatable, profound stuff. Joey Shortwave's flair for writing songs of great substance that are also undeniably catchy has always been a strength, but he's at another level on this album. "Creative Juices" and "DBA" as a pairing of songs is particularly compelling because it gets into the whole reason we're all here right now. Why do all of you all put so much of yourselves into creating and playing music at a time when it's so hard to get anyone to pay attention? Why do you sacrifice your time, money, and personal relationships to keep your indie rock band going? It's not to get famous, and it's certainly not to make money. It's because you love doing it, and anything you love doing is worth doing. That fundamental drive to create and put something into the world that is yours is a powerful thing. And I love how that subject fits into the larger themes of this album. Lyrics like "And the few who care will say/He was no Bob Dylan, but he did okay" manage to be both self-effacing and self-affirming in a way that's hard not to love.
Although largely conceived in a prior decade, Mental Health in the Information Age is very much an album of these times. It's a fine example of what modern power pop can be — enticing us with infectious hooks & punchy guitars while also having plenty to say about life in the 21st century. It's a really solid album from start to finish, and there's a nice variety in the song selection. "A History Man" sounds like Elvis Costello fronting Weezer, while "Won't Be Ignored" could easily pass for a Lash Outs song. I presume the instrumental "Dances with Cats" is meant to mimic actually dancing with cats, which is something I wholeheartedly endorse. I wanted to feel attacked by "Mr. Universe." But upon further review, I don't think the song is meant to be nasty so much it's meant to ponder how unhealthy it can be to pursue physical perfection. Album-ender "Medication" explores how mental health in the information age is attainable with the help of pharmaceuticals. I can't quite figure out if this song is meant to be optimistic or slightly sarcastic (maybe it's a little bit of both?), but it's certainly a fine way to bring the album to a close — the takeaway being that no one should have to suffer if it's avoidable. Mental health is a very real thing, and no human should be ashamed about seeking help. This is some pretty heavy stuff for a rock 'n' roll record, but doesn't music (and all art) exist to explore the things in life that are most meaningful? Songwriters who write about the stuff they deal with every day will inevitably connect with people who deal with the same stuff every day. There have never been more things in the universe for us to look at, listen to, read, or interact with than there are today. But I will argue that Mental Health in the Information Age is absolutely worth your time and your hard-earned nine dollars. This could have been a terrific album a decade ago; it's a great one today.
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