ALBUM REVIEW: South of France Gives Us All the Feel-Good Vibes with Debut Album
ALBUM REVIEW: South of France Gives Us All the Feel-Good Vibes with Debut Album
Get Ready to add ‘REMEMBER THAT COOL THING WE DID’ to your summer playlist
Words By: Julia Gross
Most people would agree that 2020 was one of those years we wish we could stuff away in a closet, close the door on and forget about. With a year full of sharp ups and downs and gruesome struggles, it’s about time we start feeling the lighter side of life again. Indie-pop band, South of France has arrived just in time to give us those feel good vibes we’ve all been longing for. Even more exciting, it comes in the form of their first full length album — Remember That Cool Thing We Did.
Lead singer, producer and South of France band founder, Jeff Cormack, put his blood, sweat and tears into this album. Cormack mixed and mastered the record in its entirety using an old tape machine and the time that quarantine 2020 granted so many people with. The Denver native spoke about the production of his album in an interview with American Songwriter Magazine saying, “The evolution of this project has been super slow. In order to be successful creatively, it’s imperative that your skill level aligns with your taste level. For years my skills were way behind my taste levels, and I think the two are finally starting to align.” The album offers 14 playful, upbeat and easy-going tracks that highlight the major theme of love.
Opening up the album is the most recent single released in January of 2021, “Sidewalk.” “Sidewalk” is a catchy and playful tune — putting its listeners in a great mood, this track was a perfect choice as an opener. Cormack sings about spotting a girl walking down the sidewalk, entranced by her instantly. He spoke about his inspiration for the song with American Songwriter saying, “Every day, I walk around Lake Merritt, in Oakland, and fall in love with five or six passersby. Well, maybe I don’t actually fall in love with these people—I don’t know them—but I imagine what it would be like to fall in love with them, spinning out fleeting, one-sided visions of our futures together. And now I have the perfect song for this daily ritual: ‘Sidewalk.’” Jeff surely has a way of using his imagination from everyday life situations and turning them into music gold.
Similar to its predecessor, “Comme CA” follows giving off those same upbeat vibes. “Comme CA” was the debut single, originally released back in October of 2019. The song made a special appearance in the Netflix TV show Bo Jack Horseman and was even performed live on NPR. The groovy California rhythm guitar and consistent beating of the drums gives off an energized feeling creating the perfect tune to dance along to. Although the message of the song is about the struggles of letting your guard down and allowing love into your life, Cormack uses his musical genius to turn a common struggle into something you can jump and sing along to.
Later in the album on the eighth track comes along, “Hereafter79.” It’s a groovy and quirky little tune with a great message. We all know someone chasing after the wrong things, the most common one being money. “You love the way they fall in love with you honey. A little smile won’t turn you on without some money honey. Give your little heart away for some luxury.”
Switching from jumpy and upbeat, Jeff introduces us to a more chill and relaxed song, “Laser Beams of Love.” The smooth love tune features echoey vocals making for a dreamy sound. With a steady jolt of the tambourine, Jeff sings, “come melt in my arms, don’t cry honey.” The song does a perfect job of highlighting the emotions that love has the power to make us feel.
Cormack closes the album with, “Don’t Preach.” Sounding very similar to a 60’s twist and shout bop, the track features some scratchy electric guitar and faded sounding tones. In the song, Cormack sings like he’s speaking to a past lover who has changed her ways — she’s gone holy!
The release of this album has been a long time coming and Cormack is more than ready to have his masterpiece released to the world. The music in this album persuades the soul to switch its energy from negative to positive in a heartbeat. Although the beginning days of the pandemic were dark, they left us with a light at the end of the tunnel and a musical masterpiece, Remember That Cool Thing We Did.
