“Dreamseller” is an infectious rocker from Newcastle, UK-based band Crux. Their meshing of prog-rock, grunge, and alternative make for a stimulating success here. Conceptual critiques of the music industry’s corporate-first maneuvers also proves poignantly stirring, reflective of how artists are often encouraged to sacrifice creative risks for a more commodified, vanilla commercial appeal. The band’s response, admirably, is one of defiance in this case — fully embracing their own direction, and espousing a courageous “my way,” refrain in doing so.
“I want it my way, or the highway,” the confident vocals let out alongside debonair guitar tones in the central chorus, falling into a ghostly vocal layering alongside textural mystique, with momentary shades of Radiohead. Pulsing bass and charismatic guitar reflections enamor in the ensuing section, alongside dream-referencing lyrical introspection. The “want it my way,” hook re-emerges thereafter with satiating qualities. A flash of murky bass then traverses into a scorching-hot guitar solo, until a final hooky reprise closes this stellar production from Crux.
—
This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of December 2023’ Spotify playlist.
