Thomas O’Shea‘s new album Generation Z blends dynamic piano-pop atmospherics with candid lyricism, tackling artistic self-doubt, digital-age anxiety, and generational pressure. From the motivational spark of “Ain’t Gonna Stop” to the witty, reflective title track, the album resonates as a heartfelt, immersive statement from the Madison, Wisconsin-based producer, songwriter, audio engineer, and artist.
The album’s opening track quickly showcases O’Shea’s knack for grippingly dynamic atmospherics, here traversing across spacey synths, prancing piano illumination, and various vocal effects — spanning from wordless rhythm-like incorporations to dreamily melodic mid-point. “Ain’t Gonna Stop” arrives next with heart-on-sleeve effervescence, pairing bouncy keys and a soulful pop flair with introspective lyricism, tackling the self-doubt apparent in pursuing one’s artistic ambitions. “What I really want is to get my songs to all the right places,” a brisk vocal delivery continues, channeling the project’s ethos in providing music to those in states of personal tumult. “Ain’t Gonna Stop” moves with an invigorating, motivational quality in that sense — declaring a continued drive in spite of doubters.
Generation Z shows a wide array of quality songwriting throughout with poignant, impactful themes, from the digital-age ruminations of “The Internet” to the societal pressures apparent within “College,” whose “gotta go get that damn degree” repetition combines with twinkling piano for a delectably Sparks-esque stylishness. The album’s title track is another standout, playing as a wholly satiating finale. “But the boomers got the money,” a compelling vocal sequence begins, counting down various generations before arriving at the title’s namesake, aspiring to “fix the issues, because we don’t have a choice…” — emitting a replay-inducing, playful wit amidst serene piano-pop allure. Generation Z is an immersive success of an album from Thomas O’Shea.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
