ALBUM REVIEW: A WELCOME KIND OF WEAKNESS BY RUNNNER
Reviewed by Cecilia Pattison-Levi Los Angeles-based songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Runnner (aka Noah Weinman) has delivered an introspective and chilled album ‘A Welcome Kind Of Weakness’ that channels thoughts about the impact of injury and its ability to make you change focus in your life. The album songs are focused on changes in life, and contemplates the impact of vulnerability of healing, losing your feelings and how we all tumble through a world of uncertainty due to being physically or emotionally vulnerable.
The whole album ‘A Welcome Kind Of Weakness’ is an indie-rock melancholic banquet with high-fidelity production reminiscent of the early 2000s. Runnner’s song writing seems to a lens where he disassembles and puts himself back together in the span of 11 songs. It is impressive and makes for one hell of a listening experience.
The album starts with ‘Welcome’ a 30 second introduction where soft synth electronic bleeps and plucked guitar string with floating vocals let you know that indie-rock is on the way. And, it is a real highlight as the acoustic guitars crash into the chiming electric guitars and gentle drum kicks bring in the fabulous rock song ‘Achilles And’, the addictive sound has you as you realise the song is about “cause I'm always lookin’ past the edge/ sinkin’ in myself/ but now I'm caught up with a busted leg/ waitin’ to get well” and “I fuckin’ hate it when I need help”. Hearing that!
The song ‘Spackle’ is a six-minute indie-rock song feast with a slow-burn verse that explodes into a dramatic chorus. The extended metaphor of building spackle is an interesting image about patching up a relationship. The song ‘Chamomile’ follows and it’s a lovely dreamy indie-rock track of acoustic guitar strumming as he can’t rewind. The, medical theme continues with the slightly off—kilter guitars of ‘Claritin’ (everyone’s favourite anti-allergy meds) where Runnner “left his shirt back in his room”, as he waits “for the sun to dry him” and tries not to lose “focus” as the distortion and feedback take the song out.
Runnner, then, takes us to the bassline thrum of ‘PVD’ in a dirge of guitars. The song ‘Coinstar’ follows and it’s a metaphor about coin flips in life which path do you take. Runnner as a musician has to choose the touring life or contemplating a family life on the road. It is a soaring song with guitars and pedal steel. Another album highlight is ‘Get Real Sleep’ that is an ode to modern times with its hypnotic yet frantic sonic palate, reflecting the push and pull of trying to sleep, and knowing you need it for good health.
The chirpy song ‘Split’ is a ruse as it is about being alone, but not necessarily lonely. ‘Sublets’ starts with piano keys tickling, synth bleeps and gentle acoustic guitar reflecting about life “never in the same place” as a choir underscores the guitar solo. The album closes out with ‘Untitled October Song’ that is a stripped back and emotionally raw song about a relationship breakdown.
The album ‘A Welcome Kind Of Weakness’ is just lovely. I really enjoyed listening to it as the layers of indie-rock peel away you hear more and more of the accomplished song writing skill. Heavenly!
