by Heather Williams (@heatermeow)
Every Tony Molina album rules. Each time a new album comes out, I go into it knowing it is going to be good. Hearing new Tony Molina albums, such as his latest, In the Fade, brings me back to being a teenager, fully immersed in Weezer's Blue Album, the Beatles, and pumped to hear and learn more, setting off exploratory paths to underground bands. His music is a modern day starting point of “the good shit”.
In the Fade is another classic from Molina, a fourteen song record coming in at just under eighteen and a half minutes. Listen to this from start to finish, no stopping. Each song is a gem, going from quick harmonizing guitar jams, to gentle instrumental interludes, and acoustic melodic pop songs. He packs all the power of each song into a span of thirty seconds to just under two minutes each. Every song is new yet familiar, with memorable hooks and catchy melodies.
One of the most excellent parts of Tony Molina's music is the harmonization, both in guitars and vocals. Try listening to when the guitars hit those harmonizing notes in "Years Ago Pt. 2" and not feeling it in your gut, it's not possible. We also get to hear beautiful vocal harmonies not only from Molina himself, but also from Sarah Rose Janko, of the bands Dawn Riding and The Lost Days (her band with Molina), on three gentler songs "Not Worth Knowing," "Don't Be Far," and "Four Sided Cell." In the Fade joins all of Molina's musical approaches into one record. This makes it a solid choice as an introductory album for newcomers and super enjoyable for fans of his earlier records, both solo and with Ovens.