Review Summary: A love letter to the minuscule memories of short lived passion which, despite the passage of time, never seem to escape us.
Soulmate Stuff is brief, clocking in at just under 20 minutes. It's fitting, though, that an album so short can sum up everything the average late teens, early 20's person knows about the summer. It's a time not of thinking too hard about your own future, or imagining all the possible outcomes of your relationships with that one, special person. It's basking in the light that is June. July. August.
It's spontaneous. Explosive. Over in a second.
It's that cute chick who was digging Title Fight in 2010, the one you went to a few shows with, the one you fell asleep dreaming of ever having a chance with. It's the guy who understands your love of 80's no-wave, the one you wished would finally take you to that cool little tea shop on Broadstreet. It's the person you locked eyes with three times during the show, and never got the courage to dance with. But it's those short connections, the tiny blasts of emotion and passion, that we're stuck with remembering.
Soulmate Stuff is comprised of everything that makes these experiences complete. The blast of passion, the heartbreak that comes with it, the angst, and the thoughts that end up captioning it all. From the hopeful, youthful "100 Years", to the angsty and angry "I'm Giving Up On U2", to the optimistic and child-like love on "Bang!", this album does wonders to commemorate those little connections in life, the little moments under the sun, that bring us the most memories. It's brief, but all the best things in life are as well. It's simple, but it should be. It never drags on, nor is there ever a moment void of emotion or youthful love.
Jeff Rosenstock and Chris Farren perfectly compliment each other, with Chris' voice seeming at home on the BTMI!-esque instrumentals. Though, more vocal interplay between the two would have been fantastic. Whenever both voices are involved, it always proves to sound incredible. Even still, Jeff shows again his ability to create an album that's perfectly suited for a bike ride in 95 degree weather.
This tiny little album doesn't have much to say, but even in that, it speaks volumes. It's a callback to the passion of youth, before real life grabs a hold and the fall kicks into gear. It's the moments of bliss. The short-lived celebration. The declaration of love to a world that doesn't really care. For better or for worse, it's these half-baked relationships, caked only in the blistering heat of summer, that ease our minds every night as we hit the lights, and drift off into sleep.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.
