New Artist

Gayngs is like an astronaut stuck in a Coke bottle.  Or rather, an astronaut stuck in a New Coke bottle; it’s spacey, poppy, sugary, and sounds like something someone tried to do in 1985 that no one liked at the time (unless you liked the soundtrack to Blue Velvet more than the soundtrack to Top Gun).

This Minneapolis-based group is unexpectedly (Kenny) Loggins-ish given the 23-person roster, the likes of whom include Justin Vernon of Bon Iver (folk), P.O.S. of Rhymesters (hip-hop), and all three members of Megafaun (folk, again).  The presumption, therefore, is that this soft-/jazz-/yacht-rock hybrid of sound is either a) unexpectedly (and kind of amazingly) organic between all the members, or b) derisively ironic given the band’s average age.  Either way, everyone knows weird, satiric, unadulterated nostalgia has been back since McDonald’s re-released the McRib sandwich in October.

Some songs on Gayng’s 2010 debut Relayted bleed to death over the course of six or seven minutes.  If you want a shorter sample of their sound, I’d check out The Original Soundtrack by 10cc.  Otherwise, try the songs “The Gaudy Side of Town” and “Faded High” (listen below). (For a Demi Moore ala St. Elmo’s Fire moment, open the porthole of your yacht while wrapped in sheets of multi-colored fabric and listen to their Godley and Crème cover of “Cry” while waiting for a would-be sunburned and wind-chapped Rob Lowe to light two cigarettes at once.)

I understand the desire for the nostalgic meanderings of Gayngs; I just think I like the idea of Gayngs simply existing more.  It’s like MTV playing Toni Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart” video over and over and over again in 1996 – some people needed that.  I just liked knowing it was there in case I wanted it.  Which is why I’m glad the McRib is back.

Gayngs – “Gaudy Side of Town”

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Gayngs – “Faded High”

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