Wireless Connection - Race (2010)

Release Date: January 1, 2010

By Maggie Battles

Formulating an assured view of the world beyond the false security of childhood is no simple task. In his 2010 sophomore release, Race, Alex G explores his immersion into adulthood after the magic of adolescence wears off, forcing him to see things as they really are. The DIY sound of Alex G’s work undeniably echoes throughout the tracks, which is what makes it so intimate. The low quality of the audio does not detract from the allure of the album, but rather enhances the magical, fuzzy feeling of nostalgia achieved through the lyrics.

Race begins with a track titled “Remember,” which defines the mood for the songs to follow. The instrumentals are boxy and twangy, creating a feeling I would compare to suffocating on a humid, summer day. Through the lyrics, the listener comes to understand the protagonist's attempt to work through their misuse at the hands of a guardian. By we reach the end of the first track, the protagonist’s perception of childhood as a time of innocence and security is crushed. This same theme occurs once again in the middle of the album on a track titled “Go Away.”

“ I've come here to kill my maker

'Cause I'd feel much safer alone”

Remember

“I saw your reflection in my face, face, face

So I scrubbed it all around until it erased”

Go Away

On tracks like “The Same” and “House,” Alex G studies the dichotomy of reflecting on the memory of one’s past, while trying to decipher what was real and what was a naive delusion. The protagonist is detached from their former self, speaking in hindsight with a blunt, cynical viewpoint. In a way, the protagonist views their experiences as a rite of passage into becoming a functioning human. The combination of themes of isolation and confusion, followed by swirling guitars, creates a chaotic, disorienting, and at times, overwhelming atmosphere throughout Race.

“I was a girl, I was the only kid in the world, I thought I knew what it meant to you, but I'm wrong,”

The Same

“When you're young, yeah, you're a loaded gun. So, don't worry honey, you'll go right back where you started from.”

House

The intense feelings of isolation endured by the protagonist are most apparent in a track titled “TV.” The song follows a character who is gifted a television set by a presumably physically and emotionally absent father. The repetitive bass line reflects the consistency of combating loneliness by getting lost in the unfailingly obtainable television. The television provides the protagonist a sense of security and belonging, knowing that they can become invested in the fictional lives of others without the pain and vulnerability that accompanies genuine connection.

“I get feelings

From the TV

They can't hurt me

They don't know me”

Experiencing apprehension regarding existence before coming to understand the weight of mortality is examined in “Things to Do” and “Trash.” The distorted chorus of “Things to Do” reminds me of the way adults would talk to me as a child, ensuring that things would suddenly make sense upon exiting adolescence, but contradicting their commands by warning to not wish away my youth. From the lyrics of “Trash,” the listener learns that the protagonist accepts the uncontrollable mechanisms of life, portraying a detached, slightly nihilistic view of the future. The message from the lyrics, combined with the sound of a xylophone, creates an eerie atmosphere for the track.

“Hold on tight to this time, this place

'Cause everything you know will be erased

You were born inside your head

And that is where you'll be when you are dead

You're just a boy, you are no man

And nobody you know will understand”

Things to Do

“The world is a really scary place

But I know from the look that's on your face

Your life has been over way before it all began”

Trash

The lively instrumentals in “Let It Go,” “Crab,” and “Gnaw” are straight out of a carnival. The bright melodies immerse the listener into the seemingly never ending ride of youth. These riffs are intertwined with lyrics reflecting common childhood experiences of disappointment, fear, and religious uncertainty. The combination of the powerful piano and poetic lines brings an intense, yet oddly soothing effect to the record. Though the protagonist is coming to find that life is not necessarily what they expected, they aren't upset or afraid; they simply accept things for the way that they are.

“Do you miss what you thought you were

Back when you thought you knew what you are?”

Crab

“It's a really great place

Way up here in outer space

You know it's all just a race

You can let it go”

Let it Go

Upon my first listen, Alex G’s Race became the anthem to my long car rides during lazy summer afternoons. While the 30 minutes and 36 seconds of Race is certainly a trip, it is an enjoyable one. The listening experience is similar to the album cover; like looking at the same sky you’ve looked at your whole life, but suddenly the blue is too intense, and you are left wondering if it always looked this way.

Credits to Giannascoli, Alex. Race. Many Hats Distribution, 2010. Spotify

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