Three Day Monk – I Liked It Better (2021)
No stranger to The Other Side Reviews, Three Day Monk is the project of multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Tristan Nelson. We have featured reviews of his singles before, but we just can’t get enough of this eclectic sound. Featured on A&R Factory, Amazing Radio, Oak Radio, Nexus Music Blog and various other outlets, Nelson is making waves across the globe. His experimental mixture of post-punk, grunge and dream-pop leaves him in a league of his own. While I previously referred to Three Day Monk as a melding of Radiohead and Ash, his latest single makes it clear that he is entirely unique. I am happy to present the single ‘I Liked It Better’.
Reminiscent of the 80s synth-pop sounds, but without the synth, ‘I Liked It Better’ is a hazy swirl of intoxicating instruments. A strong guitar strums throughout the track with a powerful underlying drum. An interesting melodic arrangement allows each element to have a sense of prominence, but everything comes together in a cinematic soundscape. What I find particularly intriguing, when it comes to the melody, is the superbly placed “dips and rises” including guitar solos flowing into catchy choruses.
As with the majority of Three Day Monk’s releases, the lyricism follows a narrative structure adding personal insight to the context or concept. Nelson refers to ‘I Liked It Better’ as being inspired by “a world fixated on the consumption of nostalgia and the rose-tinted perception of better times”. In other words, he looks at an current reality and questions the significance of “rubbing out the bad stuff in memories”. I have to agree, in retrospect things are happier and society certainly pushes the issue of nostalgia – at least, in my world. Thing is, is it better to live in a pleasant past than a sombre present?
The first dip into the indie genre, Three Day Monk showcases innovativeness and versatility as an artist. Soothing, moving and slightly languid in its fuzzy form, ‘I Liked It Better’ is a work of art that I will definitely remember as being good.
For more from Three Day Monk check out his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
