Will Toledo likes contrast. In his universe, melodic hooks are buried in a muddy mix. Brooding lyrics are paired with major key chords. Organic instruments are playfully manipulated and twisted digitally.
It’s these quirky tendencies that make the Virginia native such a fascinating new artist. Although I guess new isn’t the best word. Toledo has been recording and releasing music as Car Seat Headrest for five years, but with a bit of help from Matador Records (Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth), the project is starting to take off. Toledo’s penchant for fussy, grubby melodies and clever wordplay has caught the ear of The Guardian and Pitchfork, and Car Seat Headrest’s recent CMJ set was a press favorite.
“Times to Die,” a single off the band’s forthcoming Matador debut Teens of Style (out Oct. 30), showcases many of the group’s strengths. Toledo sings melancholic lyrics about friends getting jobs and making money and puts them over a goofy, upbeat Guided by Voices meets Beck backdrop. He approaches the heavy stuff with a sense of humor and it makes for some of the most refreshing, fun tracks I’ve heard this year.