Hello dearest readers and music lovers, Let’s welcome Buko Shane to our digital space. Buko Shane’s latest album, “Pandemic Blues”, was published on August 1st. The band is known for its electrified Americana-influenced experimental rock music, but this release takes a more acoustic and minimalistic singer-songwriter approach. On this 11-song album, The majority of the tracks involve only vocals, acoustic guitars, and one or two other instruments. Let’s talk more about the album

The album’s title track is called “Another Sunday Morning”. The song starts with these beautiful and dreamy guitar notes. The song is a very lovely song that describes a character who is sleeping in and planning not to do anything all day(” It’s another Sunday morning and I’m feeling lazy as hell you can probably tell”). On first glance, you might think that he is just Unwinding or relaxing after a long week but we come to find out that he’s feeling blue because he treated someone he loves dearly in a bad way and has given himself a timeout to reflect on his behavior (”I promised you diamonds and gave you dirt”). The song is incredibly beautiful and you will fall in love with it and be eager to hear the rest of the album

“Long winter” is the title of the next song. This is a country-infused song about loneliness. The persona in the song is having a hard time in his life which he likens to winter (” it has been a long lonely winter”). Unlike a regular winter, the persona talks about how long this winter has been hunting to listeners that he is not talking about the regular season called winter. He attributes this so cold winter to his losing faith in humanity. The guitar sounds are breathtaking, especially that solo, and take you on quite an emotive musical journey

Next is the song called “I should let you go”. The song opens with these delightful guitar tones. The song talks about the hardest part of any relationship, the part where you have to say goodbye and part ways(”I know we can’t see each other anymore, things just ain’t like it used to be”). Upon realizing their sad situation they decide to do the only thing left for them to do. (” We both know that I should let you go”). Shane’s vocal performance is tender and through his lyrics and the entirety of the song( especially the guitar solo) gets you into his headspace so you feel the emotion this song holds as it unfolds

Next is the song called “Just Another Band”. This song is yet another slow song with an amazing guitar sound. The song describes a person who seems to be moving from one town to another. The persona is always moving so he can’t make memories where he goes. The song is amazing and will captivate you from the beginning, right to the end

“See that my grave is kept clean” is the next song on the album. The album pivots a bit with the song due to its upbeat nature. The song is about a character who tells someone he trusts to do him a favor and make sure that his grave is kept clean (” Please see that my grave is kept clean”). The song doesn’t let us know whether the character is facing certain death but whether he is or not he asks for this favor. The song’s message is a downer but the instrumentation more than makes up for it, occupying you with its vibrancy

“For Nick” is the title of the next song. The song’s intro can only be described as heavenly. As the song builds the sounds oscillate back and forth and will delight your senses with their charms and obvious beauty

Next is the song called “My Old Companion”. The opening of this song is uniquely intricate and beautiful. The song is about a character reminiscing his time with an old friend as he wonders if their paths will cross ever again(” My old companion, you were always right as rain and I was just another fool”). The song features some of the most intricate guitar work I’ve come across and it will captivate you thoroughly

Next is the song “The Ride”. With this song, the album embraces a chilling, eerie, and dark vibe. In the song, the character wishes to save someone from drowning(”I wanna save you from drowning”). It is unclear if the drowning here is physical or psychological but it is very clear that the character wishes to be a shoulder to be leaned on. There are some saxophone sounds in the song that give it these jazz vibes that make the song that much more intoxicating.

Next is “Static Laziness”. The opening of this song is these dreamy guitar tones. The song is about the feeling that everything is never moving or changing around you (nothing is moving, always staying still”). There is another sax solo that will sweep you off your feet. The song ends with a single sax flourish which is the perfect end to a perfect song

“California (In my dreams again)” is the second to last song on the album. This song has an upbeat intro that engulfs you right from the start. In the song, the persona goes to California in his dreams where he sees someone he has lost alive and well (”I went to California in my dreams again to see how the ocean waves”). The persona uses his dreams as a coping mechanism for grief which is very normal and relatable. This song had a very compelling guitar solo and story that will thrill you sonically and appeal to your emotions as well

The album’s curtain call is called “Son My Sun”. This song has a beautiful piano opening. The song’s title is a homophone and can be a little confusing but the song brings you some clarity as to what the song is about (” I want to see the sun, my son”). The persona in the song is telling his son about the things he wants to do and the feelings he wants to feel. The song is extremely beautiful and the violin solo is the perfect garnish on top of an incredibly perfect song. This song says goodbye to listeners in a very elevated musical space

The album was incredibly moving and I teared up during some parts of the album because it was so genuine, so raw and so moving. Shane has made a collection of songs that every music fan will like to indulge in no matter the genre one favors but don’t take my word for it, but I invite you to listen for yourself and see how talented and dedicated Shane is to his craft

Stream the “Pandemic Blues” album on Spotify

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