Modern events have required us all to stay indoors. This means we have limited time to spend on the beach, hanging out with friends or listening to live music.
For most of us, summer is essentially canceled, and that’s a bummer.
Thankfully we still get the internet, and along with it a selection of entertainment options to escape our worries and anxieties. Something to fill the gap until this whole predicament is over. It may not be as good as having a summer full of outdoor activities, but it’s enough to make us feel good just the same.
That’s why I’m thankful for albums like The Thing About Everywhere by Rey.
Rey is the project of songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and filmmaker Alex Cherney of Long Island, NY. This album started brewing in 2018, but it wasn’t until the 2020’s pandemic that Cherney was inspired to write and produce this collection of songs in his home studio.
The Thing About Everywhere is folk-rock with a twangy, surfy twist. It’s feel-good music at its core, exuding positivity in each song with soothing guitar riffs and dreamy melodies. Cherney perfectly captures the feeling of beach life on Long Island. Each number takes you on a road trip where everything is comforting and cozy, the perfect panacea for a beach-deprived and cabin-fevered soul.
Highlights in this album include opener “Snakes & Lizards” with its lo-fi charm and bright, sunny riffs. “Open” is a song about personal healing and opening up to others, which is aptly accompanied by its inviting harmonies and good vibes. “The Bees Trees” is full of honey-filled goodness, reminding us that we all have what we need around us. We just have to spread the love.
Hints of melancholy are also present on this album, with tracks like “Augustine”, that has slide guitars sweeping across each section, providing a feeling of nostalgia and longing. This motif is used again in “The Wind in Our Eyes”, where Cherney explores the various emotions he feels when going back to his hometown. The song closes with a saxophone solo, ending in a calm note that says everything is gonna be alright.
In a world where everything seems to be going upside down, The Thing About Everywhere is a ray of sunshine, reminding us that there is still a lot of good to be found. I highly recommend this if you’re looking for sweet citrusy surf rock with sincere and sentimental songwriting. Rey’s first offering is a refreshing listen, like glass of orange juice after a good swim on the beach.
