BROCK – “Shark”

BROCK – “Shark” – Single Review

8:13?

At that size, it’s like this new BROCK song had to eat another BROCK song to become this big, right?

Look, the last thing you’re going to find me complaining about is MORE BROCK, and I don’t see myself changing my stance on that today.  There’s always been something different in the water where this dude lives, and “Shark” is merely further confirmation that no matter what this man is up to, BROCK’s a certified killer.  As you can already tell from the vast amount of links added into this review everywhere you see his name in print, we’ve been listening to BROCK for years now.  I’ve always been a fan and have been from the moment I first started listening.  I’ve heard countless amounts of BROCK songs, and seen just as many videos by BROCK.  Dude’s never short on ideas and he’s never far from creating another batch of inspired tunes & videos for us all to enjoy.  Each time the guy shows up again, I feel like I’m genuinely convinced that he’s put out the best cut in his catalog so far…because BROCK finds impressive ways of continually one-upping himself, and he’s always looking to do something new and exciting.  In the majority of cases I can think of, he’s come out on top, and in many instances I can recall throughout the years, his latest work would likely often be considered to be his best work.  Do I expect that be the case each and every time?  Fuck no, I do not.  I should – but no, I do not.  I don’t put that kind of pressure on anything or anyone I’m listening to.  Every career reveals the peaks and valleys of the ups and downs we experience creatively over time, and BROCK’s path will eventually reveal the same kind of patterns, even if it’s all set to the higher standards of an artist that somehow continually beats on the law of averages.

So yeah…just so there are no surprises here…I’d probably tell you that “Shark” is my favorite BROCK tune to-date.  Is that just the effect of absence makes the heart grow fonder?  It could be.  It’s been more than a year since we last featured his music on these pages of ours, so maybe I’ve just been slowly going through withdrawal, and “Shark” is like that sweet hit of smack when you’re jumping back into the game again.  You know the one.  Don’t act like you don’t know the one.  Anyhow.  If there’s something about this single that I shouldn’t like, I’d love for you to tell me what that might be so that I can tell you to then fuck the fuck off.  “Shark” is magnificent, full stop.  The extended amount of time that we get to spend with BROCK’s music couldn’t be described as anything other than a great thing when it sounds like this does.  Some folks have it, some folks don’t, and one folk, is BROCK – who never seems to miss.

While it IS true that BROCK will often color your view of what his digitalized instrumentals are about by releasing them with slick visuals in video form, when things really line up right, who on Earth would dare to complain?  “Shark” is straight-up DEADLY in the way it moves…the depths that it plunges into…the serenity it can find…and the confidence it surges with.  The only thing it doesn’t do, is scare the living daylights outta me, which any NORMAL “Shark” would.  I’m one of those…whaddya call us…delusional and paranoid people that wouldn’t even go into a swimming pool for years without checking for sharks FIRST.  Call me crazy if you want to, but there’s literally no point in checking for a “Shark” AFTER you jump into the water, right?  You see?  We agree on that.  So I can’t really be that crazy after all, now can I?

Listen.  BROCK has done himself an incredible service creatively by giving himself more room to move in a larger soundscape this time around.  He’s also done his music an incredible service as a result, because “Shark” is that much more of an audible odyssey than we’ve had a chance to hear the man make so far.

Obviously the age-old wisdom is true:  Teach a man to fish, and BROCK will bring his “Shark” out to feast on the bones of both the fish AND the man.  This is BROCK’s ocean, and we’re just swimming it it y’all.  There are so many damn cool things about “Shark” – like that first hit of savage low-end coming at ya just past the two minute mark for example, or how that works so damn well with the bold piano melody in behind it.  You’ve also got like…good lord…what is that…an off-kilter banjo or something?  You’ll know what I’m talkin’ about when you hear it, and everything BROCK does is digital anyway…but yeah…somewhere around the 3:00 mark, you’ll hear this wildly innovative idea take the whole melody in a new direction, and it’s a seriously amazing moment in this song too!  For the most part though, you’ll find BROCK just gliding along through a whole series of smart ideas, all seamlessly threaded together, and once again proving that his professional approach, remarkable production, and stunning ideas are all hit & no miss.

So while it’s true, I’m somewhat biased here and predisposed to enjoying BROCK’s music, and that not having a ton of BROCK to listen to over the past year MIGHT have made me feel like I enjoyed this song even more than I would have already thought I would…I dunno…I’m still your friendly neighborhood reviewer-man and as objective as you’re used to me being.  Facts are facts – BROCK is a veteran of the game at this point and knows precisely how to go about making killer music.  Is “Shark” his very best song?  He’s got so many amazing songs in his catalog at this point.  Your pick of what your favorite is would be no less valid than anything I could pick…just don’t be surprised if you feel like it’s “Shark” too.

Find more music from BROCK at Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/artist/6JOvkv3t1DPGApQMH3jAFR

Ya ha!  This link right here is the key to being the next artist or band featured here at sleepingbagstudios, so instead of just ignoring it, click it instead!