Marc Biala – “Closer To Us”
Marc Biala – “Closer To Us” – Single Review
Aside from being a guy born Grunge sitting here listening to another R&B/Pop single, I’ve got no real objections to “Closer To Us.” Personal taste ain’t a substantial argument against anything really – not if you’re actually being objective. If that’s what keeps you from enjoying the variety in life, you’re probably doing something wrong…at least in my opinion. I’ll put it to you this way…if I had chosen to only listen to the type of music I preferred when I started sleepingbagstudios, I would have not only shuttered the doors on this place years and years ago, but I also wouldn’t have had the good fortune to be exposed to the incredible diversity that exists and thrives within this independent scene we share.
Besides…as I’ve made clear throughout both reviews I think I’ve written on Marc Biala’s music so far, the dude makes it virtually impossible to complain, because he puts in 100% effort into what he creates, each and every time. I’m not gonna be the guy to start complaining about flawless tunes just for the sake of complaining, or because they make the hairs on my back bristle if it doesn’t sound like Grunge or Alternative music. More often than not, when I listen to a track like “Closer To Us” and I end up actually wanting to hear it again, it’s the opposite effect – it reinforces my desire to listen to things that found outside of the genres I’d normally choose to listen to. “Some days it’s fire, some days it’s rain” as Marc will tell you himself – but I find that’s more based on the level of effort & commitment to performances than it ever has anything to do with the style of sound I’m listening to. So don’t get it twisted, Biala’s all good with me, and I certainly appreciate how consistent he’s been throughout his entire catalog to-date.
Because let’s be real here, this cat’s got an exceptional voice, and he truly knows how to use it in order to get the very best out of his material. When you hear the soulful way he sings “Closer To Us” right off the bat so early into this song as it begins, you know you’re on solid ground and that the quality that Marc brings to his music is as intact as it has ever been. I’m always impressed by the tone & technique he applies to his tunes, but I feel like the sincerity in his songs deserve just as much of a shout-out. If anything, you combine all of these elements together, and you have to recognize that it really boils down even further to one thing – and that’s his extremely high level of focus. The attention to detail that he puts into what he creates, and the care he takes in his approach to entertaining us, is practically second to none. Marc should be incredibly proud of how he never phones anything in when it comes to his songwriting, his performances, and his craft as an artist – he’s clearly among the most committed when it comes right down to it. What I love most about writing that down for you to read, is that you don’t need to take my word for it at all – you can HEAR everything I’m claiming right there in his songs.
“Closer To Us” is no exception the extraordinarily high standards you’ve heard from him in the past. I love hearing this dude shift from one section of his music to the others and how he is able to make such subtle movements make an impact on us. That might apply even more in the context of “Closer To Us” when it comes right down to it, and the reasons as to why that is revolve around there being less tangible dynamics in a song like this. That doesn’t mean “Closer To Us” doesn’t have any…that’s not what I’m suggesting…I’m simply saying they don’t exist in the noticeable way we tend to associate the definition with. “Closer To Us” doesn’t have that giant, show-stopping moment or some kind of wildly explosive pivot that changes its energy in a way that really has everybody turning their head to listen – that’s what I’m saying. Again, that’s not necessarily a bad thing at all…in fact, in my opinion, despite Marc and the music remaining in pretty much the same gear throughout this entire song, the effect ends up becoming more of a spellbinding, hypnotic type of vibe. As I’ve always said, the smartest songwriters out there will do the right things required to suit what a song is truly calling out for – and by adding some kind of explosive element to shift the dynamics of “Closer To Us” might have very well affected the whole of its potential. In my personal opinion, Biala made a smart call by sticking to what works in this single without expanding it into a bunch of stuff that would have threatened to water it down. He kept “Closer To Us” to a concise 3:23, which didn’t end up exploiting its melody or humble vibes by needlessly stretching things out with marginal filler just to fit a certain length. While I recognize that the reality for songs that are built with one specific type of focus, energy, and sound tend to have a much shorter lifecycle in terms of how people listen to music and in context of how quickly we tend to burn through songs, by the same token, you’ll always know when you’re in the mood for something as specific & consistent as “Closer To Us” is from beginning to end. The performance he puts in is as professional as it gets, and that’s all you can ever ask out of those you’re listening to – Marc has created another song that displays his charming humbleness, endearing vibes, and authentically heartfelt vocals.
Find out more about Marc Biala from his official multi-link here: https://linktr.ee/loyminglee
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