Exuding a vintage charm, “Sharp Edge” is a rollicking single from Smushie, the Chicago-based project from Austin Koenigstein. Showing shades of Destroyer, Foxygen, and Harry Nilsson at points, the track’s production excels with its expressive vocal layers, spirited piano touches, and twangy guitar suaveness.
“I recorded this to my friend’s tape machine, and it felt like a heavy ride through the perils of love. That was my experience of it,” says Koenigstein, who is originally from Long Island’s South Shore.
“Consider the cost of blowing out the flame,” Koenigstein sings prior to the fantastic hook’s emergence, as bouncy wordless expressions gear into the melodically fulfilling rise approaching the one-minute mark. Twangy guitar additions in the final minute add further to the track’s nostalgic, debonair successes. “Sharp Edge” is a melodic treat from Smushie.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of June 2023’ Spotify playlist.
The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Emerging Indie Rock.
