‘Old Friend, New Face’: Dayglow releases new album

I have been listening to Sloan Struble, better known as Dayglow, for less than two years now. I remember the night I was up late talking to a friend, and when “Dear Friend,” came onto my Spotify playlist, every note and lyric resonated with me perfectly.

On Sept. 13, indie pop artist Struble released his self-titled album “Dayglow.” His previous albums consisted of “Fuzzybrain” (2019), “Harmony House” (2021), and “People in Motion” (2023).

All of these albums are good, but “Fuzzybrain” is my personal favorite.

Struble talked about the new record in an interview with Dork Magazine in June.

“When I was 18 years old, I made my mixtape ‘Fuzzybrain’… Since then, I’ve fully become Dayglow … But I still feel like I haven’t properly introduced myself,” Struble said. “So with this new album, I view it as a debut. Self-titled, big shebang.”

“Dayglow” consists of 10 songs, including “Mindless Creatures” and “Broken Bone.” Let’s talk about it.

According to Genius, “‘Mindless Creatures’ is a remastered/reworked version of an older Dayglow song, which was released with two others as a bonus track on the limited edition ‘Fuzzybrain’ cassette back in 2019.”

The bridge references this connection, saying “Yeah, I was just 18, with a fuzzy brain / What am I doing here? / If only I could just see myself / Thought I’d believe it.”

Lyrically, Struble reflects on personal identity — who he thought he’d be versus who he is today.

“Mindless Creatures” kicks off the album with a steady buildup. It starts out with a mellow opening using symbols, then a kick drum and continues this beat.

“Every Little Thing I Say I Do” is the first single off “Dayglow.” It has the typical upbeat alt-track Dayglow vibes with a neat guitar riff. This marks what is to come, adding the guitar to his signature sound.

Lyrically, the song tells of Struble’s self-insecurity and owning the idea of being himself. It’s a simple concept in a fun and engaging way with putting his words into action.

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Another upbeat alternative track, “Cocoon” explores the concept of change and moving forward. Struble knows that time doesn’t stop for anyone, and he is no exception.

“’Cause time keeps moving on / It’s moving on without you / And I stayed a little long / A little long in the cocoon / Who knew I could be so caught into it?” he sings.

The bridge takes the beat down into a guitar riff that carries listeners through Struble’s realization of the current state: “Nothing will ever be the way that it was again / Nothing will ever be the same.”

“Old Friend, New Face” reflects Struble’s ongoing theme of nostalgia and personal growth, particularly in exploring the complex feelings of reconnecting with someone from the past. Lyrically, he acknowledges the bittersweet nature of both him and an old friend changing over time.

Musically, the song meshes together his indie pop sound with an underlying introspective, mellow tone. Much like the other songs on this album, the upbeat rhythm contrasts with the reflective lyrics.

“What People Really Do” upholds Dayglow’s pattern of bright melodies to dive into deeper emotional territory. This track talks about the masks people wear compared to how they feel inside.

It also feels like a critique of the “the grass is greener on the other side” mentality, saying “I wait around a little something more / There’s always an upgrade / In my view.”

“Nothing Ever Does!!!” breaks down the idea of dissatisfaction and searching for fulfillment. The exclamation marks in the title may hint at the frustration Struble sings about in this song.

Struble has mentioned in interviews that he finds himself writing music to pull himself out of negative moods (Atwood Magazine). This rings true for the overall theme of “Dayglow” music — vibrant, upbeat songs with deep and catchy melodies.

“This Feeling” is one of my favorites from the album, with the deep and catchy lyrics and the typical upbeat sound jumping out at me. This song encapsulates enjoying the moments of emotional clarity even though they don’t last forever.

Even so, Struble wonders how someone could get used to “this feeling” when it doesn’t come to him the way it used to.

“Weatherman” is a metaphorical term used to describe the unpredictability of life. Much like the weather, our feelings and situations are always changing, and there isn’t always a way to predict the future.

The track fits within the album’s theme of learning to accept the uncertainties of life. Though it may have a relaxed yet steady tempo, it features yet another awesome guitar solo as well.

“Silver Lining” is what it sounds like — finding hope even in hard times — and, in Struble’s case, a person brings him this understanding.

“Oh, you make me feel like I’m worth something / Like I’m valuable, silver lining,” he sings.

“Broken Bone” closes off the album with a metaphor for vulnerability and healing. It leaves listeners with a sense of clarity as they hear Struble face emotional pain head-on, knowing it takes time and inner strength.

Overall, these are 10 solid, well-written and developed songs, all with no skips.

Rating: 10/10

zimmer82@miamioh.edu