The beat that’s driving home the catharsis in Rob Alexander’s latest single, “Yesterday’s News,” is undeniable pure optimism. In the face of lyrics that question the protagonist’s very motives for feeling as emotional as they do, we find a groove that pushes back against the notion altogether, as if to rebuke the hesitance in Alexander’s voice without ever uttering a single word to the contrary of his own. This is certainly on par with some of the best content that we’ve heard from the talented singer/songwriter and licensed physician, whose professional dualities and artistic experimentation tend to crossover in the best ways – particularly in a multidimensional piece of music like “Yesterday’s News.” For an artist who likes to test himself, this is some of his best work to date.
Alexander’s lead vocal is the true agent of charisma in this performance even more so than his lyrics are, and although I think he’s a little slower on the draw here than he is in songs like “Instant Sex” or “A Song to Get Us Through,” his is an appropriate pace to take this particular track. He’s definitely not looking to create urgency at the mic, but instead a drag that contrasts with the fluidity of the band. Rebellion is an understated theme in “Yesterday’s News,” and while it might be more of a subtext than a cosmetic point of emphasis, it’s nonetheless an important element in our understanding of what this player is trying to get across to us.
From where I sit, I get the feeling that Rob Alexander’s heart was feeling a bit heavy when he penned this composition, and his performance here feels potently confident as a result of his personal entanglements with the subject matter. He sounds remarkably invested in every word he’s singing, and as much as I appreciate the detail that this arrangement is sporting, it’s his actual execution giving off the greatest star vibes in this piece. “Yesterday’s News” has a self-awareness that is becoming rather commonplace in indie pop at the moment, but scarcely is it presented in the kind of humble tone that this artist is utilizing so masterfully in his latest single. This is definitely one of the best tracks from the LP, largely because of its independent personality.
There are a lot of intriguing songs worth looking at in Dream Out Loud, but “Yesterday’s News” is probably the one cut I would point to as a perfect encapsulation of what its creator’s hybrid style is made of. This isn’t representative of the album as a whole by any means, but that’s the point – Rob Alexander is capable of bringing a lot of different layers to a single performance, and “Yesterday’s News” is one of the best examples of his depth as a showman thus far. He’s got big grooves and even bigger harmonies to share here, and while I doubt he’s going to cap out with this track, it’s a high point among a series of credible wins for his brand.
Chadwick Easton