The art of choosing a band name is as vital as the art of actually crafting music; there’s plenty of debate as to what makes or breaks the ruling on a good band name versus a bad band name, but the fact of the matter is this: when you know, you know. For Melbourne’s alt-country duo The Anywheres, the shared passion for rafting music together and performing anywhere was enough for them to know. Thus, The Anywheres was born (and it’s a pretty darn good band name if you ask me.) Speaking of pretty darn good, that brings me to their self-titled debut — arriving at first as a subtle homage to American country music, there’s far more at play than The Anywheres initially let on… and that’s where the fun begins.
URL: https://theanywheres.com/
Made up of Rosie Conforto and Dom Italiano, The Anywheres seem dead set on making mountains out of molehills; achieving a sound as loud and as effective as their own with just two members should be impossible, but Conforto and Italiano pull it off with remarkable ease. The opening track “What You Want To Hear” is a laidback duet that immediately establishes The Anywheres, both in band and in album, as a force to be reckoned with.
The treacly guitar chords and gorgeous harmonies aren’t messing around! “Some Folks” boosts the energy up a bit, but it also maintains the concept that this band could pull up beside you at a bus stop and start an entire concert; there’s an air of homegrown simplicity that leaves room for versatility and improvisation in live settings. “Tell Me” is a gentle tune about mutual communication with sugar-sweet vocals and a growing power that can move mountains. “I Don’t Know Why” taps into modern country the most so far, as it features a full band sound and more of a straightforward approach to the genre. The scope is still incredibly impressive, and the lyrics remain moving.
“Bitter Tears” bring in a roadhouse slow dance vibe, as the title accurately captures the emotions tied to this track; the vocal balance between Conforto and Italiano is impeccable, as the higher tones are never compromised and feel earned. “One Day” is an emotional punch in the face of a song with this line: “And if it all ends tomorrow, I can guarantee one day with you’s more than I deserve, so that’s enough for me,” which got a pause out of me. “I’d Rather Stay Home” picks the pace up, offering a traditional country duet that features the strengths of both Conforto and Italiano’s voices.
This song feels the most radio-ready, but it also comes across as the album’s biggest outlier. “I Will Lift You Up” is an aching track complete with steel guitars and an incredibly effective minor key that feels even more distraught following up the poppy “I’d Rather Stay Home.” “Just Break My Heart” takes a melancholy package and wraps it in an almost-bubbly bow; the key phrase being “almost,” as the lyrics are some of the album’s saddest yet.
“I Will Bring You Home” is the album’s final track and it brings The Anywheres back to the start, providing the simple structure of two voices on a single guitar melody accentuated with gorgeous orchestral string-work in the last half. As the album concludes, listeners are left with a warm heart and a head full of thoughts provoked by the skillful performances and art of The Anywheres. This is an album that will make you reflect on your life, and if you’re willing to do the searching and ask the right questions as provoked by the album, hopefully, you’ll like the answers you come up with.
Chadwick Easton