Atlanta-based artist Ryan O’Connell compels on his new single “Bleach Dreams,” whose slacker-folk immersion infuses enjoyably within thematic reflections of personal sanity — and the odd things that may be required to achieve such, from letting the walls keep you company, leaving dishes to stack, and finding comfort in a late-night chat with mice. Shades of David Berman show enjoyably in the vocal tone and poetic lyrical prowess, making for a memorable success from O’Connell.
O’Connell’s debonair, narrative-forward vocal delivery consumes amidst slight percussion and acoustics, escalating in emotion as the “here’s a billboard smiling way too wide” remarks emerge. The preceding scene-setting — “woke up sideways on the carpet floor / bones felt borrowed, not mine anymore” — exudes a sense of disorientation, then commenting on an outside world with the smiling billboard and “insurance lady with her teeth all white.” The eventual culmination into a final “honey do your best” urging, from the community of mice, aligns with bird-chirping effects for a sense of optimism and cathartic reassurance.
The track’s memorable central chorus — “waiting for the bleach to come / and set my mind right” — conveys a craving for mental reset, a hope to wash away lingering weight. Rather than reaching a dramatic resolution, the song lands on a gentler perseverance, finding reassurance in the simple urge to “do your best.” “Bleach Dreams” is a resonating showcase in quality songwriting from Ryan O’Connell.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
