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Description

There aint no purpose fightin holy wars for someone youre not. This sleek proverb is delivered in Jake Ewalds unassuming sneer, but isnt as honest as previous adages hes known for behind one-half of Modern Baseballs microphones. The residents of Slaughter Beach a character study the Philadelphia musician flocks to during bouts of writers block are grounded in some faith, whether in a higher power or lesser ones roaming this areas varied terrain.

Consider the musical geography of the region: there are pastoral corners, where Politics of Grooming whispers third-person omniscience as thin guitars slide and pluck. Drinks finds itself primed for the towns bar jukebox, where Ewalds alt-country tendencies slink away from safety. Other tracks are illuminated by a city skyline, where the radio-rock Monsters bends and folds under the weight of an evening loaded with self-sabotage. Bed Fest, returning from 2014s Dawg EP, clocks in around that nights 3 a.m., with quieter admissions of interpersonal guilt lingering longer than the concluding vocal overdubs accompanying them.

Many of the tracks on Welcome find people struggling to find answers, but Ewald answers to no one but himself. This debut LP was entirely self-produced, recorded and performed: an act of escapism and individual growth outside his tight-knit day job. Slaughter Beach, Dog finds Ewald wandering through multiple headspaces to emerge with his own inner sanctum confidently reinvigorated. And thats welcome.