Hailing from Eugene, Oregon, Dana and Alden McWayne have, for the past few years, graced listeners from all over the world with some of the purest and most technically sound music of the early part of the new decade. Dana is an organic farmer by day and mystifying saxophonist and pianist by night, preferring to stay out of the spotlight and off of social media (for which I do not blame him). Alden is a recent graduate of the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, and plays both the roll of an exceptionally talented drummer and, on many occasions, the lead singer on a record. He is also well known for his comedic content (under the monicker @gucci_pineapple) which has garnered him over 800,000 followers on TikTok and 140,000 on Instagram. If you want to learn even more about the two and the intriguing motivations behind their music, Atwood Magazine recently uploaded a great piece on the album, including an interview with the brothers and Salim Charvet, who was a major contributor on their new album.
This unique mix of oh-so-tender soft-pop and soul-pleasing jazz has already driven droves of new fans to the group and their new record, Coyote, You're My Star (2024), and it is sure to herd even more fans to the fast-rising duo. The album comes in at a solid 14 songs and features a handful of exciting features, while primarily focusing on the talents of the brothers. Saxophonist and Pianist Salim Charvet joins the band for the project, acting as a major influence for a number of the songs, while Eli Torgersen and Andrew Mitchell take up the guitar and bass, respectively. Production of the album is credited to Jared Solomon (Solomonophonic), whose studio and production provided the canvas upon which the group could splatter all of their wildest ideas.
The two start the album off with a previously released single, and the title track, "Coyote, You're My Star". Pre-released before the album itself, the intro song has already ingratiated itself with the band's fan base, as well as with many new listeners. The backing track is reminiscent of something the legendary French band Cortex would concoct and this can be said for a number of the songs from their earlier releases, including their previous album, Quiet Music for Young People (2023). Alden lends his voice to the track and flows flawlessly, while Dana finishes the song off with a blistering Saxophone solo that is sure to get any crowd which they perform in front of on their feet.
"You Can Do Anything" presents an easy on the ears melody with a heavenly backing chorus that occasionally takes over a simple yet incredibly groovy piano melody. Like many of the other songs
on the album, it does a great job of switching between different intensities throughout the song, at some points focusing on a solo from just a single instrument and then steadily throwing in more and more sounds while gradually upping the intensity. Listeners are transported to a Pink Panther-esque detective drama with "Ivan's Theme". I can only imagine how good this song would sound if one were taking a late-night stroll along a canal in Paris, yet sometimes one's imagination can be enough (especially with such a backing track). "Family Garden" intercedes the detective drama storyline but is welcome in doing so, as Melanie Charles provides an emotive chorus. The backing track sounds as fresh and well put together as everything else on the record. "Paper Tiger" then drags the listener to the climax of the musical movie started in "Ivan's Theme", however now the detective is chasing the main bad guy through shadowy underpasses, each time disappearing from the glow of the moonlight before coming back into view. Maybe that's a bit much imagery, but the point I'm trying to get across is that these songs allow you to dive into a daydream mid-song and provide a healthy boost to any listeners imagination and mental clarity.
"Late July, ice cream and apple pie, you and me, under the big blue sky"
"Bourdain" relaxes the vibe and is an homage to the late, great Anthony Bourdain. The song itself was inspired by a tune that Salim Charvet heard in an episode of No Reservations (2005-2012) which saw the world-famous chef in Brazil. The influence from the episode is clear on the song, with a piano pumping out a smooth bossa nova melody, while a various assortment of instruments pop their heads in before quickly dissipating. A synth takes over by the end as the song shifts into something one might hear while floating through the depths of an unknown universe. The focus on food, or at least themes related
to it, continues with "Ice Cream Song". Alden and featured artist Cinya Khan co-lead the vocals, with the two singing back and forth in an almost conversation-like manner. The theme of the song, like much of the rest of the album, is very lighthearted and perfect for a steaming summer day, which many people have become especially accustomed to in recent summer times. "Frigate Bay" is a good follow up to the previous song as it slows the pace down a bit with a reggae inspired melody, and a touch of Saxophone added into its mix. It evokes a feeling of walking down a pier with an ice cream in hand, one which the listener got from the last song. After this little story line concludes, "Maria (Believe Again)" delivers one of the most beautiful hooks on the album. Maša, another feature on the album and also an alumnus of Berklee College of Music, lends her vocals to the chorus of the song. "PB" comes next with a very cozy feel to it. The song is slow, a smooth Saxophone being the only slight interruption, while every instrument sounds crisp, clear, and relaxed. This is the perfect song to fall asleep to on a starry summer night, and I mean that in the best way possible.
After this, "Grellie" and "Chocobanano" showcase the experimental side of the duo's artistry, throwing all sorts of intriguing sounds together. "Grellie" puts Alden's drumming on full display. His playing is accentuated with a bass that almost feels like it's trying to kick the listener in the ears. The latter tune, "Chocobanano", is chock-full of all kinds of interesting instruments, from an interstellar-sounding synth piano to Maracas and what sounds like violin strings being plucked. Like the aforementioned two tracks, "Popular Front" is yet another purely instrumental song on which the brothers try out some new sounds. It taps into the hip-hop inspirations which helped the brothers initially develop with their sound. Somewhat of a protest song, the name and narration of the track pay homage to popular front groups from all over the world. The song itself hits the listener with a fierce piano and backing drums which sound like they hail straight from a 90s New York rap song. This intensity is most likely purposeful, as the song seeks to instill more potent feelings in the listener.
To cap off this incredible journey of an album, "Return of the Coyote" brings us back to the beginning by playing the melody from the opening song but pitched down and slower. This quickly shifts into a beautiful chorus of sound, with overlapped voices and instruments all playing off of each other perfectly. This is reminiscent of something you would hear at the end of a Tyler, The Creator album, with all the musicians flexing their skills and the production pulling out all the stops to put a bow on the project.
Proving once again that they are the next big thing in jazz, and maybe all of music, Dana and Alden have not missed once since coalescing at the beginning of the decade. Just as much credit should be given to the band of three which played various instruments on the album and to Solomonophonic, without whose help the album would not have been possible. The brothers have been dropping non-stop since starting their group and fans should not expect them to stop anytime soon, especially with the attention that they have been receiving recently. For now, all we can do is wait and be mesmerized by the music they have already released, and also by the posts on @gucci_pineapple on Instagram and TikTok.
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