Minnesota-based indie rock Pullstring recently released their new single “The Only Thing” on all platforms..and subsequently brought back the sound of early 90s pop-rock bands such as Toad the Wet Sprocket and Gin Blossoms. Joni Mitchell once sang “Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone?” on her classic “Big Yellow Taxi”. Well, hearing this song reminded me of a sound I didn’t know I missed until I heard it here, and once you hear this, you’ll feel the same way.
So what is here, really? Well, it’s the only thing that makes sense (as the hook goes). An excellently mixed guitar intro leads into one of the catchiest melodies I’ve heard in years followed by…what is this…an actual guitar solo! Yes, folks, back before everything was processed to hell and back and quantized within an inch of its life, bands played real instruments! The drums are tad off-beat during the first verse, and the snare could’ve used a bit of reverb, but it’s refreshing to hear music that sounds human, which actually helps the song vibe. Love isn’t perfect, and neither are people…but that hook just might be. This is one of those songs that would sound perfect on the soundtrack of an edgy young adult rom-com (think American Pie with a bit more heartbreak and less…um…pie).
The lyrics perfectly nail the despair one feels at the tail end of a relationship, which is a clever juxtaposition against the infectious chorus…this is heartbreak you can sing along to with a tear in your eye and a smile on your face. Actual emotion, real instruments, and a catchy melody? Sign me up…it’s the only thing that makes sense.
Listen to "The Only Thing" on Spotify here:
You can check out Pullstring’s Instagram here: