On March 10th Canadian indie outfit Ten Kills the Pack will release Thank You For Trying, a concept album that tells the story of ‘the artist’s journey’ in two acts. Frontman Sean Sroka holds up a magnifying glass to the very idea of what it means to be an artist, with stories that mimic his own journey and experiences. It’s a bold new expression from a poetic and nuanced artist that pushes the boundaries of what a singer-songwriter is or can be.
The album presents a twelve-song narrative that unpacks the “artist’s journey,” illustrating a message of hope while refusing to shy away from all the bumps and bruises felt along the way. Sroka inhabits a narrator who tells stories that loosely mimic his own experiences. It’s a tactic that calls to mind some of the greatest songwriters like Bob Dylan or Lou Reed, whose mystical musings often blur the lines between fact and fiction. It’s these blurred edges that allow the songs to be so uncomfortably honest, devoted to loneliness, desire, futility, failure, and every bit of hope in between.
Today Glide is premiering the standout track “Critics (Fifty Bucks),” a song that properly showcases the artist’s soft-spoken and vulnerable indie-folk sound. While the song is fairly stripped down, it also carries a grandiose sound that veers into more of a sweeping Americana beauty with lush instrumentation. The lyrics also speak to our time when people take it upon themselves to critique everything and everything, regardless of expertise. What makes it impressive is the way the song takes you on a journey, with quiet moments giving way to a triumphant peak at the end.
Sean Sroka describes the inspiration behind the song:
“I know somewhere in the synopsis of this album we touch on the narrative of this album “unpacking the ‘Artist Journey’, bruises and all’. Critics is at the solar centre of this intent; even the interlude leading into it. This song is the climax of the film and the sum of all its parts. Really happy to have this whole album out.
Working alongside Marcus Paquin (The National, The Weather Station, Julia Jacklin, Stars, Local Natives) was such an art first process and a great experience because of the production we were able to achieve and capture together. Sonically, it feels so fresh, alive, and organic because of the balance we created between heavy analog studio captures mixed with small room tone but honest home recordings. We knew what we were aiming for, but always always made space for live chaos in the production and musical performances.”
WATCH:
