{"product_id":"656605167329","title":"Greg Mendez - Beauty Land - Import CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGreg Mendez\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescription:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhiladelphiasinger\/songwriterGregMendezhadbeenpluggingawayontheregionalD.I.Y.sceneforover15yearswhenheunexpectedlygeneratedsomebuzzwithhis2023eponymousLP.Thatalbumhadstrippedbackthearrangementsofmanyofhispriorself-recordedindierocktracks,arrivingatsomethingmoreintimate,acoustic-minded,anddisarmingwhilehangingontohisaffinityforshort,sensitive,self-conscioussongs.TheDeadOceanslabelsignedhimsoonafteritsrelease.Arrivingafull20yearsafterhisfirstMySpaceuploads,hemakeshisproperfull-lengthlabeldebutwiththelike-mindedBeautyLand,analbumofregretful,confessionalsongssoshortthattheyvergeonadifferentartform.(Its14tracksclockinat26minutes.)Thealbumbeginswithacount-off,gentlystrummedacousticguitar,andthenthetitularphrase\"Iwannafeelpretty.\"Theploddingyetbittersweetlymelodictunefindshimlyinginbedalone,contemplatinganewjobhedoesntreallylike,andthengettingrobbedwhilewanderingthestreetsinthemiddleofthenight,\"Whennoonesaroundexceptsomeonelikeme.\"Inthesecondverseofthechorus-lesssong,hesaloneonNewYearsEve,andachimingpianoprogressionjoinstheloneguitaraccompanimentashedrinks\"TilIcouldntremembermyname,\"checksintorehab,andescapes:\"Icouldntbelieveit\/ExceptforthegleaminmyeyewhereIsee\/TheplacesIwouldbeifIwasntme.\"Thesecondtrack,\"LookingOutYourWindow,\"isaboutagrimsceneinahospital,andwhileMendezsmemorablemelodiesandwarm,vulnerablevocaltoneoftenevokeElliottSmith,theparticularlySmith-like\"Mary\/Dreaming\"takesoncomplicatedfeelingsaboutfamilyinbriefflashesandinaplaintiveminormode--atleastforthefirst100seconds,beforeitmorphsintotheacappella\"Dreaming,\"whichemployssampledvoicesonakeyboard.Muchlikethatswitch-up,BeautyLandneverquitesinksintoanemotion,insteadmovingthroughmomentsofmelancholy,grief,loneliness,andacceptance(theupbeat\"GentleLove,\"whichfeaturesbass,drums,andwhistling).Theresigned\"SoMean\"makesaliltingsingalongofhowmeanness\"makesnodifferencewhenallyouloveisgone.\"BythetimeBeautyLandclosesontheunder-90-second\"Concussion,\"asongaboutafalling-outwithafriend,Mendezsgentlevignetteshavecarriedanoutsizedemotionalheft,buthiswistfulmelodiesarejustaslikelytobringlistenersback.~MarcyDonelson\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTracklisting:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1.I Wanna Feel Pretty\u003cbr\u003e2.Looking Out Your Window\u003cbr\u003e3.Mary\/Dreaming\u003cbr\u003e4.Everybody Wants to Be Your Friend (Except Me)\u003cbr\u003e5.Gentle Love\u003cbr\u003e6.Frog\u003cbr\u003e7.It Breaks My Heart\u003cbr\u003e8.Sunsick\u003cbr\u003e9.No Evil\u003cbr\u003e10.Geranium\u003cbr\u003e11.Interlude in D Minor\u003cbr\u003e12.Serving Drinks\u003cbr\u003e13.So Mean\u003cbr\u003e14.Concussion\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dead Oceans","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52836062462241,"sku":"656605167329","price":2421.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/8482\/2076\/files\/656605167329.jpg?v=1781201866","url":"https:\/\/cdsvinyljapan.com\/products\/656605167329","provider":"CDs Vinyl Japan Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}