Only Bricks says it's time to Smile :)

If I had to describe the Only Bricks Sound with a single idea it would be like shaking a can of energy soda. And I say "Soda" specifically because of the fizzy, sparkly sound that their newest song "‘Smile, It’s Over :)’ pops off with, smiley-face and all.

This juicy bubblegum of a single is brought to us by spouses and partners in crime Anne DiGiovanni and guitarist Joseph Lewczak. The pair tied the knot in 2017 and roughly a year later they released their debut EP "Foundation", and I can't wait to find out if this blatantly cheeky duo is going to name their second EP (or debut album) with a reference to construction or infrastructure once more.

Lewczak and DiGiovanni have been hard at work since 2018 Though, last year alone they managed to pump out five incredibly solid singles which I went back and listened to, only to be even more charmed by their infectious and energetic sound.

“Smile, It’s Over:)" is a gorgeous music video release that is unsurprisingly bold and irreverent once you know your Only Bricks. The song itself is a "swan song for everyone who’s ever raged against corporate America". The message is made abundantly clear, and while they call it a Swan song, I feel it's more like a victory anthem, one that mocks the notion of a declining corporatist status quo as something to get worked up about. Not at all is what Only Bricks says. "Don't cry because it happened, smile because it's over!" goes the extremely catchy chorus in a witty reversal of the old saying.

In their view, now is the time to celebrate, now's the time to let go of those old conventions. This perhaps may become all-too-real for those who have seen their labor dynamics shifted dramatically in the light of the quarantine, for instance, though I guess you can just as easily apply any amount of personal grievances against "Corporate America" (or corporate culture for that matter) that you may have.

The music video was directed by Jaclyn Amor and it bears the mark of the 1990s all about it, immediately drawing parallels between itself and that famous "Barbie Girl" of the Europop legends “Aqua”.

The candy-colored photography (done by Ben Meredith) evokes all of the suburban synthetic-grass-and-Pink-flamingo visual tropes of post-war America, but it's all in a sarcastic tone that fits the fun lyrics of a pop-punk tune, one that has a perfect balance between acerbic wit and bubbly sweet energy.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Samuel Aponte is Venezuelan-born raised and based. 

I joined Rival Magazine after a few years of doing PR work for independent musicians of all stripes; understanding their struggles to be heard in a sea of constant  ADHD noise and paywalled access to platforms, I now bring a willingness to always appreciate and encourage the effort and creativity that artists put into their work . Can also find some of my writings on LADYGUNN and We Found New Music.