Sadder Days’ most recent single Guilty Pleasure is an amazing blend of Y2K electronica with their current Deftones-inspired sound. The production is rich and atmospheric, with the main chorus being exceptionally euphoric. The lyrics are tight, the production is beautiful, but the composition is the one thing holding it back.
All of the pieces are there, but the song structure could use some tightening up. The first 40 seconds of the song are brilliant, but the verse that follows trails off into a different style that doesn’t transition very organically.
As for the overall production, the 808s are fat, thumping, and carry a powerful weight. The distortion is also crushy enough to give it some edge and depth, but not completely ruin the mix. The main synths feel discombobulated, like they have an original structure they’re trying to fulfill, but are synced slightly out of place to where the beat feels like it’s falling apart. That execution gives it so much life and personality. It sounds like it’s built for a TikTok trend, which isn’t inherently a bad thing, but it’s more obvious looking at the rest of the song.
The vocals pair very well with the chorus, and add to the catchy intro. The harmonies are also great and provide some addicting, ear-candy-like melodies. The bridge is fine overall, but I think it could have used more buildup.
Even though I’m a fan of shorter songs, this song could have benefited greatly by another verse, chorus, and more buildup. The energy is there, but the way it’s structured leaves room for more of a listening experience.
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this single and think it’s a great summer song. Despite the song structure and composition, the production is immaculate, the vocal delivery is seductive and addicting, and the overall chemistry with the vocals and beat pairs very well together. Looking forward to more songs by this duo.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Link to song: https://open.spotify.com/track/6ht84C3UZjWzxBN9FFGmao?si=soWL37okToWcGO6cKAlCeA