Song of the Day: Weaves – Walkaway

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is "Walkaway" by Weaves, from the new album Wide Open out now on Kanine Records.

Weaves – Walkaway (MP3)

Toronto's Weaves may have only just released their second album, but from the way this quartet plays together, you'd think they had been playing and sharpening their craft together for years. Between Morgan Waters' golden guitar licks, Spencer Cole's fist-pumping drums, Zach Bines' sturdy basslines, and most importantly, frontwoman Jasmyn Burke's scratchy, gliding vocals, the band have carved out a punky art-pop sound somewhere between Patti Smith and Alex Chilton. Wide Open, their sophomore album out now on Kanine Records, finds the foursome trotting out some of their summeriest material yet while hinting at the darker themes lurking just beneath the surface.

On its own, "Walkaway" might sound like a perfectly shimmering rock song, replete with Springsteen-worthy riffs and a classic power-pop groove — but Burke's lyrics hide a deeper complexity. "I look down at the road/I see the creatures grin," she sings, painting the kind of picture you might see in an old Disney movie before the chorus brings the punch: "Walkaway, walkaway girl, if you know what's good for you." Whatever road Burke may be traveling down, it's the kind that's come at the price of leaving another one behind. It's ambiguous what path Burke may have been on before, but from the way her voice joyfully cracks across the song's glimmering refrain, what is certain now is that what lies ahead is all sunshine.

Weaves just wrapped up a North American tour, and have just kicked off their European tour. Check out all those dates on their Facebook page. And check out a video for today's featured song below, directed by the band themselves.