After two days of pop songs sunny side up, let’s calm things down a touch with this upbeat/downbeat number by former San Francisco supergroup The Aislers Set. One of few tracks to feature guitarist Wyatt Cusick on lead vocals, “Chicago New York is a standout on the band’s already delightful 2000 LP, The Last Match.
Channeling the more vulnerable tendencies of Beach Boys while stripping away the bombast, this deceptively cheery tune recounts a short and lonely trip through the big cities, going from somber to soaring and back again without missing a tambourine hit. It’s a breath of fresh air from the more orchestral and frenetic sounds of the rest of the record and a great song to wake up to when sunshine is lacking in your life.