My Boy (Twin Fantasy): The album opens with the track My Boy (Twin Fantasy). Twin Fantasy leaves no doubt that Toledo is a strikingly gifted and thoughtful songwriter who also has a firm grasp of how to make his material work in the studio, and isn't afraid to think on a grand scale. He uses the term “galvanistic” to reference Mary Shelley’s. For his 11th record, the 25-year old decided to return to his lo-fi roots and rework his first great release with the major label production value it deserves. Toledo sings, “I pretended I was drunk when I came out to my friends/ I never came out to my friends.” It is like Toledo lies to the listener about coming out, but then he quickly admits the truth. For me, the loneliness I experienced when I wasn’t out pervaded nearly every aspect of my life, so this was a major point of relatability for me. For me, the loneliness I experienced when I wasn’t out pervaded nearly every aspect of my life, so this was a major point of relatability for me. I loved the sound of this album, but it was the narrative that made me deeply invested in it. Beach Life-In-Death: The next song on this album is the 12 minute long epic called Beach Life-In-Death. The album is loosely conceptual, focusing on the singer/songwriter’s borderline-obsessive relationship cycle with an unnamed young man. Cloaked in hissing lo-fi distortion and reverb, the original production is sonically and compositionally evocative. Lists. This could also be a small example of the bigger picture of their relationship, which is that Toledo will still love his boyfriend even if he does things that he doesn’t like. : TF Edition. )… With Queer Wins this Election, What does this mean for Queer People. The theme of loneliness in this album goes beyond the general meaning of loneliness –– it deals with the loneliness experienced by closeted, gay teens. Sober to Death: In this song Toledo sings, “Good stories are bad lives.” This is telling of his relationship because he is saying that if their relationship wasn’t flawed and problematic, he wouldn’t have been able to make this album. The stream-of-conscious writing style in this song begins to reveal more details about their relationship. I wasn’t out, but I didn’t need a coming out story. “My Boy (Twin Fantasy),” the opening track, makes this very, very clear. In fact, if you don’t listen carefully you could miss this detail altogether. Lyrics have been switched here and there, and the climatic “Famous Prophets (Stars)” now culminates in six minutes of gorgeous piano melodies and vocal collage. From the lyrics on “Beach Life-in-Death:” “I pretended I was drunk when I came out to my friends/I never came out to my friends,” to  when he sings “I got so fucking romantic/I apologize,” on “Cute Thing” or  “Stop smoking/We love you/And we don’t want you to die,” on “Stop Smoking,” Toledo communicates bleak truths under blunt verses. He may feel pressured to do this so that he doesn’t appear more invested into their relationship than his boyfriend. That is, Toledo has fallen in love with the fantasy he has created. High to Death: At this point in the album Toledo realizes he has been disillusioned by this love, which may be nothing more than the fantasy he admits to creating in Nervous Young Inhumans. In the end, although Toledo lost his love, his pain inspired the creation of an album that I needed to hear during a particular period of my life. Album Review: Twin Fantasy is a re-recorded, re-imagined new version of Will Toledo’s 2011 self-released Bandcamp record of the same name. Twin Fantasy shares a truly honest account of a meaningful yet problematic relationship. Immediately, I was hit with a wave of emotions, being reminded of my late great grandma, who died around 4 years ago. Twin Fantasy › Customer reviews; Customer reviews. The album kicks things of strong with the 2 minute intro "My Boy (Twin Fantasy)". She is trying to make it through pre med and have a social life at the same time. I connect with Toledo’s lines, “Thank god for the little things and and/ fuck god that they’re little things I am.” On one hand I try to feel thankful for the things that make me unique, including my sexuality, while at the same time I feel frustrated over it because it has made my life more complicated. He compares his fantasy to being high. Cute Thing: “I got so fucking romantic/ I apologize/ Lemme light your cigarette.” At this point in the album, the tone shifts from romanticism to realism. At that point in life, I didn’t have anyone to relate to in regards to being gay until I realized that Will Toledo, the singer of Car Seat Headrest, was singing about a boy he had fallen in love with. This is not something that could happen to him; this is something that takes place only in his mind. Society often conditions LGBTQ people to feel out of place. Toledo may have chosen the “twins” motif  as a reference to the same-sex relationship he is in. which explores the theme of creating a being, which he admits he has done to his love interest. Twin Fantasy isn’t just another one of Toledo’s Bandcamp albums. Toledo apologizes to his lover for the affection he yearned for in the previous song and offers a more subtle form of affection (lighting his cigarette). (Yeah, this album's a remake. The theme of loneliness in this album goes beyond the general meaning of loneliness –– it deals with the loneliness experienced by closeted, gay teens. interpret his statement that he has rejoined society to mean. 5 star 88% 4 star 7% 3 star 4% 2 star 1% 1 star 1% Twin Fantasy. . It will function as an outlet for the creative endeavors of our staff and community. 209 global ratings. Now, the song’s sturdy bass line, sharp drum sound and vocal harmonies come through loud and clear. “It was never a finished work,” Will says, “and it wasn’t until last year that I figured out how to finish it.” This album doesn’t glamorize Toledo’s experience; instead, it is relatable to people going through similar issues. Album Review: Twin Fantasy is a re-recorded, re-imagined new version of Will Toledo’s 2011 self-released Bandcamp record of the same name. As with the previous five albums, it was a self-recorded, lo-fi affair. Sonically speaking, Twin Fantasy ‘18 sounds more or less like an HD upgrade over the bunny ears of Twin Fantasy ‘11. He has rejoined society.” Essentially, Toledo is saying that his love was too good to be true. If (Mirror to Mirror)’s genius was buried under the album’s lo-fi production, (Face to Face)’s is unmistakable. : In this short song, Toledo sings, “Stop smoking. News. "Beach Life-In-Death", the longest track on the album, clocks in at 12 minutes and 11 seconds and changes style multiple times throughout. Brandi is a second year physiological science major. And yet the whole thing is set to a chord progression that feels like an act-three ballad from a musical. ❤ Forever grateful for your music taste and now your writing , Your email address will not be published. Album: Twin Fantasy by Car Seat Headrest Genre: Indie Rock, Punk Rating: 8/10 Car Seat Headrest began as a project by Will Toledo. I loved the sound of this album, but it was the narrative that made me deeply invested in it. After a taut, tense opening, the track explodes out into a chorus of multitracked, feedback-spewing guitars. In fact it's a bit more challenging. After singer/songwriter Will Toledo independently recorded and released five albums under the Car Seat Headrest name, he released the original Twin Fantasy (Self Produced, 2011). Toledo sings, “It’ll take some time/ but somewhere down the line/ we won’t be alone.” An important detail (which is revealed in this album) is that Toledo hadn’t really come out prior to this relationship. Famous Prophets (Minds): “Twin bruises on my shins/ From where I kicked the back of the seat in/ They meant what I went through for you.” The twin bruises in this line are a reference to the title of this album, Twin Fantasy. How are ratings calculated? Twin Fantasy (Face to Face) is a re-recording of Toledo’s cult classic Twin Fantasy (Mirror to Mirror) (2011). In 2011, Car Seat Headrest released Twin Fantasy, an album he labeled incomplete, on Bandcamp.The DIY album, recorded in the back seat of a car, was unsupported by a … Designed by WPZOOM. : The next song on this album is the 12 minute long epic called. In Matador's 2018 reissue of Twin Fantasy, both the 2011 original and the 2016 remake are included, and they're more similar than one might expect despite the differences in production, arrangements, and intensity. We bring these subjects into focus with the intention of educating allies and bridging gaps in communication within our own community. He compares his fantasy to being high. He uses the term “galvanistic” to reference Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which explores the theme of creating a being, which he admits he has done to his love interest. While it may not carry the same intrigue of a college student self-recording a lo-fi opus between classes, this new Twin Fantasy elucidates the masterfulness of an incisive indie savant whose creative reach had, until recently, exceeded his grasp He may feel pressured to do this so that he doesn’t appear more invested into their relationship than his boyfriend. Writing and making music seems to be Toledo’s way of coping with his relationship. Bodys: At this point in the album Toledo gives up on searching for meaning in his relationship. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy. OutWrite will act as a resource for queer college students, a source of news, campus happenings and popular culture. Your email address will not be published. : In a third person commentary incorporated into this track Toledo tells us, “He dissociates himself from his own romance until it becomes just a fantasy. . So when he says that he wishes he was sober, he means that he wishes he could let go of this romantic fantasy that he has created. by Car Seat Headrest is an indie rock album that tells the story of a troubled gay romance. 4.8 out of 5 stars. I also didn’t need an album that would tell me being gay would be easy. We aim to articulate these experiences and issues with an awareness and respect for our diverse identities. He has rejoined society.” Essentially, Toledo is saying that his love was too good to be true. : At this point in the album Toledo realizes he has been disillusioned by this love, which may be nothing more than the fantasy he admits to creating in. cemented his status as one of contemporary music’s most fascinating figures, Will Toledo spent years recording songs on his personal computer, uploading new records on Bandcamp under his Car Seat Headrest moniker at a frequency matched only by Lil B. Genres. Writing and making music seems to be Toledo’s way of coping with his relationship. My Boy (Twin Fantasy): The album opens with the track My Boy (Twin Fantasy). Review: Twin Fantasy by Car Seat Headrest Car Seat Headrest seemed brand new in 2016. In her free time she enjoys making playlists on Spotify and reading music blogs. The stream-of-conscious writing style in this song begins to reveal more details about their relationship. https://open.spotify.com/album/5Se8ihcLiCjieh5SbteEPU. Instead, it’s a hall of mirrors. This Bandcamp classic overflowed with visceral performances and ambitious … We love you and we don’t want you to die.” I get the sense that Toledo views smoking as a slow form of suicide. he is leaving this (presumably secret) relationship. Now signed with Matador and supported by a band, Toledo takes full advantage of the larger budget and studio time. Toledo sings, “And I love this dream/ But how exactly can we/ Escape from behind this wall?” In this song he wishes his fantasy was real. While Toledo claims that he always intended to go back and “finish” Twin Fantasy, that very idea is anathema to what made the album so compelling in the first place. Toledo sings, “I will not revoke the punishment/ for falling in love too hard.” Toledo realizes that the pains of this romance will haunt him. Sadly, this vision is not always quickly achieved. What I needed was an indie rock album that captured the emotional angst experienced by a gay, closeted teen. The idealized relationship he created in his head didn’t align with the reality of their relationship. This song introduces Toledo’s love interest, the subject of this album, and sets the bittersweet tone. He also realizes that being so immersed into this fantasy is unhealthy. Twin Fantasy Matador Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Car Seat Headrest give the original 2011 Twin Fantasy a shot of rock adrenaline. We do not hope to be the singular voice of the queer community, but rather, we hope to provide a space for dialogue. Your email address will not be published. A 19-year-old Toledo released his initial version of Twin Fantasy in November 2011. We love you and we don’t want you to die.” I get the sense that Toledo views smoking as a slow form of suicide. On February 16th, on the heels of the smashing success of Teens of Denial, Car Seat Headrest will release a new version of Twin Fantasy. Whichever the case is, I admire this album for its sincerity. The 2011 version of Car Seat Headrest’s Twin Fantasy begins with a variation of the iconic drum phrase from “Be My Baby.” Comprised of just a kick drum and two sticks clicking together, the album’s intro is a modest gesture. Ship Happens: The Inevitable Outcome of Underrepresentation, Other: The Unheard Voices of QPOC Adoptees, Bi Representation in Disney’s “The Owl House”, What the Biden Administration Has to Undo, Books That Aren’t Gay, but We Love ‘Em Anyway, A World On Her Way: Imagining Futures with Mirrored Fatality, Representation: Queerness and Butterfly Soup. I connect with Toledo’s lines, “Thank god for the little things and and/ fuck god that they’re little things I am.” On one hand I try to feel thankful for the things that make me unique, including my sexuality, while at the same time I feel frustrated over it because it has made my life more complicated. Copyright © 2019 The McGill Tribune. It is about first love, first break-up, coming out, depression, and the potentially fatal consequences of smoking. Discover. AOTY 2020. Nervous Young Inhumans: “You galvanistic young boy/ You galvanistic young man/ You galvanistic young inhuman/ You understand.” In a commentary style at the end of this song, Toledo tells us that galvanism is the idea that electricity runs through our bloodstream and is our life force. But while it shows flashes of brilliance it also exposes Toledo's early shortcomings as a songwriter. This slight conservatism sometimes bogs it down:  “Nervous Young Inhuman’s” spoken word outro has little to no replay value, and the first 10 minutes of “Famous Prophets (Stars)”  drag on. This lack of affection that his boyfriend shows Toledo could just be his nature, or it could be his fear of embracing his sexuality or showing it publicly. The bruises represent the emotional pain of his relationship. McGill University is located on land which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. 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