A wily, raucous outpouring of angst filtered through a buoyant indie rock lens, Present Company’s new single “It’s Not Looking Good” is a refreshing boost of Midwestern adrenaline.
for fans of The Strokes, Joy Division, The Virgins, LCD Soundsystem
Stream: “It’s Not Looking Good” – Present Company
A wily, raucous outpouring of angst filtered through a buoyant indie rock lens, Present Company’s new single is a refreshing boost of adrenaline. Feverish, frenetic, and incredibly fun, “It’s Not Looking Good” is a catchy buzz of anxiety fueled by soaring guitars, tight drums, coffee, and nostalgic rose-colored dreams of yesteryear.
I guess weʼre really doing this
I guess nobodyʼs here
Iʼm looking forward to everything inside another year
And weʼve wasted away
To the people that we know and all the people we like
Television make it alright
If you wanted it
You wouldnʼt have stopped
If you really wanted it
No you wouldnʼt have stopped
Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering “It’s Not Looking Good,” the vibrant new single from Minneapolis indie rock band Present Company. The four-piece of Eddie Chisham (lead vocals, guitar, synth), Christian Nelson (lead vocals, guitar, synth), Seth Lemmon (bass), and Berin Joseph (drums), Present Company formed in 2018 and formally introduced themselves to ‘the world’ through the song “Living Room Parade” a year ago this February. They released their ambitious debut album Talking on Couches in September 2020, unleashing a 46-minute rush of soaring and sweeping music on an unsuspecting audience (give it a listen when you have a chance; it’s worth any alt or indie fans’ ears).
“It’s Not Looking Good” finds the Midwest indie rockers returning with a dash of charm and sonic zest: At once over-the-top and yet seemingly restrained in its presentation, the song calls to mind the likes of The Strokes, The Virgins, Joy Division, LCD Soundsystem, and Talking Heads in its boisterous blend of new wave, indie rock, and post punk. Vocalist Christian Nelson pours himself into a fiery chorus that ripples out waves of affable anxiety – if such a thing could exist.
Well… itʼs not looking good for us
Itʼs not looking good for us
Itʼs not looking good for us
“After our debut album Talking on Couches, we started working on our sophomore project in our home studio,” Present Company tell Atwood Magazine. “One of the first things we had was a melody and lyrics over a post punk drum beat written by Christian. Before the song had any type of structure, we had Christian singing, “It’s not looking good for us.” The melody and lyrics seemed to flow more naturally than we were used to. It was a reflection of our anxiety on the uncertainty of the future.”
“It didn’t become a true Present Company song until we added the ending, which came from lyrics we had written around the time of our first album. They seemed to tie in perfectly. A song mostly oriented in the future now had an ending connecting our personal past to how we got where we are now. After we passed the song back and forth, adding guitar, bass, drums and production elements, the first release of our new project was complete.”
You never meant to hurt me
But you never made the call
Iʼm lookin down for your sympathy
Iʼm down for it all
And you never understood
And youʼll never understand
Pick your poison
I know that youʼll all leave me in the end
If you wanted it
You wouldnʼt have stopped
If you really wanted it
No you wouldnʼt have stopped
Despite the frenetic emotions coursing through Present Company’s performance, “It’s Not Looking Good” makes for an incredibly joyful, cheery listen. The band bring levity to a dark scene, inviting onlookers to join in their commiseration – and in doing so, a ball of anxiety untangles to reveal unbridled communal passion. It’s the kind of song you give your all to in karaoke; a track that lets you strut your stuff as you make your way down the street.
Present Company are not to be excluded; the Midwest quartet have lit a flame in 2021 with “It’s Not Looking Good,” and we can’t wait to see where they go from here. Stream the band’s new single exclusively on Atwood Magazine, and connect with the band’s socials below to stay tuned for more from Present Company over the year to come.
There was a time
Was a time
Was a simpler time
Then we grew up
We exposed the original
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Stream: “It’s Not Looking Good” – Present Company
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