livefreediyhard.com

Author: David Robison

  • I Was Shot Through The Heart by The Male Pattern

    I Was Shot Through The Heart by The Male Pattern

    Artist: The Male Pattern

    Album: I Was Shot Through The Heart

    Release: September 25, 2026; Audio Antihero

    Queens, New York based singer-songwriter, William Schwartz of The Male Pattern serves up a slice of modern day Americana. On paper, this release is everything I look for in an album. It’s satirical, story driven, often times humorous, AND it shines the light on a pattern of behavior often exhibited by some of the most toxic types of men. 

    The opening song “The Television Watcher” introduces the main character of this story, which I will from this point refer to as the ‘hero”— he certainly sees himself as a hero. A man fully content to live his life through the proxy of television. There is really no need for the “hero” to fix his life. He gets all the benefits of a well lived life vicariously through all his favorite television shows; the ups and the downs. Sometimes, rather than being brave enough to stand in the life you’ve made for yourself, it is easier to withdraw. This is a great set up for the type of guy the ‘hero” is– a coward. 

    “I’m a Soldier” has to be the most amusing song on the album. It further establishes the “hero” as a recently divorced dad. He often claims that he could have been a veteran through the song. It reminds me of a specific type of dude bro that likes to talk about how he would have joined the military if it weren’t for this or that flat excuse. He also compares arguing with people online to the Vietnam War. Bargain-box commandos in ill-fitting body armor springs to mind. Absolutely the best way to further distill the type of guy the ‘hero” is. The song ends with a list of menu items which is hilarious especially when given added context from the following track “Voicemail to Corporate”  

    Schwartz really goes out of his way to illustrate to listeners that the problems the “hero”, is having and will have are of his own creation. Let me assure you, the “hero’s” problems are numerous and compound exponentially as he continues through a downward spiral over the course of the album. That spiral eventually culminates in a shoot out with cops. Even as the “hero’s” life flashes before his eyes it becomes explicitly clear that he has learned nothing, excepts no responsibility, and is still very much a d-bag. 

    All in all I found the album to be an exceptional piece of storytelling. I, honestly, would expect nothing less from a seasoned English professor like Schwartz. Where the album falls off for me is in the music itself. It is slow and melodic but lacks any hooks that really grab me. That being said I think the album is worth a look. The story is fantastic and hell, I’m willing to admit that the music might be right up someone else’s alley.

  • We Emit A Visible Light That Vanishes When We Die by Nelson Comes To Visit

    We Emit A Visible Light That Vanishes When We Die by Nelson Comes To Visit

    Artist: Nelson Comes To Visit (Superdestroyer//Leave Nelson B)

    Album: We Emit A Visible Light That Vanishes When We Die

    Release: September 4, 2026; Lonely Ghost Records 

    The Nelson Comes To Visit series is a collaboration between artists Superdestroyer and Leave Nelson B that has become a yearly tradition around these parts. If you’re fan of the blog this duo certainly doesn’t need another introduction, so I am going to jump right in. 

    The first thing I notice about the album over all is it is darker and more angry than the pervious NCTV releases. A few songs make use of deep throated screaming that I wasn’t initial expecting but over all makes complete sense given the subject matter found in those songs. The state the of the world makes me that angry too fam. I get it. However, amongst the anger and dystopia presented in the album there are songs that illustrate that even when things are bleak, hope can be found. 

    The album starts off heavy with the dystopia in the song “When Confronted With A Life Of Fruitless Toil The Robot Chose To End It”. The name alone puts me in my feels all by itself. The song is about how the American dream is a lie sold to the masses to keep the common folk in line. It also shares a few facts to help support its second point– Billionaires shouldn’t exist. Then, as if its the cherry on top or the final drop of the hammer, the song end with a clip of a news report to let listeners know that the ultra rich are preparing for the end of the world. Are you? 

    Next, the album shares a moment of hope with the song “Martial Bliss”. There is hope in finding your person among the terrors of the world. This song shares exactly that sentiment albeit is a somewhat macabre way. I have a dark sense of humor so I found it endearing and sweet. One of the last lyrics in the song is “So long as you’re alive, the world is worth saving.” Initially, I thought this line was a call to action to carry the listener into the rest of the album, an attempt to assure them things will get better. However, I read the lyrics sheet and there are 2 words that almost get lost in the music that really changes the context. “To me” This is an affirmation of love. It literally melts my heart y’all. 

    The rest of the album continues like this laying out the stark, often dark reality of how things are. Sprinkling little bits of hope here and there to keep listeners going or perhaps even inspire you. The first few lines of “Mason Family Christmas Card” is one of those moments of hopeful inspiration. The call to action at the end of the song makes it clear that it is, indeed, supposed to be taken that way. 

    My favorite song on the album is another moment of hope. “We’ll See Each Other In This Moment For Eternity” the song describes an Antifascist protest. Ending the song with a protest chant is inspired. There isn’t really much else to say about the song its fairly straight forward. More of this in the world please! 

    The album ends with a song called “United States of Israel”. It is a song about the genocide in Palestine. While the song didn’t make my favorite song pick, it contains what I think is the most effective line on the entire album. Its repeated at the very end of the song. In my mind it carries the same weight and gravity of the final lines in the 1983 anti-cold war anthem “99 Red Balloons”. The perfect end to an album about the troubles facing the world today. I don’t know if this is going to make sense to anyone, but much like the end of 99 Red Balloons, in spite of the despair inherent in the scene it paints, I still can’t help but find the line hopeful. After all, nothing manufactured lasts forever and gardens, if left alone long enough, will always grow anew.  

    “We manufactured hell where a garden once grew.”