Nap Eyes

I’m Bad Now

Nap Eyes’ 2016 sophomore record, Thought Rock Fish Scale, was a true sleeper. The band’s delicate songcraft and melodic brilliance were couched in a lethargic and meditative atmosphere that was easy to dismiss, but just as easy to become enthralled with. I’m Bad Now finds Nap Eyes picking up their feet without sacrificing the subtle psychedelia that makes their songs so enticing. Much has been made about vocalist Nigel Chapman’s deadpan Lou Reed enunciation, but Nap Eyes push the spiritual influence of the Velvet Underground even further on songs like “Judgment,” with its droning snare march and single-chord jangle, and “Follow Me Down.” That said, there is greater sonic diversity throughout these 11 tracks, in contrast to the more uniform sound of their predecessors. Lead single “Every Time the Feeling,” for instance, features a catchy Sheer Mag-esque guitar lead and a bouncy pickup beat, while “Sage” and “I’m Bad” find the band delving into their melancholic country predilection and could easily be helmed by the late Jason Molina. Like much of the band’s

best work, I’m Bad Now needs some time to unravel: Chapman’s reflexive and interrogative lyrics need to sink in; Brad Loughead’s brilliant solos need to reveal their harmonic details; and the band’s carefully plotted progressions need to become familiar. Despite all their quotidian musings and beautiful imagery, we’re left with few answers about whether there is such a thing as a right road, whether there is a firm distinction between self-doubt and self-pity, and when, if ever, Nigel Chapman will become good again. After a few involved listens, it becomes apparent that if he can’t do it, there’s not much hope for the rest of us. (Paradise of Bachelors, www.paradiseofbachelors.com)