The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Pandemic-appropriate
Cloud Nothings recorded ‘The Shadow I Remember’ pre-coronavirus, but rockers’ new album fits times
The opening moments to “Oslo,” the lead track on Cloud Nothings’ just-released studio album, “The Shadow I Remember,” epitomize the mental struggle of living through a pandemic
The perfect discordant mélange — a fuzzedout guitar and lone piano chords — includes despondent singer Dylan Baldi bellowing: “The world I know has gone away/An outline of my own decay/The body’s broken, the blood is warm/
Is this the end of the life I’ve known/Am I older now or am I just another age/Am I at the end or will there be another change.”
“Weirdly it does have that pandemic vibe, but — funny enough — this whole album was recorded (in February 2020) before any of this really happened in America,” said Cloud Nothings singersongwriter Baldi, who recently moved to Philadelphia.
“‘Oslo’ is more about this Norwegian movie I was really into called ‘Oslo, August 31st.’ It’s about an exdrug addict, who comes out of rehab. It was a moving film, so I made this song that was sort of about it, but it kind of encapsulated this last year, for sure.”
If you were looking for a truly pandemic-influenced Cloud Nothings album, that would be “The Black Hole Understands,” which was released in the summer.
Ironically, Baldi said that project ended up being “cheery” and not as edgy and hard-hitting, mostly due to it being created via one emailed recorded instrument part at a time.
“That’s partially because of the distance between us,” Baldi said. “‘The Shadow I
CLOUD NOTHINGS LIVESTREAM
When: 4 p.m. Feb. 27 (A replay of this stream will be available for 24 hours). Tickets: $10.
Info: grogshop.gs.
Remember,’ we played those songs together in a room. It sounds like a live document of the actual band rather than this digital attempt.”
What a year it’s been for Cloud Nothings, which started a decade ago in Cleveland. In fact, Baldi decided to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its 2010 debut, “Turning On,” with a deluxe reissue release.
Not only did the album that Baldi famously recorded in his parents’ basement get a vinyl release, but the deluxe digital edition — including popular concert staples “Hey Cool Kid” and “Can’t Stay Awake” — features four new bonus live tracks.
“I listened to it off and
on a couple of times over the last 10 years, but it was funny to go back,” Baldi said. “We did a lot of going back in terms of this year. We also released 27 live albums and put them all on Bandcamp digitally. It’s interesting to kind of watch the progression of the band.”
Prolific is a word that comes to mind for Cloud Nothings during the pandemic. The outfit continues to put out an EP per month on Bandcamp.
In terms of touring, which is something Cloud Nothings normally does incessantly, there’s talk about vaccinations helping clubs reopen later this year. Baldi isn’t optimistic, which is why the band is offering a livestream Feb. 27 through the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights.
“Fouring feels so distant and impossible at this point,” Baldi said. “I’m not sure we’re going to get out there this year. So it’s always nice to do stuff for the Grog Shop. I really like everybody who works there.
“They’ve been nice to us for a long time. We already filmed the livestream. The whole thing was interesting to keep the whole social-distance thing. We were playing to an empty room, essentially. It was a little bizarre. I don’t know how often I would want to do something like that, but it’s always fun to try something once.”
Adults often look back fondly on their childhood experiences at summer camp. Camps can provide the opportunity to form lifelong friendships and discover rewarding hobbies that can enrich campers’ lives for decades to come.
Choosing a summer camp is no small task, as the options at families’ disposal range from overnight camps to weekday afternoon camps to camps that specialize in certain programs, such as music or dance. Cost also is likely to factor into families’ decisions, as the American Camp Association notes that cost can vary greatly depending on which camp families choose. For example, the ACA notes that the average daily fee at a resident camp is $85, while the same fee at a day camp is $43.
When looking for a summer camp for kids, families should make the decision together. Kids should be involved in the selection process, as they’re more likely to have an enjoyable camp experience if they had a say in where they will be spending their summers. The following are some factors families should consider as they look for summer camps, courtesy of the ACA.
KIDS’ INTERESTS
The ACA urges parents to consider the child’s interests and personality before choosing a summer camp. Parents might want their children to attend the same summer camp they visited as youngsters, but each child is different. Just because mom and dad liked a particular camp does not mean their children will. The ACA notes that summer camps should align with children’s interests and maturity level.
LOCALE
Locale may only be a consideration for families considering overnight camps. Kids will likely be familiar with the locations of local day camps, but overnight camps might be set in mountain ranges, near the ocean or environments less familiar to youngsters. Kids who love the ocean might benefit from oceanfront camps that focus on marine biology, boating or other activities involving the water. In the same vein, youngsters who like camping and hiking might be more likely to embrace camps located in mountainous regions.
SESSION LENGTH
Camps may last as little as one week or up to a couple of months. Session length should be considered by families looking at both local day camps and overnight resident camps. Parents who want their children to enjoy a largely schedule-free summer might not want to commit their children to lengthy camp sessions, even if those sessions are close to home. If parents think their children can benefit from the same structure they’re accustomed to during the school year, then an overnight camp that stretches for several weeks might be what they’re looking for. Summer camps give kids a chance to make memories that will last a lifetime. Choosing the right camp is an important decision that parents and kids should make together.