I remember hearing the song “Ruin Your Night” by Sorcha Richarson for the first time and how it played repeatedly for days on end. Nowadays, when it comes on, I am filled with high school nostalgia and feel the energy change around me, not able to wipe the smile from my singing face. “beside you (so boring!)” by Barb is reminiscent of that song and provided me with that same, calming flush of nostalgia of an indie pop song perfect for driving around in your hometown trying to dodge high school flings.
Now, Barb’s song is actually more of a sore vibe, yet has that fleeting and predictable sense of knowledge for disappointment when it comes to love. “beside you (so boring!)” paints a picture of a late night with a brume of the unknown paired with a heavier fuzz on the guitar and echoing slightly distorted vocals. The catchy pop side of the song is met with the perfect guitar solo at the end of the fading-out song, reminding listeners of Barb’s more serious side: “Cause all night you dig your nails into my spine / Who’s to say that breath is worth the talking / Beside you / Beside you”
The chorus feels like the songs we used to hear on the radio around the same time as “Cool Kids” by Echosmith (2015), bringing back a time so many indie enjoyers yearn for in a world of crushing pop repetition. This modern take on that classic indie rock feel fits in perfectly with the themes in the music industry today: “You say you want me / It’s not hitting home / I can see you with him / I can see you with someone who / Won’t let you forget they could find something new / It’s so boring that I can’t believe that it’s true.”
