Last year, Boston-based singer-songwriter Preston Lydotes began releasing music from his sophomore EP, Stranger at Best. He gave us songs that touch on relationships, mental health—basically, topics that most of his peers will be able to connect with and feel on a personal level. With these songs, Preston gave us an idea of what to expect from him as he pursues a career post-college, where he can apply all he learned from the Berklee College of Music going forward. For now, fans will get to hear Stranger at Best in full, which was completed while Preston earned his degree and mixed by Grammy award-winning mix engineer Ariel Borujow.
The project opens with the title track, which is new to listeners. It contains modest and stripped-back verses that morph into bold choruses, giving the track a cinematic feel. Against the tight drum patterns and acoustic guitar strums, Preston sings, “My heart’s a mess / Soon you’ll be a stranger at best,” attempting to let someone go. Here, the tone is set for the rest of the EP, as the dynamic feelings and broad musical lines are also found in the songs that follow.
With “Wrong” and “The Fallout,” Preston puts forth two acoustic-driven ballads that cling to the idea of keeping love alive. There is a familiarity to “Wrong,” be it from the melodies of Preston’s earnest vocals. All the while, he surrenders to the one he loves, hoping that he will make things right by admitting he was wrong. On “The Fallout,” Preston continues to show his vulnerable side. He reflects on the way a relationship fell apart, singing, “Show me a sign that our flame wasn’t all a waste / And it’s hard to admit / That I’m not the same and you’re hard to replace.” Elsewhere, songs like “The Critic in Me” and “5 to 9” are more rhythmic and playful. Even though “The Critic in Me” speaks to Preston’s doubts and insecurities, its pop-rock feel keeps it from being too downhearted. Additionally, “5 to 9” maintains a lively spirit, its electric-guitar driven melodies and anthemic choruses encouraging anyone to put down their pens and papers or mops and buckets and dance away their cares and concerns.
On August 14, Preston will be playing at Assembly Row in Somerville, MA. The show is a part of Assembly Row’s ‘Thursdays on The Lawn’ series, which brings a rotating lineup each week. This will be one of Preston’s last Boston-based shows for a while, so make sure to get your tickets here.
You can listen to Stranger at Best here.
Keep up with Preston Lydotes: Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // TikTok // Linktree
