Words & graphic by Joshua Reynes
When he’s not making viral ditties for his 268,000 followers and counting on TikTok, indie singer-songwriter/producer Carter Vail drops concurrently playful music ready for a luminous day out – in spite of pollen plaguing the air. His brilliant new track “Nancy Again” finds Vail in a new groove and follows up January’s “Tappan Zee,” a more lowkey post-punk cut compared to this release.
The shimmering guitars coalescing with Vail’s soothing vocal delivery on the verse guides us into the chorus, where we find Carter Vail at his most anthemic; scratching the same itches as Fuzzybrain-era Dayglow and “You Get What You Give” from the Surf’s Up soundtrack. This single’s power pop hook gives holding-a-boombox-outside-the-window levels of nostalgia – undeniably he tugs at the heartstrings, but only with love and utmost conviction. Through “Nancy Again,” Vail effectively reveals his musical influences, all while crooning over a catchy melody that’s uniquely his. You could put this song on, listen to it on loop, and not get sick of it. By accident, I’ve done exactly this, and I’m not mad about it at all...and I’ll do it again.
“Nancy Again” is a perfect song as our spring sun becomes more of reality; its hypnotically textured production inches towards the golden hour. Listen to this with your friends – on your car rides, at outings, grad parties, or full volume in the living room.
You may know Carter Vail from his delightfully DIY TikToks, but one more click will introduce you to an eclectic discography brimming with potential. Keep your ears out for what he does next, whether that’s an EP, singles, and definitely more jingles.
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