Old Friends' "Coming of Age" Is Cathartic and Introspective in Only the Way Growing Up Can Be
Old Friends, photo courtesy of the artist
By Emily Herbein
RIYL: Augustana, Iron & Wine, The Starting Line
Old Friends, fronted by Nick Noto, explores the cyclical relationship we all have with our own psyches in regards to self-reflection. Sometimes just doing the work to look back on the way you were raised or the decisions you made or the friends you lost is the hardest part of the human experience. Coming of Age is a very personal, though universally relevant, look at what it takes to acknowledge your past while attempting to shape your present into the most authentic interpretation of who you really are. Though the EP sits at just seven tracks, it covers a lot of ground. From imposter syndrome to living around addiction to psychedelic trips, Noto manages to bring the depth of his own experiences to the front of each track, name-dropping specific people and events freely and without explanation. Those are usually my favorite sort of references. I want to feel like I lived that moment with the artist, and the lyricism here puts me right in Noto’s head.
Of the record, Noto says: “Coming of Age... It’s an extremely personal song. It’s about growing up, taking from past memories and experiences. My grandmother used to get me a Hess truck every Christmas... One time, me and my cousin got so angry with each other over an N64 game that we cried. My best friends are all named in the last verse. Jeff lived in California for a while, Ryan did blackout on my front lawn when we were like 17, CJ is in the Air Force. It’s a lot of literal lyrics detailing my very own coming of age.” I’ve said this in passing countless times, but sometimes it really does feel like we’ve all lived the same life.
Sonically, the EP sits in this sort of heavy nostalgic rock space. Layered, punchy vocals help embody a tonal frustration that perfectly matches the distempered acoustic guitar runs and ripping electric riffs. Each song seems to live in a different genre, though, all bound together by Noto’s echoing and angst-laced lyrics. The opening track, “Coming of Age,” and “The Song Written Today,” are clean-cut rock. “Jon Stewart,” my personal favorite, is the EP’s comedown song. It’s languid and mournful and completely reminiscent of the likes of Augustana like I mentioned above. These two bands should play together. Earnest, Americana-leaning tones are the standout identifier with this song. Noto says this one is about an ongoing battle with anxiety, and the soundscape mimics the muted and expansive sounds of holding your head underwater. The ties between mental health and sound that are weaved throughout these songs are beautifully poignant when they need to be, and loud and emphatic when it’s appropriate.
Above all, these songs are the look at just one person’s experience with growing up under the lens of anxiety, imposter syndrome, cyclical relationships, and using those tools to better themself. Despite the specificity surrounding Coming of Age, there’s something here that will sit with just about anyone. We’ve all been entangled in relationships we shouldn’t have been. We all know someone who struggles with addiction. We all have our own personal anxieties. These songs are an authentic look at how it feels to navigate all of it.