Growing up in middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania, the local college station stood as the one place on the radio dial that I could consistently turn to for listening enjoyment. The hours of classical music programing each day didn't bother me much, and the sense of not knowing quite what you'd hear next, from edgy indie music to just-plain bizarre monologues from the amateur DJs, made college radio and its eclectic, frequently fantastic playlist the perfect alternative to the same, tired songs being repeated on the other stations.
Blending '90s-era alt rock and pop punk with a dash of emo and a finishing garnish of interesting perspective provided by vocalist Janie, Small Stresses strikes me as exactly the type of band that would be right at home on the college radio airwaves. Having released an EP earlier this year on Head2Wall Records, the Detroit-based group is now gearing up for the release of their debut LP.
With its driving opening leading to a more expressive segway around the midway point, "Either Way I Lose" represents the various aspects of the Small Stresses sound quite nicely and effectively delivers an emotional punch.
Says the band: "This song is the title track of our new record. The song deals with a end of a friendship. We are excited for people to hear it, and we hope y’all enjoy it!"
Give the track a listen below, and watch out for the LP on Head2Wall Records later this year.
