The interconnected songs on The Neon Skyline, all written, performed, arranged and produced by Shauf, follow a simple plot: the narrator goes to his neighborhood dive, finds out his ex is back in town, and she eventually shows up. As with Shauf’s last solo album, 2016’s The Party, The Neon Skyline is densely layered with an abundance of charming moments. His characters are all sympathetic here, people who share countless inside jokes, shots, and life-or-death musings when the night gets hazy.
On top of heartbreak, friendship, and the mundane moments of humanity that define his songwriting, Shauf makes music that explores how easy it is to find yourself in familiar patterns and repeat the same mistakes of your past. His characters wonder, "Did this relationship end too soon? Would going to another bar cheer my friend up?,” or "How hard is it to give a shit?" The songs on The Neon Skyline ultimately take solace in accepting that life goes on and things will be okay.
Tracklist:
- Neon Skyline
- Where Are You Judy
- Clove Cigarette
- Thirteen Hours
- Things I Do
- Living Room
- Dust Kids
- The Moon
- Try Again
- Fire Truck
- Changer
Album out now!