Right Shoes Share Their Impressive Debut Album, “Hiding from Everyone You Know”
By: Chris Buxton IG: @chrisbuxtonllg
Have you ever listened to an artist or band that caught your attention on the first listen? If so, what made them standout? Was it their cadence? Overall delivery? Songwriting? Instrumentation? This week, I came across a rising band that made me fall in love with music all over again. That band is called Right Shoes.
Hailing from Boise, Idaho, Right Shoes is a 4-piece rock band that are known for their captivating sound. After forming in a garage in 2019, the band have spent the last few years maturing and expanding their sound. Their catchy alt-rock feel is blended with a variety of influences, and this is why they are so special to me. They don’t play by the rules, and they have been able to craft records that are both innovative and refreshing. Now, they enter our pages with their debut album, “Hiding from Everyone You Know”.
“Hiding from Everyone You Know” is a 10-track masterpiece that dives into themes of self-doubt, vulnerability, finding authenticity, experiencing meaningful connections, and living in earnest expression. This album was very relatable to me. After losing my girlfriend a few days ago, I have felt alone, and I realized that I never opened up to people outside of her. Because of this, it is hard for me to connect with people and even friends because I have never shown them the real me. The opening record “Chameleon” perfectly captures this feeling when Shua sings, “You don't know a thing about me, how could you when I never let you see what's real?”. This lyric hit me like a speeding train because this is exactly how I feel in my current situation. It is the self-awareness to know that the reason people don’t know what you’re dealing with is because you don’t open up. Due to me being an introvert, I feel like I’m self-aware, but I still find it difficult to make the positive changes even though I see them. This lyric may be some of the most moving songwriting I have heard all year.
Throughout the album, we’re presented with various influences and genres that include grunge, indie rock, garage, blues rock, power pop, and classic rock. The band does a great job in blending these into one unique sound. The highlights for me were the instrumentation and vocal execution. Shua’s vocal tone and cadences provided a warmth to each record that could not be overlooked. Sonically, I loved the production and found it to be cohesive. With this being a concept album, cohesion is a must, and the band’s execution was a chef’s kiss.
My favorite songs were “Trebek” & “Clones”. “Trebek” is a song that I feel could have been on The Killers Album, “Hot Fuss”. It’s a reflective song that is laced with engaging guitars, introspective songwriting, and the raspy vocals were perfect. “Clones” is an absolute head banger. The hook is otherworldly, and I loved the song’s flair. This is a track you play driving down the interstate with the windows down. It reminds me of late 2000s to early 2010s rock. Overall, this is a must-listen album, and you need it in your playlists. Stream it below and vibe out!
