Halifax band gets even more introspective on third record I’m Bad Now
While listening through Halifax-and-Montreal-based band Nap Eyes’ discography, one cannot help but draw comparisons to artists like Lou Reed or Pavement. Though their songs are far from punk, it’s frontman and songwriter Nigel Chapman’s lyricism that truly highlights the band’s potential. While the lyrical content on their sophomore album Thought Rock Fish Scale focused on the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, I’m Bad Now stands as an evolution of Chapman’s character, as his lyrics appear more self-reflective, critical of his own nature, but accepting nonetheless.
Given the way Nap Eyes works — Chapman writes the songs in his Nova Scotia home before sending them off to his bandmates in Montreal, who bring them to completion — one can see Chapman as a solitary figure, something reflected in his creative output. Chapman’s lyrics are dense and poetic, displayed in opening track “Every Time the Feeling”: “I can’t tell what’s worse, the meaningless or the negative meaning / I’ve figured out a way to get on with my life and keep on dreaming.”
The lyrics almost appear as notes torn from a journal — he muses over his own thoughts, bouncing ideas off himself and coming to his own conclusions. The title I’m Bad Now doesn’t mean that Chapman has become “bad” — he hasn’t been in any barroom brawls or started wearing leather jackets. Instead, he has started embracing his own flaws. In the almost-title track “I’m Bad,” Chapman seems in dialogue with himself: “You say you’re a hated son / And disappointment haunts everyone / But if it’s you worst of all,” which leads into the emotional chorus, in which Chapman delves deeper with the lyrics: “Nothing gets past you now / ’cause you always see it come / Said if it’s even slower than you / Which is amazing, because you’re so dumb.” It’s in this self-critique that Chapman appears nearer to accepting his own flaws.
“Dull Me Line” finds itself in the same vein, as Chapman muses over the perception of his music: “Dull me heart / Heavy with bored and lazy disappointment art.” Chapman appears critical of himself, musing over aspects of self-deprecation.
With the second-last song of the album, “White Disciple,” Chapman frames the theme of the album with the lyric “Your life is pointless / Unless it sets you free / So won’t you set me free / Set me free.” The song continues to deal with dynamics of morality, as he sings: “But to my spiritual brother, I remained spiritually blind / Until my venetian blinds was left behind,” leading to the bridge: “My soul of sin / My bowl full of gin.” In this dialogue of salvation and sin, Chapman rests between the two in spiritual contemplation.
Lyrically, I’m Bad Now is a reasonable next step in the Nap Eyes’ catalogue. In terms of instrumentation, the album does not stray far from the folky guitar sound of their previous albums, making it somewhat stagnant. Nap Eyes are undeniably becoming masters of their craft, but too much of a good thing is not always a good thing.
Photo courtesy of Nap Eyes