By: Hallie Horton
Shoffy. Sweet, sweet Shoffy. There are so many reasons to love this man. His music feels like sunshine. All the time. Even when he’s singing about the not-so-sweet stuff his music feels like the warmest hug. It’s the kind of music you want to listen to when you’re driving and going nowhere in particular, with the windows rolled down because the weather’s warming up. Any time of day will do. Listening to his music feels like a gentle reminder that the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t just a possibility; it’s inevitable, and that promise will always be there to carry you through. Alex Shofler can do no wrong – none, I tell you.
Shofler’s album, Flash, was released today (some days ago, by the time you get around to this), March 13, 2020. You may have already heard “How Many,” “Tricky (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)”, and “I Can’t Help (with Sarcastic Sounds),” as these tracks were released as singles prior to the full album release.
I listened to this album a few times on a walk earlier today and here’s the deal: the entire album is pure gold, but I have to have to have to tell you first about a guitar solo I just. cannot. get. out of. my mind. Head to 2:05 of “Party in my Head,” think, “Santana,” and bless those perky little ears of yours. Flash also features a cover of Elvis Presley’s “I Can’t Help Falling in Love” and it’s just the sweetest thing.
Flash takes you through what you can only assume to be a personal love story of Shofler’s, but if we’re being honest, this story is not unique to Shofler in the least. Get this. The relationship has a rocky start. Red flags are blatantly ignored and a hell of a lot of back-and-forth movement occurs. Broken promises ensue, followed – naturally – by a falling out and a subsequent session of deep and withdrawn wallowing. Existential ponderings get some airtime for a brief moment only to be swiftly knocked down and drowned with booze. When all of this has run its course, feelings of regret and forgiveness accompany a most heroic attempt to try again.
The beauty and magic of Shofler’s music is the familiarity. We can hear our own stories in all of his productions. It’s no wonder we love Shoffy so much. He reminds us of who we are, that we’re in this together, and that we’ll be okay. Sure as the rising sun.