Fthrsn What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up

Fthrsn (pronounced Father Son) is the moniker of Ann Arbor based Macklin Underdown, who has released what is, in my opinion, one of the stand-out albums of 2013: his lo-fi masterpiece Middle School Swag. As well as covering themes of self-discovery, coming of age, relationships, and youth, it also manages to be happy and poppy at times. His sound is a dreamy mesh of electronica, synth-pop, and R&B, with instrumentation reminiscent of Youth Lagoon and Animal Collective, and beats inspired by such luminaries as Shlohmo, Flume, and Jonti.

The song "What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up" is an album highlight, with a beautiful melody, pulsating rhythm, and warm bass tone. Starting off with the brooding sentiment "I'm just a little kid who lives in my head," the song quickly becomes sunny and exuberant, a modern day anthem for youthful self-discovery, proclaiming "one day I'll learn to be someone else, and I can be anyone." The final track "Over You" is another highlight. Starting as a minimal jam, layers of harmonies, synths, and guitars are piled on to form a distinct sound of sparkling, lo-fi pop brilliance.

A part of GRL MTN, a Michigan collective that also boasts members Chrome Sparks and Kohwi, this is not the last we'll be hearing of Fthrsn.