Young adulthood is a time riddled with questioning and reflection, and a time where comfort is found in being close to those you love — and good music helps too.
Midwestern indie-rock quintet Keep for Cheap recently released their second album, Big Grass, which contains a vast sonic and lyrical exploration of change, growth, and nostalgia. The album hit streaming services on August 29th, 2024.
Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the five-piece delivers a mix of indie, rock, folk, and pop that they have labeled “prairie rock.” Big Grass follows their debut album, Bundle, which was released in 2022.
The first track on the album and their June single, “FedEx,” offers a bubbly and upbeat introduction of the energy put forth in the record. With a peppy 90’s pop-rock spirit and a toe-tapping groove, “FedEx” meanders through hardships and feelings of discomfort and uncertainty with determination and hope.
Looking back with both grief and nostalgia, “Lakehouse” is an ode to the place that lead singer Autumn Vagle grew up in. She sings, “I go back up there now / It aches, it’s the same old place.” The track’s music video features clips of her old home movies, pictures, and a note that she wrote to her future self in third grade. Recognizing the duality in the fact that the experiences that may have been painful ultimately help grow into ourselves and shape us, “Lakehouse” ends in a loud, anthemic crescendo, and is a standout track on Big Grass.
On the album’s July single, “Cyberspace,” Keep for Cheap is overwhelmed by human existence in the vast and grand scheme of things. “Where does human waste go in cyberspace?” The lyrics ponder about one’s place within the world, wondering why we do the things we do, and feeling insignificant when looking at the big picture. Sonically, the track is pensive and meandering, adding to the introspective themes of the song.
The final track, “Life Is Like This,” is a bright and shining conclusion to the album, with a jangling guitar riff and an upbeat groove. Vagle reminisces about her high school teacher, the first stage she performed on, and childhood dreams. The track is inspiring and content, serving as the perfect conclusion to the rest of the album. Through existential dread and unhappy memories, Keep for Cheap asserts that, “Everything is new / Always, life is like this / Always doing our best / Reaching out to each other,” a comforting, anthemic final call to have patience with yourself and to be there for each other.
Meeting in 2017 in the alto section of their college choir, Vagle and bassist Kate Malanaphy formed Keep for Cheap, later joined by guitarists Ted Tiedemann and Bert Northup, along with drummer Lydia Williams. The group has released two albums and a multitude of singles since 2019.
On Big Grass, Keep For Cheap embraces life’s complexities, making peace with life’s constant current with a sweet indie-rock sound. Looking at childhood and young adulthood, the group revels in nostalgia and finding meaning and comfort in connection.
Introspective and powerful, Keep For Cheap seamlessly blends high-energy moments with meditative ones, perfect for fans of bright indie-rock and sad-girl musings.
Photo by: Bethunni Schreiner
