As we near the end of one hell of a year, many of us are trying to figure out how to breathe again. “Beauty in the World” by Bobcat Rob & the Nightly Howl premiered December 16th of this year and is like the exhale of 2020 with uncertainty in anticipating the next breath. And as I listen to yet another one of the sad songs that 2020 has produced, I’m relieved to hear an artist who too is trying to reestablish a sense of normalcy.
Armenti’s journey towards self improvement during an entirely atypical time can range from the literal: “I’m trying not to eat so much sugar anymore / And I finally fixed the hole at the bottom of the door,” to the more ethereal: “I like the smell of 6 a.m. but I don’t like the way it feels / I’m still chasing after something, just biting at its heels.” The emotions in his lyrics take on many forms, often in succession. Though his voice doesn’t necessarily take responsibility for these emotions, his words convey enough, leaving me to feel bitter, numb, and optimistic all within one verse.
The tone of Armenti’s guitar has just enough reverb to lift the progression off the ground without sending it into outer space. It’s distinct and whole. And it’s given its own space to expand in the introduction, those four bars before Andrew Hawes takes the beat into his own hands on the drums. Though the majority of the guitar part is simple, consisting of Armenti’s repetitive strumming to accommodate the lyrics, he shows genuine interest for the guitar throughout the song, exploring the fretboard in between verses. It’s subtle, but enough to keep the musical background constantly moving forward.
Told through a lonely western-esque tone but paired with synth-driven indie ‘Beauty in the World” combines the genres to find the slow, cool resting ground for each genre. Guitarist and lyricist Rob Re Armenti (a.k.a. Bobcat Rob) layers his voice for the climax and experiments with an array of sounds throughout the song, dipping his toes into the vast world of technology in music. Armenti shows a willingness to explore various genres and techniques, which to me, is the mark of a visionary. I anticipate bold musical undertakings in the future.
“Beauty of the World” feels like Armenti’s wakeup call, his alarm clock after a long weekend of sleeping in. Through finding the beauty in his world, he can hopefully find his footing after a year of universal stagnation. And as a result, my faith in the arts and in human resilience is refreshed. From a song that is simultaneously beat down, persistent and optimistic, I’m inclined to seek out the beauty in my world. And as 2020 nears its end, I’m thankful for expression from artists who convey connection and relatability in an era when loneliness is the expectation.
