Ain't No Shame in the Heartbreak Game

The Shondes' new album makes heartache sound good

The Shondes in their shameful glory.
The Shondes in their shameful glory.

You guys, I love The Shondes ("shawn-duh," Yiddish for "disgrace" for all y’all goyim out there). Like, serious fanboy, swoony type love.

I totally fawned all over the Brooklyn quartet at this year’s Gay Bi Gay Gay, and to be quite honest, after seeing them on that stage in that lovely east-Austin backyard, I didn’t think I could love a band of radical, anti-Zionist queer Jews any more … until I listened to their just released sophomore effort, My Dear One.

My Dear One is a concept album – the guiding principle being that super-fun and life-altering experience of having someone you trust and love tear your heart out.

Personally, it makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about sitting down to write an entire album about the worst heartbreak of my life. It wouldn’t be so eloquent, and would probably contain such tracks as “Who’s Going to Walk Your Dog Now, Asshole?” and “I Totally Just Cried So Hard I Barfed (And There’s No One Here to Help Clean It Up)”.

That is why I am not in a band, and why The Shondes are so good at what they do. From start to finish, My Dear One delivers on the promise of breaking you down to build you up. “Every day is like this day/Nobody ever wants to stay” singer and bassist Louisa Solomon proclaims on “Get Out,” over Elijah Oberman’s haunting violin.

“Get out, get out before the ugliness gets in you!”

Oh, honey. I’ve been there.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. There is a hell of a lot of hope in this album, despite being created in the wake of the band’s guitar player quitting while on tour. The meta-anthem "Make it Beautiful" leaves you feeling strong, triumphant and dedicated to those relationships that get you through the toughest times. The sing-along chant, “I write songs to save my life, give me four more bars to make it right,” will be stuck in your head for days.

My Dear One is 40 minutes of distilled hope and heartbreak. This is an album about survival, something we queers know about. Put it on the next time you find yourself in the throes of sorrow. Or, you know, when you just want to fucking rock & roll.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

Support the Chronicle  

READ MORE
More Music
Texas Music Venues Could Receive Rebates Up to $100,000 Under New Program
Texas Music Venues Could Receive Rebates Up to $100,000 Under New Program
First-of-its-kind Texas Music Incubator to offer alcohol tax refunds

Kriss Conklin, June 22, 2023

Roxy Music Airs Out Its Deep Cuts At Ragged-Edged Austin Show
Roxy Music Airs Out Its Deep Cuts At Ragged-Edged Austin Show
Even with weakened chops, the HoFers enjoy each other's company

Mike Clark-Madison, Sept. 22, 2022

More by Ricky Hill
Sunday Funday!
Sunday Funday!
Grab that Pic-a-nic basket, Boo Boo

June 4, 2010

Split Pride, Unified Chronicle
Split Pride, Unified Chronicle
Much love to Chronicle staffers for having the Gay Place's back.

June 3, 2010

KEYWORDS FOR THIS POST

gay, queer, jewy, music, Shondes, GBGG, Gay Bi Gay Gay, My Dear One, new CD

MORE IN THE ARCHIVES
One click gets you all the newsletters listed below

Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events

Keep up with happenings around town

Kevin Curtin's bimonthly cannabis musings

Austin's queerest news and events

Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news

Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin.   Support the Chronicle