Video premiere: Strangelight – “Gratitude Practice”

Work sucks, I know.

And Strangelight too. Following their new album Material conditionsthe post-hardcore quartet from the Bay Area, have released a video that invites us to live vicariously through a member of a corporate team who can no longer tolerate the feel-good moments of their job and revolts.

This idea, brought to life by director Eric Stafford, will probably resonate with a lot of people, but if not, singer/guitarist Nat Coghlan has a little rant to get you in the mood:

Like most of the album, this song was conceived during the Corona lockdown in 2020. My very well-meaning manager started a team meeting by asking us to share what we were grateful for, and that completely backfired on me. In that moment, sitting in a studio apartment on Zoom, unsure whether to wash my groceries or not, I felt no particular gratitude.

Even on the best non-pandemic day, I loathe companies insinuating one's personal life. I don't want a granola bar in the break room, I don't want an air hockey table, I don't want compulsory fun, I don't want to be forced to talk about my hobbies. I want to do my job and then spend the rest of my day doing it, with as much leeway between the two as I want. Songs like “Dream Smotherer” by Pissed Jeans and “Paperwork” by Hot Snakes have always resonated with me for this reason.

And while the song started there, it kind of morphed into something else. It was less about performative positivity in the interest of increased productivity at work, and more about this carefree and blind positivity solely to prove the opposite in everyday life. Contrary to what the album presents, I don't think cynicism is a particularly useful emotion. But if it helps distinguish shit from Shinola, it has some use. Especially if you are constantly being sold the former.

Plus, this might be the best song on the record. This has nothing to do with what I'm talking about and everything to do with how much Ian (Miller, bass), Julia (Lancer, drums) and Tony (Teixeira, guitar) shredded.

Video is below. Get the amazing Material conditions on Strangelight's Bandcamp.