Why I Like It:
Some albums just don't "click" until you are in the right mindset and Downpour by Charmer was a prime example. This album came out in May of 2025 and it's now, within November, that I have "gotten" it. You know what has happened between now and then? I had a second kid.
It was a biting cold and windy day that I was walking the newborn and good ol golden retriever, because god dammed I'm getting out of the house one way or another, and I randomly tried the Spotify daylist, which threw the song "watercolour" at me. Now I don't usually use Spotify to pick my music, nor usually recommend it, but I was rushing out the door and needed something fast. After hearing "watercolour" I kept coming back to it a couple times and then listened to the whole album on that miserable walk.
After looking into Downpour more I discovered between the albums Ivy and Downpour the band members also had kids and now I am starting to see the connections take place as to why this album worked for me all of a sudden. There's this lovely thing that happens when you have a kid called post-partum blues and it's, quite frankly, a bitch. Your emotions are unregulated, there's no concept of time and it feels like it's always groundhog day. There's a passage from a Stereogum article (linked below) that articulates parenthood and creativity well:
"One of the things they don't tell you about becoming a parent – aside from the unsettling number of times you'll hear "Wheels On The Bus" – is how it completely closes the book of your youth. There is an inherent youth to any creative pursuit, and as you get older, it can become distressingly easy to lose that need to create. However, if you're lucky and willing to make some sacrifices, the road will eventually rise to meet you once again."
Holly shit, yes, this is exactly the case! Even this blog I have to make time for, when exhausted from a day of temper tantrums and hearing "Baby Shark" 10x. You know what though, it's worth carving that time out for yourself and I think it has worked out tremendously for Charmer. It seems that they used the time they created for themselves to make the most of it, and I believe this is a step up from all their previous work.
Each song is distinct and brings a different piece to the album as a whole. The track list flows so well together that you don't get bored, and even want to experience the album again.
There's no lyrics directly about parenthood but the themes are about grieving the loss of youth and how adulthood is fucking bleak sometimes, which I think can relate to a lot of people. All while using the Michigan outdoors as the backdrop to the emotions being conveyed. Lyrics like: "my memory's in watercolor" or "I'll leave this bloody mess buried in the winter (I'll let this linger)" deeply resonated with me.
I'm so happy this band decided to give it go for another album. Let's be real, you'll be seeing the album again whenever I make my year end list (yay list season is upon us!). So there's my case for listening to Downpour by Charmer. Giver a go, maybe it will be a right place right time for you too.
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Highlighted song and lyrics:
Blue Jay - "Listen to the birds sing/ Do they make you feel less lonely?"
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Similar bands to check out:
Liquid Mike, Sport, Have Mercy, Good Luck
*All bands with new material out this year!
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Links to check out:
Prismreviews.wordpress.com - Review
Podioslave Podcast - Interview
Swimintothesound.com - Review
Stereogum.com- Interview
