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Artist
Strange Innocence
2+ albums
strangeinnocenceconnorkeefe
about
When shades of angsty Cobainism are stirred up with heavy punk, folk and indie influences, you get the introspective duo of To The Lions. Band members Mansoor Syed and Connor Keefe formed the project in 2009, having met two years prior going to high school in Los Angeles. Syed brings a melodic melancholia with his keyboard compositions, while Keefe's vocals and guitar are on-target and distinctive. Lyrically, Innocence is often confessional and troubled. In Syed's frustrated wish for his father's death, "If You Died", Keefe sings "I will be so glad the day that you die. Then I will be eternally free." But they offer optimism with "Making Amends", singing "Surrender to the easier path. Ignore your own wants. You will find that this is much better than fighting." Musically they are characterized by simplicity, yet depth. "Nighttime" is a folk composition played on guitar, but Syed's spacey keyboard creates new dimensions for the three chord progression, making the song feel more like a prism than a triangle. "All That I Am" is a grunge inspired moan composed by Keefe, made complete by Syed's innovative and on-beat percussion. And "Confused" is a guttingly sad admission of inner numbness that shows off the band's songwriting skills well, with moving lyrics and synergistic instruments that create a rising and falling momentum of emotion. Their soon-to-be-released debut album is filled out by other worthwhile compositions like the nostalgic "Thoughts in My Head" and the bereaved "
