There’s something so endearing about musicians who take a good look at the world around them. Not just toward their own heartbreaks or private lives, but also at the people sharing the same trains and streets with them. Just like how DirtPhunks found a song in the lives of strangers who might otherwise go unnoticed in “Subway Reflections”.
From Drammen, Norway, comes DirtPhunks, a musical partnership between father FH Baloo and son Elias. With musical influences ranging from Thin Lizzy to Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi, they channel that classic, guitar-driven sound into a tribute to the sacrifices of war veterans.
There’s a distinct, steady guitar backbone right from the start that will have you nodding along to its easy, unpretentious rock groove. It’s the kind of sound that immediately tells you they know their craft so well. Still, the guitars aren’t the only thing that gives the track its character.
But the guitars aren’t the only reason to give “Subway Reflections” a listen. The band’s lyricism deserves just as much credit. At its heart is the story of a homeless WWII veteran who was later mocked while playing harmonica to get by. At some point, it stops feeling like a song, and more like a piece of social commentary—one that asks you to look, to notice, to give a second thought to the lives unfolding right in front of you.
Overall, “Subway Reflections” is a reminder that a good, dirty rock sound can go hand in hand with the realities that deserve our attention.
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