Throbbing, pulsating, cornering us round each flip within the rhythm. If you’re listening to a tune as guitar-laden as “Funky Rhetoric” by Lee Oskar is, it may be laborious to deal with something aside from the fiery fretwork holding every part collectively on the prime of the combo; that mentioned, with a participant like Oskar within the tune, to say our consideration is unfold throughout a complete composition simply wouldn’t be doing the boldness of this piece justice. “Funky Rhetoric” tries to seize the essence of its title in a couple of sonic aspect, however in all honesty, I feel it’s much more soothing a pay attention than anybody would have anticipated this fall.

Lee Oskar’s harmonica is enrapturing, however I observed proper from the beginning of his opening beat that it is a extra modulated method he’s taking to the microphone than he has in different releases. He’s not being hesitant along with his play, however there’s extra of a swing in his supply than I used to be anticipating for positive. Though he at all times sounds slightly extra targeted when the association is tight, it might be enjoyable to listen to him experiment along with his arranging to the extent he has on this single extra typically, on condition that he has the expertise to do absolutely anything he chooses.

The beat that guides the melodic instrumentation in “Funky Rhetoric” has an paradoxically metallic aesthetic directing its each transfer, however I’d cease simply shy of calling it a heavy rock affect over the opposite components of the tune. Oskar hasn’t crossed into that style’s realm simply but, however for those who take into consideration the entire other ways he’s been making his music heavier in 2023, there’s no debating whether or not or not he has it in him to make a full-on heavy file. In some methods, that is as near a real crossover tune as he’s made thus far.

If there’s one factor that Oskar hasn’t skimped on in any observe I’ve reviewed, it’s making the manufacturing high quality as sterling as his precise efficiency is, and the substance of the mastering of this piece doesn’t disappoint on any entrance. “Funky Rhetoric” options the Midas contact on its high-end frequencies and doesn’t abuse a scooped EQ on the harmonica components as a lot as I’m used to listening to as a music critic, however better of all, it doesn’t sacrifice melodicism within the identify of emphasizing machismo, which is one thing that I at all times get delay by after I discover it.

There’s an argument to be made that Lee Oskar remains to be determining his sound and increasing upon a theme we heard in his very first launch, however I additionally suppose that, at this level, he’s acquired the type of revered fame within the underground that doesn’t obligate him to push his artistry any additional than he already has to personal a sure section of his scene. “Funky Rhetoric” confirms that his skills aren’t any joke nor some fleeting good luck plenty of short-term stars take pleasure in; he’s right here to remain, and his output displays this.

Mindy McCall