There’s a light retro vibe coming from Major of Roses’ new single “But Not Now”. It’s a personalized synthesis of alt pop, singer/songwriter, alternative rock and late 60’s/early 70’s Hammond organ fueled balladry blended into an uniquely modern concoction. Major of Roses made much of their initial reputation on the ability to shift musical gears seemingly at will and the new track finds them in more meditative territory than we heard during much of their 2018 debut.
Everything from pop to industrial cropped up over the course of the project’s first full-length Cornerstone. One of the crucial factors making that work is Major of Roses’ ability to convince listeners the songwriting isn’t in over its head and that comes fast with “But Not Now”/ Listeners will know seconds in that they are hearing polished and fully-realized songwriting that doesn’t take shortcuts but, instead, relies on a clear vision it is willing to follow anywhere.
We want to follow as well. There are no hooks, per se, in this song, but assorted strands in the overall thread such as the aforementioned keyboards attract listeners without further dressing them up. It is a more general and overarching strength, but the production radiates warmth and draws you in as well.
It’s a shrewd presentation for what, in some respects, is a slightly off-kilter song. Major of Roses doesn’t turn corners when you quite expect, but the overall experience has a nonetheless curiously common touch. There isn’t anything about this song that throws listeners an outright curve ball, but the change-ups are tricky on first listen. Start connecting with the song, however, and even longtime music listeners will discover how it holds up under repeated listens.
Magnus Rosell’s fresh songwriting perspective means he doesn’t have to break new ground. The flexibility to move so freely between styles without ever losing a core identity means, as well, that this songwriting chameleon has the underlying musical foundation capable of weathering any commercial storm. He has and always be making music and writing songs; Major of Roses’ audience, in the end, is a glorious bonus.
It’s another thing you hear in music such as this. Beyond the musical choices both obvious and nuanced, the lyrics, the context for the song in music today, the burning heart of this and other Major of Roses’ songs is the love for creating. “But Not Now” and the composition of other songs is driven, at its base, but the willingness to place oneself in life’s firing line and try to make some artistic sense of it all after the shooting stops.
He needs this more than we do. The understated but ever present sense of stakes behind each word and line of this song and the economical manner of its presentation are hallmarks of a musical artist who knows when to say when and knows what he has to say. Major of Roses’ “But Not Now” takes a circuitous route to get there, but it is one of the year’s most distinctive efforts.
Claire Uebelacker