CD of The Week

Oceanator - Everything is Love and Death (Polyvinyl)

Elise Okusami has recorded under the name Oceanator since 2020 and just released her third record, Everything is Love and Death. A bold, and fairly accurate statement, these big themes make their way throughout these 11 tracks.

Everything is… opens with “First Time,” a wonderful indie rock love song full of big fun guitar riffs. “Lullaby” is anything but one, with its widescreen production. Lead single “Get Out” is a roaring anthem of fighting back against a negative influence, whatever it may be.

After the driving “Cut String” and chugging “Happy New Year,” Everything is… lets up a bit with the lovely interlude of “Home for the Weekend.” The optimistic “Be Here” is another high point, full of ‘80s-style keyboards and chiming guitars. “Drift Away” is a bass-heavy and trippy detour, which leans into the “death” side of the title, as Okusami sings, “No more hope left, have you ever felt more alive / Than this moment before you know you are gonna die?” The whole record wraps with the heartbroken “Won’t Someone,” which starts out fairly stripped back until building to a big, horn-driven crescendo.

Everything is Love and Death was recorded with Philadelphia super-producer Will Yip (The Menzingers, Mannequin Pussy) and unsurprisingly, everything sounds great. Also, our local pals Mattie and Miri from Queen of Jeans make an appearance as well, providing backing vocals on “Get Out.” Okusami played almost all the instruments on the record, with assistance from Yip and her brother Mike, who played bass and piano.

On Everything is…, Oceanator levels up sonically, musically, and songwriting-wise, finding a way to encapsulate the biggest possible themes in 11 punchy tunes.
Review by Joey O.