| The Iddy Biddies, a Berklee-based musical collective led by Gene Wallenstein, set out to "write and perform music that is open and honest," interweaving influences of folk, indie, and Americana. | | They released their first album, Teenage Dream, in 2024, soon to be followed by their upcoming album, The World Inside, slated for a March 6th release. | | The eleven-track album is a departure from the "standard folk structures" of Teenage Dream, focusing more on "driving, mid-tempo energy and a penchant for 'strange' harmonic beauty" in the tradition of musicians such as Elliott Smith and The Decemberists. | | The titular track, "The World Inside," showcases The Iddy Biddies' new focus on "'Beatlesque' harmonic complexity" and "chromatic progressions and non-standard meters." "Spinning out while the clock unwinds/The harder that I look, the less I find," sings Wallenstein, over an ambitious blend of acoustic guitar, piano, and drums. "Pulling threads from a worn-out seam/And chasing after pieces of some old dream," he continues. | | "Mr. September," a "heady, psychedelic character study with a bohemian shuffle," centers a catchy hook and a main character who's found relief in not caring about "drama" or other people's opinions. "Nothing lasts forever/Life in all its splendor," Wallenstein sings, before adding, "It ain't over for Mr. September." The eponymous character — perhaps someone who's given up fame in favor of freedom — has "Found a way to skip the drama… Shopping 'round in my pajamas, but I could care less." | | A kaleidoscope-inspired music video mirrors the shifting uncertainty of the lyrics of "Words You Like To Say", which describe a relationship built on shaky foundations. Wallenstein sings, "Cause I don't know the difference from the truth that you espouse/It all feels like a story, that you made up just to look a certain way." The tune is upbeat, but the backing guitar gives the song a hint of melancholy. At the end, Wallenstein wistfully declares, "I can't trust you or the words you like to say." | | "Follow You Anywhere," which acts as a "tender declaration of love and resilience," leans into The Iddy Biddies' retro Americana vibe, with earnest lyrics and electric guitar chords that sound like a time capsule from the 1960s. "Everytime people stop and stare/It only makes me feel you everywhere," Wallenstein sings of the attention-grabbing relationship, "And when they find out, we just don't care/'Cause I would follow you anywhere." | | Overall, The Iddy Biddies hope The World Inside "feels like a dinner invitation to a friend's home," assuring all listeners that "you are not alone. You are interconnected with others." | | | | |
