Denver-based quartet Blackberry Crush arrive with authority on their latest track “goodbye”—a hauntingly melodic journey that bridges the wistful introspection of dream-pop with the stormy force of shoegaze. This emotionally rich single is a clear statement of intent from the newly signed Mean World Records act, hinting at an exciting future ahead with their upcoming EP and tour.
From the opening bars, “goodbye” draws listeners into a hazy, nostalgic atmosphere. There’s a quiet ache that lingers in the air, as shimmering guitar jangles and soft, almost meditative percussion lay the groundwork. Lead vocalist Pyper Tiffany guides the track with a voice that feels both grounded and otherworldly—initially subdued, like a memory trying not to fade, before building into something raw and volcanic. Her line “stuck in the rearview” resonates not just lyrically, but in the track’s entire aesthetic: it’s a song caught between past and present, moving forward even as it glances back.
Backing vocalist and guitarist Charlie Laxague plays the perfect counterpart to Tiffany’s intensity. His harmonies are subtle yet affecting, often acting like the calm before the storm. And when that storm hits—when the distortion surges and the fuzz breaks through—Laxague’s guitar becomes a force of cathartic release. It’s a sonic landscape where beauty and chaos live side by side, and Blackberry Crush knows exactly how to navigate that tension.
The rhythm section deserves its own spotlight. Ella Tyler’s basslines pulse with understated emotion, grounding the track as it ascends into more explosive territory. Meanwhile, Nick Schell’s drumming is precise but expressive, offering both restraint and urgency as the song progresses. Together, they form the spine of “goodbye,” allowing the rest of the instrumentation to stretch out and swell without ever losing its sense of control.
What makes “goodbye” so compelling isn’t just its genre-blending confidence—it’s the emotional honesty at its core. This isn’t just a breakup song or a farewell anthem. It’s a meditation on change, memory, and the often contradictory emotions that come with letting go. As the track rises from gentle melancholy into a wall of sound, it mirrors the way grief can turn suddenly into anger, or how sadness sometimes demands to be screamed rather than whispered.
The final minute of the song is particularly stunning. Layers of vocals stack atop one another, building a sort of sonic cathedral as the guitars reach their most powerful and distorted. There are shades of Spiritualized, perhaps even a touch of Slowdive, in this climax—a blissful cacophony that feels like drowning in light. It’s not just a farewell; it’s a transcendence.
There’s also a sense of place in “goodbye” that can’t be ignored. Hailing from Denver, Blackberry Crush seems to channel both the expansive isolation of the Rockies and the bustling underground hum of a city always on the edge of something. The track feels like the soundtrack to a drive down an empty highway just after sunset—equal parts serene and turbulent.
In a musical landscape where many bands struggle to find a distinctive voice within the dream-pop and shoegaze spectrum, Blackberry Crush stands out not by reinventing the wheel, but by infusing it with emotional nuance and a meticulous attention to dynamics. “goodbye” is not a passive listen—it demands attention, and rewards it richly.
As the final echoes of fuzz and harmony fade out, you’re left not with silence, but with a feeling—something between ache and awe. For a band just beginning their ascent, “goodbye” is a stunning debut that feels anything but parting. If this is just the beginning, Blackberry Crush may soon become one of the most vital voices in modern dream-rock.
