Toro y Moi’s ‘Sandhills’ is a passionate ode to Chaz Bear’s hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, and a bittersweet reminder that home is not an easy place to return to. This collection of gentle folk-pop tunes evokes a certain nostalgia, just like the homemade CDs Bear handed out to his friends in Toro y Moi’s early days. Each listen invites listeners to explore the mall after which the EP is named, the teenaged friendships, and the modern-day decline of Sandhills. Chaz Bear and Toro y Moi have become a beloved indie powerhouse, and ‘Sandhills’ captures Bear’s teenage blues and how we develop new ways to cope. “Sidelines” illustrates a teen struggling with football, while the closing track “Said Goodbye to Rock n Roll” echoes the vibes of Chris Stapleton. Warm, witty, and lyrically moving, ‘Sandhills’ is an amazing journey of emotions.
1) Back Then 2) Sidelines 3) Sandhills 4) The View 5) Said Goodbye to Rock n Roll
