Just weeks after the brilliant new Best Bets LP, Meritorio Records and Melted Ice Cream deliver another gem from New Zealand: Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn, the latest album from Jim Nothing. This follow-up to 2022’s In the Marigolds is perfectly timed for the grey, dreary Autumn months ahead.
Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn feels like Jim Nothing’s most cohesive work yet, packed with guitar-driven slacker pop anthems that echo the spirit of underground NZ pop. These accessible, vibrant songs give a refreshing update to the classic Jim Nothing garage pop sound. Written during pandemic-induced reclusiveness, you can almost picture Jim Nothing (aka James Sullivan) wandering his neighborhood, notebook in hand, as he crafts these reflective tunes that revolve around his immediate surroundings. Though melancholy in theme, the music feels bright, laid-back, and steeped in a sense of acceptance.
The album starts strong, with Hourglass, First Bite, and Wildflowers — three standout tracks that set a high bar for the rest of the record. While the songs are straightforward, Jim Nothing adds depth through layers of interesting sounds and instrumentation. Whether it’s the alt-pop energy or the more acoustic, introspective moments, Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn has a vibrancy that turns gloomy autumn days into a space for solace and reflection.
Out now on Meritorio and Melted Ice Cream.