It's Easy Enough to Say

how perfect this one is

For those who are interested in such things, I recently posted a very, very short sci-fi story over at my fiction newsletter. I’m very proud of how it came together and hope you’re willing to spend roughly four minutes reading it. And now, an absolutely killer track to help you make the most of what’s left of the summer…

The Song

Title: Easy

Artist: Like Roses

Album: Easy [single]

Year: 2023

The Story

I love this song so much that if you want to stop reading right now and just go listen to it on repeat, I’d support your decision. God knows I’ve taken a similar approach—I’ve spun “Easy” so many times since it was introduced to me in the spring by friend-of-the-newsletter Matt¹ that if I didn’t listen to it again for the rest of the year, it would almost certainly still be my most-listened-to song of 2024 by an order of magnitude. (And I can assure you that I’ll be listening to it many, many more times this year.)

So what is it about “Easy” that has so deeply and completely hooked me? Well, the hook, for one. As Prophet Popper wisely noted, it’s the hook that brings you back. And “Easy” has two, I think, that qualify as S-tier: First, that opening line of “It’s easy enough to say” is such a propulsive, magnetic entry into the track that I can’t imagine anyone hearing it and deciding to turn the song off. Second, the chorus melody, for all its simplicity, is absolutely anthemic. The descending triad in that long “oh” is paint-by-numbers easy² but it’s equally effective. And then the second half of the chorus’ melodic arc (“I wish you loved me enough to let go”) takes a comparably basic approach but injects tiny bits of deviation, in both pitch and rhythm, in a way that is incredibly satisfying.

There’s also the instrumentation and arrangement. “Easy” is relentless, just churning and grinding forward without rest from the moment it starts until, with a crunchy-as-hell, headbang-worthy outro, it ends. Even during the song’s bridge, when we get the track’s lone distortion-free guitar playing warbly loops, it’s merely an intake of breath before plunging into a raucous conclusion. All of which is punctuated by the repeated pugilism of the kick and snare drums, violently blasting out rhythms in conjunction with a suitably fuzzy bass guitar.

But the single most important reason that I am completely obsessed with “Easy” is that lead vocalist Amy Schmalkuche has put to tape one of the greatest vocal performances this side of Daryl Palumbo’s heroic turn on Decadence. Every word and syllable is dripping with emotive power, all angst and rage and pain and love. It sounds like recording this track must have hurt—and not only Schmalkuche’s vocal chords, but also her heart—while at the same time providing deep, exhausting catharsis. How could I not be moved in hearing that? How could I not love it? What an amazing performance, you guys. I mean, fuck.

I give “Easy” five out of five stars.

1. Thanks again, Matt!

2. Sorry, I had to.