When I first heard “Caught Me Thinking,” I imagined a Vampire Weekendesque trio, nonchalant in skinny jeans, picking out lo-fi WASPafarian knockoffs.
That’s not a bad thing. At first listen, the track is a light plinky plank riff that doesn’t exactly capture the memory. It’s breezy undercurrent flows through barroom breakdowns and little disco stabs. And don’t forget the maraca!
What I first thought was dead wrong.
Bahamas is Afie Jurvanen, a solo artist based in Ontario, Canada. He, in hilariously clichéd, yet apparently still effective fashion, recorded his debut album in a rural cabin.
Now listen to the lyrics, the almost-country twang, the brit-rock bass. What first comes off as beach boombox fodder reveals itself as an introspective solo record better suited for a headphoned autumn train ride.
This is the only song I’ve ever heard by Mr. Jurvanen, and I have no idea where I got it. But I’m sure glad it came around.