Singles Spotlight:
Dalton – “Same Old Story”

Hello reader,

How are you today?

Today, we’re excited to discuss another artist who is making some great music: Dalton. Since 2012 this is the project of multi-instrumentalist, and DIY singer-songwriter that is now Brooklyn based, Nate Harar. He writes and produces each track, recording in “his small studio apartment.” Which makes the entire process special and intimate. The press release from a single for Dalton’s upcoming album describes his music as such, “Dalton’s music is built around catchy hooks, easy-to-digest verses, and stripped-down instrumentation—mainly piano and electric guitar—which pays tribute to the no-nonsense rock of the early 1990s.” Color me impressed. And intrigued.

Harar’s self-titled debut album Dalton (2015) garnered the attention and praise of several in the music media scene, Harar followed it up with Animal EP (2017), his second full length album, Take Shelter (2019), To the Woods (2021) and most recently Northern Lights (2023). The press release for a single for the upcoming album More Songs About Love And Death talks about Dalton’s progressing sound saying that, “Over time, Dalton’s sound began to evolve, reflecting a more introspective direction. Gone are the distorted guitars and strained vocals of his debut, replaced by acoustic instruments and strings, giving his music a softer, more reflective edge. The new direction feels less influenced by the indie rock of The Replacements and more akin to the introspective work of early Peter Gabriel. Though the instrumentation and style may have changed, Dalton’s core strength—his ability to craft impactful melodies and incisive lyrics—remains the same. Each new song feels connected to the last, building a cohesive narrative that’s unmistakably his own. As Dalton continues to evolve, so does the music, maintaining its emotional depth and sincerity.”

While the name of this site may suggest that we only love The Replacements, first time reader, that’s simply not the case. We hope you feel the same way, and are open to hearing a new song today. Long time readers, welcome back.

A few months ago when I first heard the first single “Same Old Story” from Dalton’s new album More Songs About Love And Death which is out Friday October 10th, I was blown away with its sound. The lyrics, the melody, the vocals were outstanding. Josh and I were both big fans of this song. And we knew that I had to share it with you as part of the Singles Spotlight series here at SWT. From the opening guitar strums and percussive beats to the soothing harmonious vocals it’s a hell of start to a song. The song continues to get better as it goes along, interjecting well crafted lyrics that paint a colorful narrative and make you think and reflect. There’s a lot intertwined amidst the melody, vocals and instrumentation that keeps you engaged and listening in the best of ways. To me this song seems like a great introduction to Dalton’s music and discography in general.

Dalton was gracious enough to provide SWT with an exclusive quote about his song “Same Old Story”, sharing, “For whatever reason, I find ramshackle acoustic numbers very enjoyable to make. Probably because since they’re inherently messy, any flubs on the guitar just give the track more ‘character’. I like lyrics that are obscure but have some connective tissue. The lyrics in this one start with an overly broad overview of life, as if being witnessed by another species from above. I also included some anecdotes from Will Hermes’ biographical recounting of Lou Reed’s final days, which I found incredibly sad and moving. Interweaving this “what does it all mean” theme along with the death of one of my heroes creates an interesting juxtaposition. The final verses try to come up with an answer to why we’re here. It ends with an amateurish guess: to pass down what you know and share it with others.”

Without further adieu, take the time to check out the awesome song, “Same Old Story” from Artist’s YouTube channel:

(All credits and rights to Dalton)

The cover art for More Songs About Love And Death:

The track list for More Songs About Love And Death:

1. In This Place (3:38)
2. Same Old Story (3:18)
3. Give Up The Ghost (4:26)
4. O Candy (4:38)
5. Enough (0:54)
6. Only View (2:44)
7. Untitled 4 (4:00)
8. Shy Dream (3:53)

Alex M Theel

Co-Founder, Reviewer, Content Creator, Business side, Editor at Scummy Water Tower Productions | Web

Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site: scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions!
Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com