Based on my experience, creating a rock track is one of the hardest things to market in today’s musical landscape, but Ben Rankin braved the waters and decided to give us ‘Save Your Tears’. Join me as I discuss this track in length and read why I’m adding this track to my playlist.
The track started with this drum beat sample that has a keyboard lick closely resembling samples from gospel songs. Then the distorted guitar lick came in. The music gets heavier and heavier by the second, erasing that pre-emptive feel of the samples in the intro.
The guitar lick is groovy, but is still grounded in those alternative roots, resembling influences from Black Veil Brides and A Day To Remember, just to name a few. What I specifically like about this track is how the chorus is presented.
The verse feels deeply rooted in that metal/alternative style, but when the chorus came in, it felt a bit different because of its pop influence. The chorus hook has a different melody; it’s catchy and short, which is a common theme with chorus hooks in pop songs.
I can’t comment on the overall arrangement because I have a bias toward alternative/metal music, as I enjoy it a lot, but one thing I can say is that it has all the elements of a rock track that a fan like me appreciates. The breakdown, the vocal screams, and the guitar riff. Especially the guitar riff. If it doesn’t give ‘stanky face’ material, then it’s a fail.
I enjoyed Ben Rankin’s latest single, ‘Save Your Tears,’ as a fan of alternative/metal music. It has all the elements that I was hoping for and more. The real highlight of this track is the intro sample because of how different it is from the overall feel of the track.
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About the Author
He has been in the music industry for two and a half decades. Currently, he plays bass guitar for a rock-reggae band called EnjointPh and a funk-fusion trio called Banky. He also hosts a podcast titled Usapang Musiko with Ervin Besana, which explores topics such as music, arts, and philosophy.
