Arch City PR

Arch City PR Arch City PR is an album-review and music-analysis outlet providing reviews, artist features, & press-release services.

Formerly a branch of Salvation Studios, Arch City PR operates with an independent editorial voice and reviews music on its own merits.

SUMMER of ’86 Bridges Video Game Nostalgia and Synthwave with Upcoming Release ShatterwaveRelease Date: October 30, 2026...
10/08/2026

SUMMER of ’86 Bridges Video Game Nostalgia and Synthwave with Upcoming Release Shatterwave

Release Date: October 30, 2026
Artist: SUMMER of ’86
Genre: Synthwave / Retrowave / Electronic

Arch City PR is pleased to spotlight Shatterwave, the upcoming release from SUMMER of ’86, the musical project of multi-instrumentalist, producer, and recording artist Jermaine Bollinger.

Arriving October 30, 2026, Shatterwave reimagines the memorable compositions of the classic Nintendo Entertainment System game Shatterhand through the atmospheric textures, pulsating synthesizers, and retro-inspired production of synthwave.

Following the release of Tribute and A Tribute to Shatterhand, Bollinger continues exploring the relationship between video game music and contemporary musical arrangements. However, Shatterwave represents a particularly significant development in the evolution of SUMMER of ’86.

Where previous tribute projects incorporated elements of big band, jazz, rock, and orchestral music, Shatterwave embraces the electronic soundscapes that have become central to Bollinger's artistic identity.

A Personal Connection to the Music

For Bollinger, the music of Shatterhand carries a significance that extends far beyond childhood entertainment.

Growing up in a difficult home environment, video games provided moments of escape, allowing him to experience the freedom and simplicity of childhood. The compositions accompanying those experiences became deeply connected to his memories.

Among those compositions, the music from the game's Area C: Submarine stage holds particular emotional significance.

Rather than simply recreating the original soundtrack, Bollinger approached Shatterwave with the intention of preserving the emotional spirit of those melodies while introducing an entirely different musical atmosphere.

The resulting arrangements reflect both the nostalgia of the original compositions and the creative direction of SUMMER of ’86.

The Evolution of SUMMER of ’86

Synthwave has increasingly become a defining element of the SUMMER of ’86 sound, drawing inspiration from 1980s electronic music, cinematic atmospheres, and nostalgic imagery.

Shatterwave builds upon those influences while demonstrating how familiar video game compositions can be transformed through contemporary production techniques.

The project also highlights Bollinger's versatility as an arranger and producer, transitioning between traditional instrumentation and electronic production without abandoning the emotional qualities of the original material.

For listeners familiar with his earlier tribute releases, Shatterwave offers a fresh interpretation. For synthwave enthusiasts, it introduces compositions rooted in classic gaming history through a modern retro-electronic lens.

More Than Nostalgia

At its heart, Shatterwave explores the lasting relationship between music, memory, and personal experience.

The project reflects how melodies associated with childhood can retain their emotional impact decades later, becoming sources of inspiration for entirely new creative works.

For Bollinger, revisiting these compositions is not simply an exercise in nostalgia. It represents an opportunity to reconnect with meaningful childhood memories while establishing the musical direction of his future work.

Arch City PR views Shatterwave as an important release in the continuing artistic development of SUMMER of ’86, bringing together the project's electronic identity and Bollinger's longstanding appreciation for video game music.

Release Information

Artist: Summer of '86
Title: Shatterwave
Release Date: Friday, October 30, 2026
Genre: Synthwave / Retrowave / Electronic
Inspired By: Shatterhand (NES)
Label: Salvation Studios

Shatterwave arrives on major digital streaming platforms October 30, 2026.



10/01/2026

🎶 STORY SPOTLIGHT: FOUR SONGS. FOUR STORIES.

At Arch City PR, we spend a lot of time talking about new releases, albums, singles, reviews and numbers.

But sometimes the most interesting part of a song happened before anyone ever pressed play.

For today’s Story Spotlight, we’re looking beyond the recordings at four songs and the stories that gave them life.

🏆 Jermaine Bollinger — “SET US FREE”

“Set Us Free” became Bollinger’s first #1 single on the CRC, but its significance goes well beyond its chart position.

The song and its music video capture what Bollinger remembers as a rare happy period of transition in his life—a time when his band was finding its direction and things genuinely seemed to be looking up.

Knowing what would eventually follow makes the video something of a time capsule: a preserved moment when life was simply good.

🎥 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGMNfR3lV-s

📺 Summer of '86 — “90s Nights”

The name might say SUMM📻R of ’86, but the ’90s played an enormous role in shaping the person behind the project.

Inspired by the classic TGIF television lineup, “90s Nights” channels the feeling of the opening credits of a ’90s sitcom. Even its Family Matters-style visual presentation was part of the concept.

The ’80s may define much of SUMM📻R of ’86’s musical identity, but the ’90s represent childhood, pop culture and growing up.

“90s Nights” is a tribute to that era.

🎥 https://youtu.be/CcmUYoVh83M?si=4D4U9JG6vVtyO20W

❤️ Tanya Handkins — “SOMEONE TELL ME”

For Tanya Hankins, inspiration came from the classroom.

Her work teaching children who haven’t always experienced the easiest circumstances has allowed her to witness their perseverance, growth and triumphs firsthand.

Those experiences helped inspire “Someone Tell Me”—a song centered on something incredibly simple, yet incredibly necessary: making sure people know they are loved and that someone believes in them.

In this case, the teacher found inspiration in her students.

🎥 https://youtu.be/hA3XNbKX58U?si=sNkjGjR8gfuIq4Ap

🙌 Little Egypt Worship — “ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE” feat. JERMAINE BOLLINGER

This one wasn’t originally supposed to be a song at all.

While leading worship near St. Louis, Bollinger created an arrangement of “How Great Thou Art” for Easter Sunday and added an original bridge reflecting on everything God has done.

But the bridge refused to stay a bridge.

Its message continued to grow until it became the chorus and foundation of an entirely new Little Egypt Worship song: “All the Things You Are.”

An Easter hymn arrangement became an original piece of worship music.

🎥 https://youtu.be/T-vG3h4XX7I?si=BbDRE4LomSXLp_5o

Four recordings with completely different sounds and origins.

One preserves a happy chapter of life.
One revisits childhood.
One was inspired by students.
And one began as a bridge written for Easter Sunday.

That’s why the story behind the music matters.

A song might last four minutes.

The story that created it can span a lifetime.

🎶 ARCH CITY PR | STORY SPOTLIGHT
Because sometimes the best part of the music is knowing why it exists.

PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECarbondale New School Welcomes the Community for Fall Fest on October 3CARBONDALE, Ill...
09/30/2026

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Carbondale New School Welcomes the Community for Fall Fest on October 3

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Arch City PR — Fall fun, family activities, and a little Halloween spirit are coming together as Carbondale New School hosts its annual Fall Fest on Saturday, October 3, from 5–9 p.m.
Open to the public, Fall Fest will feature an evening of activities for children and families, including a haunted maze, putt-putt, games and activities, concessions, and free s’mores.

Admission is $5 per person, giving families an affordable opportunity to spend an October evening together while supporting the Carbondale New School community.

With Halloween just around the corner, the haunted maze will bring a touch of spooky-season fun to the festivities, while putt-putt and other activities offer plenty to enjoy for guests looking for something a little less frightening. Food and refreshments will also be available through the event’s concessions.

CARBONDALE NEW SCHOOL FALL FEST
📅 Saturday, October 3
⏰ 5–9 p.m.
🎟️ $5 entry fee
🍫 Free s’mores
🎃 Haunted Maze • Putt-Putt • Activities • Concessions
📍 1302 E. Pleasant Hill Rd., Carbondale, IL

Open to the public

The event is made possible in part through the support of community sponsors Geri Pettersen — Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices True Realty, Casey’s, and The Co-op.

Fall Fest continues Carbondale New School’s tradition of bringing students, families, and the Southern Illinois community together for an evening centered on fun, connection, and the changing season.

For families looking for a way to kick off October with pumpkins, s’mores, games, and just the right amount of spooky fun, Carbondale New School Fall Fest offers something for everyone.

About Carbondale New School -
Established in 1971, Carbondale New School is located at 1302 E. Pleasant Hill Rd. in Carbondale, Illinois.

# # #

ARCH CITY PR
Entertainment • Events • Community

❄️ ARCH CITY PR | NEW RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENTJERMAINE BOLLINGER BRINGS BIG BAND, FULL-BAND ARRANGEMENTS & ORIGINAL MUSIC TO...
09/29/2026

❄️ ARCH CITY PR | NEW RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENT

JERMAINE BOLLINGER BRINGS BIG BAND, FULL-BAND ARRANGEMENTS & ORIGINAL MUSIC TO NEW CHRISTMAS PROJECT NOELLE

Christmas music has a way of bringing us back to songs we’ve known for generations. On his upcoming release, Jermaine Bollinger isn’t simply revisiting those songs—he’s rebuilding them through his own musical lens.

Noelle arrives November 13, 2026.

The four-song Christmas project brings together three familiar holiday standards reimagined in distinctly different ways, alongside a brand-new original composition.

🎺 “Silent Night” receives perhaps the project’s biggest transformation with a big-band rendition arranged by Bollinger.

One of the season’s quietest and most recognizable melodies takes on an entirely different musical personality through the new arrangement.

🎸 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” gets the full-band treatment, expanding the traditional Christmas hymn into a larger contemporary arrangement.

🎸 “Go Tell It on the Mountain” also receives a full-band arrangement, bringing another familiar Christmas standard into Bollinger’s musical world.

And then there’s the song that gives the project its name.

❄️ “Noelle” is a brand-new original Christmas song, adding something entirely new to a project otherwise rooted in generations of Christmas music.

That combination makes Noelle an interesting snapshot of Bollinger as both an arranger and songwriter. Rather than committing the entire project to one sound, the EP moves between big band, full-band performances and original material while maintaining its Christmas identity.

Even the artwork takes a different route from the traditional reds, greens and brightly lit Christmas trees associated with the season. Instead, Noelle depicts a solitary drive through a snow-covered landscape beneath a moonlit winter sky—a visual built around cold air, distant lights, reflection and nostalgia.

It’s Christmas music for the road home.

❄️ JERMAINE BOLLINGER — NOELLE
📅 AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 13, 2026

TRACKS INCLUDE:
🎺 Silent Night — Big-band arrangement
🎸 O Come, All Ye Faithful — Full-band arrangement
🎸 Go Tell It on the Mountain — Full-band arrangement
❄️ Noelle — Original song

🎧 Spotify • Apple Music • YouTube • Amazon Music
🏷️ A Salvation Studios Production

Three Christmas classics reimagined. One new Christmas song. Four different reasons to take the long way home this holiday season.

Noelle arrives November 13.
— Arch City PR

🎮 ARCH CITY PR REVIEW | SUMMER OF ’86 — “SHATTERED”⭐ 9.4/10How do you write a new piece of music for a game released mor...
09/25/2026

🎮 ARCH CITY PR REVIEW | SUMMER OF ’86 — “SHATTERED”

⭐ 9.4/10

How do you write a new piece of music for a game released more than three decades ago—and make it feel like it belongs?

That may be the most impressive thing about “Shattered.”

Featured on SUMMER of ’86’s new album Tribute, “Shattered” stands apart from the rest of the project for one major reason: this isn't an arrangement of music from Shatterhand.

It is an entirely original composition by Jermaine Bollinger, written specifically for the project and inspired by the musical identity, energy, and atmosphere of the NES classic.

And it works remarkably well.

Rather than simply borrowing nostalgia, Bollinger uses Shatterhand as a creative starting point. “Shattered” captures the urgency and forward momentum associated with classic action-game music while expanding that vocabulary into the full-band world SUMMER of ’86 has built for Tribute.

That makes the track something of a mission statement for the entire album.

The other arrangements demonstrate what this band can do with music that already exists. “Shattered” demonstrates what Bollinger can create when given that same world as a blank canvas.

There’s an important distinction there.

Writing an original piece inspired by an established soundtrack carries its own challenge: stray too far and the connection disappears; imitate too closely and the composition loses its own identity. “Shattered” finds the space between the two. It feels informed by Shatterhand without needing to reproduce it.

And perhaps most importantly, you don't have to know the game to enjoy the track.

It functions as an energetic instrumental on its own while rewarding listeners who understand where the inspiration began.

On an album built around paying tribute to someone else's compositions, it’s fitting that one of its strongest moments comes when Bollinger adds something entirely new to that musical universe.

ARCH CITY PR SCORE: 9.4/10 ⭐

🎮 SUMMER of ’86 — TRIBUTE
OUT NOW

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6oZq0n5QbnVeGZnuabNBEX?si=976a7c4d077549a4

▶️ “Shattered” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yiv0_90R1VQ

Arch City PR
Reviews • Releases • Independent Music

🎮 ARCH CITY PR REVIEW | JERMAINE BOLLINGER — “AREA C - SUBMARINE”⭐ 9.5/10There’s recreating a piece of music—and then th...
09/25/2026

🎮 ARCH CITY PR REVIEW | JERMAINE BOLLINGER — “AREA C - SUBMARINE”

⭐ 9.5/10

There’s recreating a piece of music—and then there’s rebuilding it one note at a time.

On “Area C - Submarine,” from his newly released album A Tribute to Shatterhand, Jermaine Bollinger takes an unusually meticulous approach to preserving the music of the NES classic Shatterhand.

There were no shortcuts here.

Bollinger reconstructed the track entirely by ear, listening closely to the original 8-bit recording and sequencing its individual parts note by note through MIDI. When passages became too difficult to decipher at full speed, he slowed the original recording down, isolated what he was hearing, identified the notes, and continued rebuilding.

The goal wasn't reinterpretation. It was replication.

And that distinction is what makes “Area C - Submarine” so interesting.

Instead of modernizing the composition or using today's technology to turn it into something the NES could never have produced, Bollinger treats the limitations and character of the original sound as something worth preserving. The sequencing retains that unmistakable 8-bit identity—the sharp melodic lines, tightly constructed rhythmic movement, and mechanical precision that made music from this era so distinctive.

It also highlights something easily overlooked when listening to classic video-game music: how much musical information those composers packed into remarkably limited hardware.

Reconstructing it by ear forces every one of those details into the foreground. A wrong note matters. A misplaced entrance matters. A rhythmic figure that's slightly off matters. When the entire purpose is preservation, accuracy becomes part of the performance.

There’s another fitting detail to the project: the gameplay accompanying these tracks on YouTube is Bollinger himself playing Shatterhand.

That makes A Tribute to Shatterhand feel less like a conventional cover album and more like an act of musical preservation from someone who genuinely loves the source material.

“Area C - Submarine” doesn't ask what Shatterhand could sound like today.

It asks whether its music can be carefully reconstructed, note by note, and allowed to sound like Shatterhand again.

The answer is an emphatic yes.

⭐ ARCH CITY PR SCORE: 9.5/10

🕹️ JERMAINE BOLLINGER — A TRIBUTE TO SHATTERHAND | OUT NOW

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0amaeQsobDp8xQtXr5viX5?si=OwsnS3MhSNq2tmytTnoIkg

▶️ “Area C - Submarine” on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fK9p4-VD1TY?si=PeXiRjhwoIH49N-3

Arch City PR
Reviews • Releases • Independent Music Reviews

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESUMMER of ’86 Announces Shatterwave, Completing a Three-Album Exploration of the Music of Shatterha...
09/24/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUMMER of ’86 Announces Shatterwave, Completing a Three-Album Exploration of the Music of Shatterhand

New synthwave project arrives October 30, transforming the classic NES soundtrack through the signature sound of SUMMER of ’86

ST. LOUIS, MO — September 24, 2026 — What began as a tribute to the music of the classic NES game Shatterhand has grown into three distinct albums, each approaching the same source material from an entirely different musical perspective.

Jermaine Bollinger and SUMMER of ’86 have announced Shatterwave, a new collection of synthwave interpretations of music from Shatterhand, scheduled for release October 30, 2026.

The album serves as the third interpretation of the material and, perhaps, the most natural fit for the current identity of SUMMER of ’86.

“I honestly don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner,” Bollinger says. “We had the full-band versions. We had the 8-bit versions. But SUMMER of ’86 has developed into this synthwave-driven project, so it suddenly hit me: how do we not have synthwave versions of these songs? Once I realized that, I had to make the album.”

The first interpretation, TRIBUTE, is performed by SUMMER of ’86 and expands the video-game compositions into full-band arrangements, incorporating rock, jazz, orchestral and other influences.

The second, A Tribute to Shatterhand, is released under the Jermaine Bollinger name and returns the music to its 8-bit roots. The arrangements were painstakingly reconstructed through MIDI and sequencing, with the original compositions replicated note-by-note before being presented in an 8-bit format.

That project arrives September 25, 2026.

With Shatterwave, the music moves in the opposite direction.

Rather than attempting to preserve the original NES sound, SUMMER of ’86 uses the compositions as the foundation for an entirely new sonic environment built around synthesizers, electronic textures and the retro-futuristic atmosphere that has increasingly defined the project.

Together, the three releases provide three perspectives on the same music:

Preservation. Reimagination. Transformation.

For Bollinger, the collection also reflects just how significant Shatterhand and its music have remained decades after first encountering the game.

“Apparently, I really like Shatterhand,” Bollinger jokes. “I’ve now made three versions of this project. But each one serves a completely different purpose. The 8-bit record is about respecting and preserving what was originally there. TRIBUTE asks what these songs could become with a full band. Shatterwave asks what they sound like inside the world of SUMMER of ’86.”

Shatterwave also arrives as SUMMER of ’86 continues moving deeper into synthwave, bringing the Shatterhand material into the same musical universe as the project's growing catalog of neon-soaked, retro-inspired releases.

After exploring the soundtrack through sequencing and live-band arrangements, Bollinger says the addition of Shatterwave finally makes the collection feel complete.

“Now I’m happy,” he says.

RELEASE SCHEDULE

A Tribute to Shatterhand — Jermaine Bollinger
September 25, 2026
8-bit recreations

TRIBUTE — SUMMER of ’86
Full-band reimaginings

SHATTERWAVE — SUMMER of ’86
October 30, 2026
Synthwave reimaginings

ABOUT Summer of '86

SUMMER of ’86 is a retro-inspired music project led by musician, producer and multi-instrumentalist Jermaine Bollinger. Drawing heavily from the sounds, imagery and nostalgia of the 1980s, the project has increasingly embraced synthwave while continuing to incorporate elements of rock, pop and electronic music.

ABOUT Jermaine Bollinger

Jermaine Bollinger is a musician, author, producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose work spans rock, pop, worship, electronic music and video-game-inspired compositions. Through his work as both a solo artist and the creative force behind SUMMER of ’86, Bollinger has developed an extensive catalog centered on musical experimentation, nostalgia and reinterpretation.

SHATTERWAVE
SUMMER of ’86
October 30, 2026

09/24/2026

🎮 ARCH CITY PR SPOTLIGHT: TWO TRIBUTES. TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT APPROACHES.

The music of Shatterhand is getting not one, but two tribute albums—and Jermaine Bollinger and SUMMER of ’86 are approaching the source material from opposite directions.

🎮 Jermaine Bollinger — Tribute to Shatterhand

Bollinger’s album is about preservation and precision.

These are painstaking, note-by-note recreations of the original 8-bit tracks from Shatterhand, meticulously rebuilding the music while remaining as faithful as possible to the compositions heard in the classic NES game.

Rather than reinventing the soundtrack, Bollinger’s goal is to honor exactly what made it memorable in the first place.

🎸 Summer of '86 — Tribute

Then there’s SUMMER of ’86.

Instead of recreating the 8-bit originals, Tribute takes that music out of the NES and puts it in the hands of a full band.

The compositions are transcribed and expanded into arrangements incorporating rock, pop, orchestral music, and jazz, allowing melodies originally created within the limitations of 8-bit hardware to become something much larger.

One project asks: How faithfully can we preserve this music?

The other asks: What would this music sound like if a full band brought it to life?

Together, the two albums offer two very different ways of celebrating the same soundtrack—one preserving the music almost note for note, the other expanding it beyond the console.

🎮 Jermaine Bollinger — Tribute to Shatterhand
🎸 SUMMER of ’86 — Tribute
📅 SEPTEMBER 25, 2026

Two albums. Two approaches. One classic soundtrack.

— Arch City PR

🎶 ARCH CITY PR | THROWBACK THURSDAYFour artists. Four different eras. Four songs worth another listen—and another chapte...
09/17/2026

🎶 ARCH CITY PR | THROWBACK THURSDAY

Four artists. Four different eras. Four songs worth another listen—and another chapter of the Salvation Studios story is getting ready to begin.

This week, we’re digging back into the catalog while also looking ahead at what’s next.

🎤 Jermaine Bollinger — “SET US FREE”

An early milestone in Bollinger’s catalog, “Set Us Free” helped establish the foundation for what would follow, reaching #1 on the National Christian Radio Chart.

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/2ZMyaghhBIY4v5VYRBiMXL?si=a338157122444c60

🍎 Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/runaway/1666923234

🎥 YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGMNfR3lV-s

📻 Summer of '86 — “HITS”

Going back to 2022, “Hits” captures an earlier stage in the evolution of SUMMER of ’86. Hearing it today provides an interesting contrast with the increasingly synthwave-driven direction the project has taken in the years since.

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/3SBKhw6Y05nriTXg8atU1i?si=f6fc8c45930e44f4

🍎 Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/hits-deluxe-edition/1894075577

🎥 YouTube:
https://youtu.be/O_ODdrVFQ2U?si=o0cFVM-NvQ-RPj66

🙌 JERMAINE BOLLINGER feat. Little Egypt Worship — “I BELONG TO YOU”

One of Little Egypt Worship’s collaborations outside its own catalog, “I Belong To You” brought Bollinger and the worship collective together during the Cre8ion era. The radio edit ultimately reached #1 on the Christian Radio Chart in May 2024.

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/6ye9Iu1t4A1zZLhsMFz6wr?si=8f0a281c6f534ad8

🍎 Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/song/i-belong-to-you-feat-little-egypt-worship-radio-edit/1730838611

🎥 YouTube:
https://youtu.be/E_kcKj2HGIw

🎙️ Tanya Handkins — “ALL THE WAY”

This may be the most timely throwback of the four. Handkins is preparing to revisit the song herself with “All the Way, Tanya’s Version,” arriving October 30.

Before the new recording arrives, go back and hear where it started.

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4z9aoKihpI6BhmpdqxPp0k?si=58b8e676cccc4c0f

🍎 Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/song/all-the-way/1853320681

🎥 YouTube:
https://youtu.be/wrdU4CRWirI?si=_XE-XzbLDc6cF0cG

🎶 AND NEXT UP: Braxton

While we’re looking back today, Salvation Studios is also preparing to introduce another voice to its catalog.

Braxton’s debut album, Spiritually Speaking, is now completely finished.

The project arrives March 12, 2027, officially bringing Braxton into the Salvation Studios release catalog for the first time.

Four catalogs to revisit today. A brand-new one waiting in the wings.

The past sounds good. The future sounds pretty exciting, too.

— Arch City PR

Throwback Thursday | Arch City PR Song SpotlightSUMMER of ’86 — “Picking Up Pieces”For Throwback Thursday, Arch City PR ...
09/11/2026

Throwback Thursday | Arch City PR Song Spotlight
SUMMER of ’86 — “Picking Up Pieces”

For Throwback Thursday, Arch City PR is revisiting “Picking Up Pieces,” a 2024 track from SUMMER of ’86’s Lovely. The song sits fourth on the 10-track album and was produced by Jermaine Bollinger for Salvation Studios.

Production — 8.9/10
The production understands that the emotion needs room to breathe. Rather than burying the song beneath unnecessary layers, the arrangement supports its reflective nature while maintaining the polished pop identity of SUMMER of ’86. There’s enough movement to keep the track engaging without distracting from its emotional center.

Songwriting — 9.1/10
This is where “Picking Up Pieces” shines brightest. The concept is immediately relatable: what do you do when something important has fallen apart and you're left dealing with what remains? The writing finds vulnerability without becoming overly dramatic, giving the song an emotional maturity that has aged particularly well.

Performance — 8.8/10
The performance works because it doesn't feel like it's trying to prove anything. There's restraint in the delivery that complements the writing. Rather than overselling the emotion, the vocal allows the weight of the song itself to carry the message. It's understated where it needs to be and convincing throughout.

Replay Value — 9.0/10
“Picking Up Pieces” benefits enormously from being revisited outside the context of Lovely. At 3:23, it doesn't overstay its welcome, and its combination of accessibility and emotional substance makes it an easy track to return to.

Arch City PR Score: 9.0/10

More than two years later, “Picking Up Pieces” feels like one of those album tracks that deserved a little more attention the first time around.

Sometimes the best part of Throwback Thursday is discovering that a song hasn't gotten older.

You've just gotten far enough away from it to hear it differently.

Listen to Picking Up Pieces on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4hfYVuyVX1DIYILKErzM8g?si=ad16331ac619483d

Address

St. Louis, MO

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Arch City PR posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Arch City PR:

Shortcuts

Share