"Get A Good Look" at Sports' new release

By Jillian Cote

Nearly a year after predecessor EP “Get A Good Look Pt.1”, the Oklahoma-grown band Sports released their album “Get A Good Look” on February 11, 2022. The duo’s fourth studio album boasts 13 songs that dance between borders of funk, synth-pop, and indie rock, proving that Chronister and Theriot know their forte as well as how to evolve in the music industry.

For frontman Cale Chronister, “Get A Good Look” represents introspection and true image beyond what we project onto others in our daily lives. The title track’s lyrics “I’m not the guy I picture in my head / I picture in my head” perpetuate this narrative — Chronister understands what he wants to be internally, but the act of becoming who he wants to be is daunting. The thought that “They say time will fly” further addresses the concept of self in the raw fear of realizing you’ve grown up after years have passed. While these troubling thoughts cause frustration, the pre-chorus acts as a blunt voice of reason, lamenting “‘Cause one of these days, man / You’re gonna change”. Sonically, “Get A Good Look” relates to this lyric in its lack of heavily synthesized sound and a focus on acoustic guitar, adding dimension to the band’s musical repertoire. 

“Tell You Something” continues the trend of lyrical soul searching with a slightly more upbeat sound. The chorus “I don’t know how to tell you something / But I do know that it won’t be easy” pertains to feelings of uncertainty and instability in expressing oneself as well as the unspoken difficulties of socialization. Afraid of stepping out of line, Chronister asks for approval from others in his words “Just tell me what to say”. In admitting his struggle, he feels a small victory towards becoming the person he pictures himself to be, ultimately contributing to the overarching theme of looking within to move further.

While the synths heard in Sports’ music are largely devices for old-school nostalgia such as the Steve Miller Band-esque sounds heard in the background of opening track “Call Me Anytime”, “Ordinary Man” puts a new spin on their staple sound with a futuristic synth bassline. The song itself feels very dystopian with gritty and hollow sounds and falsetto vocals in the chorus, where Chronister announces that “I don't want to be some ordinary man / So I choose not to be so ordinary, man”. The placement of this track as eighth in line furthers the album’s motif as it signifies his movement from uncertainty and disdain towards himself to a motivation and a desire to become what he knows he’s capable of doing. 

What makes Sports so unique in their style of music is their incapability of being pinned down to a specific genre or timeframe. While some songs evoke retro psychedelic funk, others summon sultry rock or upbeat indie pop — and they all somehow flow seamlessly into one another to create both diversity and consistency in their works. 

Sports is currently on the road, touring the US as well as Europe later this year — “Get A Good Look” is available on all streaming platforms now.