Ears Wide Open: Oh Bummer!

Kevin Bronson on March 9th, 2022

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Seattle-bred, L.A.-based songwriter Tanner Houghton makes music under the moniker Oh Bummer!, which is actually only a bummer if you dislike artist names with exclamation points (we don’t mind all that much) or if you’re put off by lyrical motormouths. Houghton’s streams-of-consciousness, thus far, seem worth engaging.

Working with producer Alex Fitts — aka The KickDrums — Oh Bummer! has released two singles thus far, each with plenty of bounce to the ounce. His woozy debut “Mirrors” start off with this truism: “If my head and heart were in the same place / It would be easier to think, I think I think.” The song head-bobs into Kelly Pratt’s horns and an endearingly stoned chorus, an espresso short of lucidity.

Formerly one-half of the duo Follies & Vices (who in 2020 made this with Magic Bronson), Houghton picks up the pace on his second single, “Beautiful Day,” out today. Pop-rap with a smirk and a wink, the song again features Pratt on horns. It’s raining all over Oh Bummer!’s sunshine here, but he’s still trying to find beauty in it.

As casually as possible.

||| Stream: “Beautiful Day”