The 2018 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #14

14. Solar Fake - The Pain That Kills You Too




Solar Fake is a German electronic act led by Sven Friedrich. Back in 2015, He dropped Another Manic Episode, which over time has arguably become one of my all-time favorite electronic discs. I was super excited to see that a new disc was coming from the group, and I was definitely not let down. A lot of the songs delve into personal issues that I have struggled with in my life the past few years, and You Win. Who Cares? takes all the pain of the previous disc and adds an extra dose of anger on the other end. Friedrich seems to understand my life on a personal level in his writing, which I find is a rarity in music. Other standout tracks inclide "Sick of You", "A Bullet Left For You", and "Fuck U". Sensing a theme?

"The Pain That Kills You Too" dials the tempo back with a soft piano mixed in to a harsher guitar synth. The song seems to deals with someone whose struggles with depression and isolation pushes their loved ones away, to the extent that it is metaphorically killing the both of them. Friedrich's voice perfectly illustrates pain and struggling, and the backing layers of keys help to push the song down. It's a powerful song that continually crept up the charts before landing at 14. I feel like it's going to be another one of those songs and albums that just gets better and better as time passes and experiences mount in life. If nothing else, it's great to see groups that are able to put out more than 1 or 2 great releases in their careers.


Favorite line: "If I would even bother, if I would even truly care, I could have chosen other ways, but I had nothing left to share. So I try to try harder, and I breathe underwater, I don’t know if you feel it too, I don’t think you ever knew. "






Title: The Pain That Kills You Too
Artist: Solar Fake
Album: You Win. Who Cares?


Previous 14s
2017: DREAMCAR - Kill for Candy
2016: Chvrches - Leave a Trace
2015: Spoon - New York Kiss
2014: Weird Al Yankovic - A) Foil; B) Handy
2013: Atlas Genius - If So
2012: Metric - Clone
2011: Crystal Castles - Not In Love (ft Robert Smith)
2010: Nevermore - Moonrise (Through Mirrors of Death)
2009: Red - Out From Under