Brock Geiger - Some Nights
Self-released
Released on March 18th, 2025
Although Some Nights is technically his debut solo full-length, Brock Geiger is far from a newbie on the scene. Chances are even if you haven’t yet listened to his new record, there’s a decent chance you’ve already heard Brock Geiger in some way, especially if you listen to independent Canadian music at all. Geiger is a certified scene staple, playing with a who’s-who of Calgary (and beyond) bands over the last decade or more (Raleigh, The Dudes, Eye of Newt, Samantha Savage Smith, the list goes on), and contributing to more than 50 records as a producer, engineer, or session musician. Not a slim chance you’ve seen him play either, as I can’t even begin to count the number of shows I’ve been to that featured Geiger in some capacity or another. Heck, if you play in a band, there’s a good chance you’ve shared the stage or studio with him at some point or another. So it’s a gratifying moment to see Geiger get the chance to build on all the collaborative hard work he’s put in over the years and take a bit more of the spotlight with the stellar “debut” Some Nights.
And it’s a well deserved spotlight. Some Nights is something of a showcase in songcraft. There is a tender intimacy at the heart of the album - and indeed the songs feel like they’d be just as home in a lo-fi, bedroom pop package, but highly sophisticated production and a loving attention to detail elevates Some Nights into a bigger, fuller enterprise - while managing to not sacrifice any of the intimacy. A textured, multidimensional album, the record was co-produced by longtime collaborator (and Grammy Award winner) Will Mclellan and recorded at the legendary Sound City Studios in L.A. with assistance from both old friends (Clea Anaïs and Kaelen Ohm) and new (Matt Chamberlain, Sam Gendel, Gabe Noel). Combined with Geiger’s adept songwriting, the production value makes Some Nights a finely-tuned, even polished, record that cultivates a maturity and depth of sound that will find a home in both casual dancefloor seekers and audiophiles alike.
Genre-wise, Some Nights exists somewhere in the pop realm, but it resists easy categorization. Electronic pop, indie rock, R&B, synthpop, new/darkwave, jazz, and other influences all have their place in this album, which calls to mind the likes of LCD Soundsystem, MGMT, Beck, Prince, The Flaming Lips, and others. It is undeniably catchy, but it’s also experimental and ambitiously creative. Some nights seamlessly folds in an array of instrumentation and influence, so that the digital fuzzy synths and sequences are just as at home as the analogue cello, bouzouk, and sax parts they share the songs with. Geiger and Mclellan add thoughtful layers and playful touches to every nook of the record, so that each time you listen there is some new surprise or nuance to delight. At times it is heartfelt, at times sexy, sometimes jubilant and sometimes melancholic, it is a dynamic and lovely album, with Geiger’s own beautiful voice at the core - a voice that shifts and fluctuates to suit each song. Unlike many works in the pop-ier end of the dial, which can feel static or repetitive, Some Nights is a fresh, interesting, and satisfying listen.
- Chris Lammiman