+ Jesusfreakhideout.com: Stray Gold, "Stupid Answers - Single" Review
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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Stray Gold

Stray Gold
Stupid Answers - Single

Street Date: Febuary 23, 2024
Style: Alt Rock / Pop Rock
Buy It: AmazonMP3



One of my favorite up-and-coming bands as of late is Jackson, MS alternative rock band, Empty Atlas. The band has put out some really great sounding music over the past few years that tends to stay in steady rotation for me. That includes the latest/debut song from lead singer Micah Smith's new solo project, Stray Gold, entitled "Stupid Answers."

We're only one song in, but so far, Stray Gold isn't very stylistically dissimilar to Empty Atlas. "Stupid Answers" does feel a little more acoustic or singer/songwriter-y at its core compared to the full band's typical output, but it's still more of a mid-temp pop rock song than anything, with electric guitars, bass, and drums to round it out. If I heard the song without knowing it was a solo project, I likely wouldn't have guessed it. All that to say, if you're into Empty Atlas' music, "Stupid Answers" is going to be an easy song to grab hold of. Smith has a gift for creating earworm melodies that instantly carve out a spot in the listener's memory. Even if you don't listen to music for the lyrics, you're likely going to catch yourself singing lines like, "No one's laughing now" or "I have only stupid answers, that's what stupid questions get," at random times throughout the day.

Those who dig more into the lyrics will find Smith's signature dry wit woven into the relatable verses. Here, he waxes poetic about his tendency to resort to jokes, even when the situation clearly calls for something with more substance ("I can't help but say the wrong thing when the right one won't come out"). Again, relatable. The second verse is my favorite: "Next time we meet, down Ashley Street / 8 past 12 at the 7-11, you ask me what it means / and I have only stupid answers, that's what stupid questions get / I say maybe all the stars aligned, maybe you just wanted cigarettes." It's an easy go-to to avoid conversation (intentionally or not), but it's not always the best move.

If the goal of Stray Gold was to get me hooked, it worked. "Stupid Answers" is easily an early contender for my top songs list later this year, and it has me very excited about the future for the project. Smith is a terrific songwriter, and I hope we get to hear more from him (in any capacity, really) sooner rather than later. Fans of acts like Coldplay, Switchfoot, Keane, and Snow Patrol should make a beeline for Stray Gold.

- Review date: 2/29/24, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com




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JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: None
. Album length: 1 track: 3 minutes, 18 seconds
. Street Date: February 23, 2024
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. Stupid Answers (3:18)

 

 

 

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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
ELI GABLE Glory Bound - Single [Capitol CMG]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Claire Leslie Thank God I'm Not Alone (from Claire's Phone) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
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Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
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DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
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SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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