Deep in the heart of Morgantown, WV., where garden rows butt up against guitar riffs, John Kolar is growing more than just vegetables these days. He's growing a rich soil with irony and absurdity that satirically reflects our existence. On his new single, "Rewards Card," Kolar presents a wry, indie rock/indie pop groove that mixes clever wit with recollections and biting cultural commentary, at once like the best local storyteller.
"Rewards Card" is the fifth track in a yearlong campaign building toward Kolar's debut album, slated for November. The song traffics in the twisted joys of alternative rock, pinning a soundscape that is at once familiar and a little off the mark like a mall jingle captured through the thoughts of a 5th grader who just discovered that capitalism isn't all that it's quacked to be.
"Rewards Card" is all about jangly guitars and pop-dipped melodies, finished with an indie rock feel. Kolar hits a line between playful and critical, drawing you into a universe where gym class humiliation, brand-name psychology, and inflated egos coalesce in a deceptively infectious chorus. It's observational songwriting layered, clever, specific, and deeply personal. There is something lovably DIY about John Kolar's attitude. Whether he's picking tomatoes or targeting consumer culture, a rooted sense of authenticity extends "Rewards Card" beyond its punch lines.
The song's rollout involves a music video, playlist/social media push, all calculated moves in Kolar's gradual ascension to his debut album. But there's more to this journey than simply the marketing, and there are surprises in the music moments of connection and amusement, never taking themselves too seriously. John Kolar asks you to giggle at and dance to the system's absurdity. And if "Rewards Card" indicates what's in store this November, his debut album is set to offer a fairly refreshing respite to the overproduced and the over-earnest.
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