LA-based newcomers The Two Seasons, originally from Chicago, explore themes of digital disconnection and jangly catharsis with their second single, "Simulator." This track delivers a sardonic and shimmering jolt of post-punk energy infused with unfiltered vulnerability.
Stream: “Simulator” – The Two Seasons
Sometimes I question whether my feelings are genuine or just an illusion.
* * *
Raw, jangly, and rife with existential depth, The Two Seasons' second single is both catchy and cathartic. At just under two and a half minutes, “Simulator” bursts forth as a visceral post-punk eruption that intertwines sardonic humor with raw emotional honesty. Led by frontman Cory Clifford's incisive lyrics and featuring the unaffected, edgy appeal reminiscent of The Strokes along with the witty twang of Silver Jews, the song addresses issues of depression, insecurity, and the blurred boundaries of emotional reality in the digital era.
Simulator – The Two Seasons
Anguish seems like a mere formality
You might struggle with your mortality
You might end up looking
like hell just for the hell of it
Here’s to forgiveness
And to forgiving oneself
Seclude yourself in your ballroom
Dance as if doom plays a role
Then tears out your insides
and shreds them apart
Your brilliant dog star
Is no clearer
in the rearview mirror
Atwood Magazine is excited to premiere “Simulator,” which is now available independently. Following the impactful release of their debut single “Gallery” in February, “Simulator” sees The Two Seasons further establishing their presence with a delightful mix of tension and humor. It's a tightly wound, emotionally erratic anthem that feels both personal and spontaneous — a track that leaves a lasting impression without overstaying its welcome.
The band, comprising Cory Clifford (formerly Cory José), guitarist Jeremy Nelson, drummer Greg Niemi, and bassist Alex Buchanan, are former Chicagoans now residing in LA. Their jangly post-punk sound — merging the shine of Flying Nun with the swagger of the early 2000s — reflects the essence of bands like Orange Juice, Parquet Courts, and The Feelies, while offering a distinctive lyrical perspective. Named after a classic Chicago joke (“What are the two seasons in Chicago? Winter and construction”) — with an additional nod to Franki Valli and the Four Seasons — the band gracefully balances humor and weightiness, forging a sonic identity that feels both referential and refreshingly original.
Sometimes I question
If my feelings are genuine
Or if they're just an illusion.
Simulator
“‘Simulator’ is a song that addresses the struggles of depression, insecurity, and angst in contemporary life,” frontman Cory Clifford explains to Atwood Magazine. “It’s a brief but impactful track playfully referencing some of the band’s favorite artists outside their genre, like Silver Jews and Elvis Costello.”
“The structure of the song is reminiscent of early R.E.M., beginning with a double-verse and featuring a bridge that serves as a hook just as much as the post-chorus repeats the title. Harry Ernest Gibbons from the LA power pop group, Sano, recorded it in a garage.”
Release yourself from sin’s
Dull has-been called forgiven
I forgot that major players
Are just a turn away from a nosedive
Focusing on a thumbnail
Obscures these tough dudes
Sometimes I question
If my feelings are genuine
Or if they're just an illusion.
Simulator
That rough setup adds to the song's appeal. “Simulator” thrives on its raw immediacy, transforming unpolished indie rock textures into something sharp, sardonic, and surprisingly powerful. There’s a sly grin behind the sorrow and an urgent rhythm beneath the sadness — a musical paradox that feels utterly contemporary yet timeless in its creation. With references to forgiveness, emotional disconnection, and reel-to-reel confusion, Clifford's lyrics walk the line between sincerity and satire, capturing the emotional chaos of modern existence and transforming it into something profoundly beautiful: a compact, cathartic explosion of post-punk poetry, filled with jagged guitars, mesmerizing hooks, and beautifully earned release.
With only two tracks available, The Two Seasons are already making a distinct mark — one built on grit, humor, and a substantial dose of humanity.
“Simulator” may be brief in length, but it casts a long shadow: a sardonic anthem for the anxious age, overflowing with lyrical richness and jangly disorder. If this is the kind of punch they're delivering early on, their forthcoming debut album is highly anticipated. While they may jest about winter and construction, there’s no doubt this band is constructing something lasting, and “Simulator” serves as a remarkable foundation.
Amid all the suffering…
Sometimes I question
If my feelings are genuine
Or if they're just an illusion.
Reel-to-reel
Reel-to-reel
Simulator
— —
:: Stream/purchase
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The Two Seasons, newcomers from LA via Chicago, explore themes of digital disconnection and jangly release in their second single "Simulator," which delivers a sarcastic, sparkling wave of post-punk vigor and raw openness.