Following his sudden rise to fame among young listeners with a rock opera exceeding an hour in length is a daring choice for most, yet for Will Toledo, hailing from Virginia and leading the expansive Car Seat Headrest project, this move is not far removed from the grand moments woven throughout his celebrated discography. While ‘The Scholars’ embodies the essence of a concept album at its most refined, Will and his collaborators have consistently embraced lengthy sonic explorations. Notably, these collaborators are fully integrated into the project, evolving from Will’s solo reflections into a more cohesive sound that grants him the space he needs—particularly as he has faced significant health challenges over the past five years—and helps animate the album's character-driven narrative.
This narrative, focused on a series of fictional characters at the entirely imaginary Parnassus University, may be somewhat challenging to follow, yet it serves as a backdrop for a psychedelic, classic rock fusion that enhances and builds upon the distinct sound Car Seat Headrest has established. It also presents an opportunity for Will to depict his own form of rebirth; within its references to David Bowie, The Who, and various other iconic rock musicians unfolds a rich narrative about family, sexuality, toxicity, and world-saving abilities. The immediate and relatively concise first half (at least in terms of track count) transitions into an expansive climax of epic compositions, most notably the nearly-19-minute ‘Planet Desperation’; a track that is both flamboyant and expertly crafted, with a clear homage to the music of the 1960s and '70s. This grandiosity and scale contrast sharply with the fleeting nature of the online platforms that have introduced Car Seat Headrest to a fresh audience, but perhaps that is precisely the intention—there is indeed a new world for Will, his band, and their listeners to discover, quite literally.
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A fusion of psychedelic and classic rock that embodies and enhances the unique sound that Car Seat Headrest has made their signature.