In the age of Western nostalgia, rising gas prices and no means to an end in sight, Nick Shoulder’s 2018 record “Lonely Like Me” is a great companion for a long run in the wooded backyard of Salt Lake City. Shoulder’s discography has become my go-to as I inch closer to the end of my time as a student. There really is no better way to reflect on my years at the U than with a sad, country blues record at the forefront of it all.

My last semester has been all but easy to find time to run. Throughout each day I am just itching to get outside, running to the sun, never to return. But alas, it is only a daydream. And in my daydreams, I find myself lost in the waves of modern, country folk artists, serenading me as I float down the path for miles. One of these being Shoulders.

‘Snakes and Waterfalls…’ and many miles ahead

I needed new music to practice with for endurance training that wasn’t the French EDM or hyper-pop tracks I often turn to. I grew tired of the routine and needed a change of pace, literally. So, I turned to my partner, who recommended “Lonely Like Me.” I don’t think he knew that I was going for a run. And yet, I began listening.

The gentle strumming of the opening track “Snakes and Waterfalls” wouldn’t seem like something you would find yourself running up a gnarly hill to. It’s slow and melancholy, with the consistency of molasses, and has a swamp-like feel to its musicality. But despite all that, it lends itself to be dissociative enough to carry you through to the next hill ahead. This same energy is found throughout the rest of the album, with “Black Star” and “No Fun” being some of my favorites.

“No Fun” came through when I needed it most. The guitar riffs and quick, surf-inspired swing drum beats picked me up when I began to drop the consistent pace I had held onto for so long. It’s tracks like these, when you would least expect a record to have a shift in vibe, that really shape a run. When the track finished out, Shoulders was back to a yearnful yodel with slight banjo riffs, ending my run on a good note. And as the sun was setting, I sat thinking about getting myself lost in trees with the sun’s rays shining on me until the night settled in.

Continuing to the final yodel

From a mass of country folk ballads to the dance-like pace of the latter half of the record, it’s needless to say I’ll be back with Shoulders again. The album has a cumulative BPM of 103 which is in line with a zone 2 pace or a struggle bus of the hills of Big Cottonwood Canyon. But even without the canyon, this album fits in to a lonesome evening, all alone on the road.

“Lonely Like Me” is filled with sad lyrics and slow swing beats that could be heard being played from the porch of a cabin in the middle of a foggy, dark wood. And though it would be suspected to put the listener to sleep, the dramatics of Shoulder’s yodels and long-winded whistles make the record a perfect rotation contender for future runs.