We recently had the amazing opportunity to check out the new album “Sad Songs You Can Dance To” from Drea & The Marilyns .

Fronted by Seattle-based musician Drea Marilyn, the project was an opportunity to return to creating music between friends, resulting in an album that centers around grief, struggling with mental health, and the importance of play. It was a three-year project that struggled to find its footing throughout the pandemic and finally came together in the latter part of 2022. Recorded at Blue Flame Studio by Matt Clifford, Monroe, North of Seattle, it features the band’s quintessential layered vocals and a unique mix of jazz, ska, and indie pop, crafting a perfectly impressive representation of the musicians themselves.

We were unfamiliar with Drea & The Marilyns so we were unsure what we were going to find when we hit play on “Sad Songs You Can Dance To” What we found was one of the most original and authentic albums we have heard in quite some time.

From the first note to the last “Sad Songs You Can Dance To” is absolutely phenomenal. You can hear in every song the love and creative energy that went into making this record. The level of musicianship on this record is tremendous.

We were instantly hooked with “Paper Boats” the song has this great no thrills indie rock sound and we love it .

Drea Marilyn is a gifted singer who sings with immense feeling and emotion which can really On “Jacaranda “ the track which is about the urge to run away , has this really cool vibe that makes you want to move .

The beauty of “Sad Songs You Can Dance To” is that every song truly has it’s own style. If you looking for a collection of mundane songs , this is not for you . On “Bed Of Ashes” there is this almost big band / swing feel that we can’t get enough of ( We were especially mesmerized by the trumpet and cello on this one ) . We are definitely guilty of hitting the repeat button on this one several times .

From the addictive drum beat on “Motion’s” to the intoxicating retro feel of “Rocky Shores” , “Songs You Can Dance To “ is a music lovers dream.

Our favorite track on the album is “Sun&Moon No.2 “ “Sun & Moon No.2,” the band returns to a track they recorded in the past, this time doing it the way it was intended. Orchestrated by Phil Peterson (Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran), it’s a somber deep dive into the ache of a long-distance relationship. Starting with a harrowing string line, listeners sink in the heartache as the instrumentation billows and burns beneath Marilyn’s emotive vocals.

“Sun&Moon No.2 is an absolutely gorgeous song that is the crown jewel of an absolute gem of an album . On “Sad Songs You Can Dance To” Drea & The Marilyns gives us their unique and artistic view on grief and joy and… it’s perfect.