“Hey baby, do you wanna take a trip with me? / I’ve got a feeling there might be a silver lining all around.” So begins One Day, the captivating new album from critically acclaimed Minneapolis duo The Cactus Blossoms. Sure, the line is an invitation, but more than that, it’s an examination of hope itself, of the tension between optimism and despair that’s defined much of the past few years of American life.
“That idea of finding a silver lining comes up a lot on this record,” says Jack Torrey, who launched the band roughly a decade ago with his brother, Page Burkum. “It’s an acknowledgment that no matter how messed up things might be, people still want to believe in the world and find ways to feel lucky and joyful.”
Written and recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, One Day explores that brand of defiant optimism with a simplicity and sincerity that belies the uncertainty and chaos that surrounded its creation. The songs are tender and timeless, with straightforward arrangements centered around Torrey and Burkum’s airtight harmonies, and the performances are warm and intimate, delivered with a gentle touch and understated production.