Portland Oregon 1992: I was lucky to grow up when I did. In the early '90s, it felt like everyone had a band. And those bands were making great music. I went to a ton of shows in those days (and have the terrible hearing to prove it), and my tastes leaned toward the poppier side; it always felt like an antidote to the world-weariness everywhere else.

Flash forward 30 years, and that's a big part of why Artsick's Fingers Crossed sounds so good. Bay Area scene vets Christina Riley, Mario Hernandez, and Donna Mckean came together to create something that sounds as timely in 2022 as it might've then. This group would've been right at home on K Records roster back in the day. The trio doesn't waste time with overwrought chord structures or other fluff, sticking instead to bright sounds and upbeat melodies.

That's not to say there isn't depth to the record. Songs like "Ghost Of Myself" are introspective, and the lyrics to "Despise" tell a story about throwing (metaphorical) rocks at someone who's done Riley wrong...and it does so with a smile.

I despise (I, I, I, despise)

You've always been a lie (Always been a liе)

Goodbye, goodbye

30 years ago, we all thought we'd pick up guitars -or drums in my case- and change the world. And if we couldn't do that, we'd at least have a good time trying.

The world in 2022 is still a hot mess, but Fingers Crossed proves we can have fun while putting in the work.