Laughed the Boy

Part of growing up is the balancing out of your emotions. The edges get sanded off your highs and lows, and you learn to be more content with what you have. At the same time, your roots deepen and you become more comfortable with being who you really are. Laughed The Boy, the 90’s flavoured guitar rock project of Toronto musician Chris Panacci, sets these realizations to music on their new album Here is Fine.

Laughed The Boy follow a pretty consistent formula of setting a limber lead riff against a rough and driving rhythm section, while the vocal tone reminds me of power pop groups like Telekinesis! or early Death Cab For Cutie. On the opening track “Indifferent”, these elements combine for a song about both feeling invisible to who we care about, and neglecting them in turn. “We are just strangers and we let it freak us out”. Sigh, sometimes that’s just the way it is.

The approach of happy music with sad lyrics is turned up a notch on the next number “Autumn”. It opens with whistles and a bouncy rhythm, and calls out those who lack compassion for people who struggle with depression or mental illness. “You think it’s so easy, oh it must be nice.” It’s made complete with a perfectly affirmative chorus and a frenetic, martial outro.

The album lags a bit through the centre, just from lack of variety. “Ice Cream” is pretty typical of this, because while it features some of the album’s coolest clashing guitar work, it drags on a little too much, and lacks the lyrical incisiveness of the better tracks. The exception to this is A-side closer “Double Down”, a tight, pointed repudiation of the unhealthy obsession with the quest for fame. “Thanks for shaking my hand, you could at least walk me back to the drawing board.”

The album closes with “Acutane”, which starts as a gentle lullaby before morphing into a defiant anthem about getting through the days and months and years while keeping it together. I don’t know if this song reflects a personal experience with the acne drug, but I do know that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. - Grayowl Point

"Bell Rock” is the latest single from Laughed the Boy, the trio hailing from Toronto (Chris Panacci, Sean Panacci and Brennan Hrehoruk). Reminiscent of early Weezer – think “Only in Dreams” – Laughed the Boy has created a song with a strong 90’s bent. In a good way. With a dreamy melody and conversational lyrics, “Bell Rock” invites you right into the song. It will be a go to on your playlist. - Impose Magazizne

If any song can make you feel good about feeling cynical, it would be this track by Toronto, Canada’s Laughed the Boy. “Indifferent” brings you bright, golden guitar riffs accompanied by light and trippy drums. Dreamy vocals sing of some youthful disillusionment. And as with most situations when you’re young, that one boyfriend or girlfriend is your saving grace. Chris Panacci sings, “I’d go crazy, I think, without you.”

“Indifferent” is meant to be the opening track off their soon to be full-length album. This great emerging act consists of brothers Chris Panacci on vocals/guitar/bass and Sean Panacci on drums. When you’re in the mood for some good indie-pop, don’t stray too far from Laughed the Boy. - The Revue

Josh Korody walked us through what he uses to capture the sound of his projects like Beliefs and Nailbiter for a recent Music School feature, but now the Toronto-based musician is taking another turn behind the board. Last year, Korody produced Dilly Dally's stand-out debut Sore, and he's currently working with post-rock project Laughed the Boy — and Exclaim! has got your exclusive first listen to a brand new track.

The project of singer-songwriter Chris Panacci, Laughed the Boy offers up a take on alt-rock that wouldn't sound out of place in the early '90s heyday of early Weezer and Sloan. After amassing an impressive collection of songs, Panacci hit Korody's Candle Recording to record his debut EP Out of the Blue. Korody engineered the sessions, while Panacci played everything except drums, which were manned by his brother Sean.

The result is a short, sweet set of unpretentious indie rock, and the first sampling of it has arrived with the single "Ice Cream." Swirling, melodic guitars jangle along to Panacci's earnest vocals atop the steady but unobtrusive rhythms from his brother. Hear it all meld together by giving "Ice Cream" its inaugural listen in the player below.

Out of the Blue is expected out later this year. - Exclaim!

The 90s rears its dirty (in a good way) head on Laughed The Boy’s new track “Indifferent,” which sounds like something straight out of golden-era Weezer. The Brothers Panacci (songwriter Chris and drummer Sean) and bassist Brennan Hrehoruk aim for the gut with nostalgia, and it serves the song well. Fuzzy guitars and all. Check it out below.

Here’s what Laughed The Boy had to say about the new track:

This song is the first track on our upcoming full length album scheduled to be released by the end of the year. It’s one of the first songs we started playing as a full band and really captures the garage-minimalist sound that will be prevalent on the album. Though bright and bouncy in melody, the song is a personal reflection on disenchantment in young adulthood. -

Indifferent is the first track on Laughed the Boy’s upcoming full-length album scheduled to be released by the end of the year. It’s one of the first songs they started playing as a full band and really captures the garage-minimalist sound that will be prevalent on the album. Though bright and bouncy in melody, the song is a personal reflection on disenchantment in young adulthood. Laughed the Boy began as an outlet for honest and unpretentious 90s nostalgia inspired songs. While rehearsing for shows, they ended up with an album’s worth of fresh material and headed into the studio once again to record 9 new tracks that will make up their debut full-length LP scheduled to be released by the end of 2016. - The Siren Sounds

Coming from Toronto this week, we have Laughed the Boy. They’ve got a new single on the table and if you’re a fan of bands like Death Cab for Cutie and The Shins, you’re going to enjoy the hell out of “Indifferent.” In our quick exchange we talked to one of their own about firsts, nostalgia and when you can expect more from them…Then after that stay tuned for tour new and this week’s video picks!


Kendra: What was the last thing you were indifferent about?

Chris: I think it’s really great to have passion, and many of us find it as we grow older. But I’ve definitely learned to be more indifferent to the way the world perceives me at this point. I feel like I am who I am and there’s nothing to gain from worrying about what other people think. I think everyone should try to be less like each other and more like themselves, it’s more fun that way.

Kendra: Because “Indifferent” is one of the first songs you guys ever did as a band together, do you think it’ll always hold a special place in your heart?

Chris: Sure, you always remember the first time you jam a song that feels really good right off the bat. The first time we played it, it just clicked, felt right, and eventually became a staple in our set.

Kendra: You, me, everyone – we’re all about that 90’s nostalgia. Other than music, what’s your favourite memory of that decade?

Chris: It’s a toss-up between the TV shows and the video games for me. From Super Mario World to Donkey Kong Country 2, to Seinfeld and The Simpsons…it was a fun time to grow up.

Kendra: When and where can fans see you next?

Chris: We’ll be playing around Ontario a lot over the next few months. Nothing official yet but we’ll be sure to keep everyone up to date on our Facebook and Twitter pages!

Kendra: Lastly, when will we be getting more music?

Chris: Well, we’re finishing up the mixing of our full length album next week so I’m hoping we can release it before December. It’s been a lot of work but we’re happy with the way it’s turning out. - Golden Mixtape