Indie pop group TV Girl and musical artist Monster Rally recently unveiled the re-release of their collaborative track, “Average Guy (Blame),” which is now more than a decade old.
Originally dropped on April 19, 2013, the single initially reached a relatively niche online audience. However, a decade later, on November 8th, “Average Guy (Blame)” finally made its way to mainstream streaming platforms, after being exclusive to a select audience for so long. Monster Rally’s Ted Feighan shared his excitement for fans to appreciate the old track:
“We made this years ago. It’s been a pretty rare song to find online, so I’m psyched to finally be able to get it out to the masses.”
TV Girl and Monster Rally just finished up the last leg of their fall tour, so this re-release may not surprise existing fans. But for new listeners, “Average Guy (Blame)” feels like the perfect collaboration.
With two distinctly unique sounds, this track seamlessly blends these indie artists for one pretty amazing “new” single.
The Men Behind The (TV) Girl
Formed in San Diego, TV Girl consists—funnily enough—of three men: Brad Petering, Jason Wyman, and Wyatt Harmon. TV Girl’s first EP was released in 2010, followed by a few more singles, and then finally, a full studio album four years later. By 2014, the trio had cultivated a devoted fanbase within the indie music scene.
Listeners were drawn to their distinctive sounds, including reverbs, keyboards, and iconic oldies samples. “Lover’s Rock,” their most popular song to date, is the perfect example of TV Girl’s distinct sound.
Backed by modern keyboards and soft, cynical vocals, it samples the 1961 track “The Dance is Over” by The Shirelles. New and old come together in the perfect amalgamation of vintage lust, longing, and the etherealness of falling in love.
…And Who’s Monster Rally?
Ohio-bred and now based in Los Angeles, Monster Rally is the musical project of Ted Feighan. Feighan’s work, similar to that of TV Girl’s, is mainly based on samples. He combines a blend of soft hip-hip and lounge music for a much modern-meets-tropical approach.
“Sister Owls”, Monster Rally’s most popular track to date, is the perfect example of Feighan’s artistry. The sound mixes modern hip-hip meets low-fi with a classic, tropical background. It’s as if your favorite DJ just hit the beach; an unlikely combination that definitely works in Monster Rally’s favor.
Feighan began releasing EPs in 2010, followed by a plethora of full-length albums. With a lengthy discography under his belt, Feighan’s far from slowing down. As featured on his Instagram, he’s currently working on remixes and producing new original tracks of his own.
The Best Of Both Worlds
Although both artists vary in style, when asked about how a collaboration between the two bands came to be, TV Girl explained on their Bandcamp that things fell into place pretty easily:
“Monster Rally is a great producer,” we thought one day. “Why don’t you play some shows with him?” we asked ourselves. “Better yet, why don’t you do a collaborative track with him?”
One of the biggest things that works in “Average Guy (Blame)” is, surprisingly enough, just how well these shockingly different sounds come together.
The song opens with Monster Rally instrumentals: a low-fi, tropical sound that feels a bit like cabana music—in the best way. Then slowly, distinctly cynical vocals from Brad Petering, TV Girl’s frontman, begin. He sings of what it means to be, well, just “an average guy.”
Backed with Feighan’s magical drums and beachy sounds, it’s like your favorite indie band’s on vacation, just an “average guy” sporting a Hawaiian shirt.
Monster Rally and TV Girl’s sound, even ten years later, is still adequately modern. It’s a seamless blend of new versus old. Modern versus tropical. All in all, the best of both worlds.
Want More?
If you like what you heard of this dreamy collab, be sure to check out the rest of Monster Rally and TV Girl’s music. Even if you’re not just an “average guy”, it’s definitely still a great time.
