American Stories by Rostam

Rostam is Rostam Batmanglij, an Iranian American musician who was best known as a founding member, songwriter, and producer for Vampire Weekend, before focusing on his producing and solo career. Rostam has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, two with Vampire Weekend (winning Best Alternative Music Album for Vampire Weekend’s Modern Vampires of the City) and one nomination for Album of the Year for his work with Haim on Women in Music Pt III. In addition to Haim, Rostam has also worked with artists such as Clairo, Hamilton Leithauser, Vagabon, Jenny Lewis, Charli XCX, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ra Ra Riot, Santigold, and Frank Ocean.

American Stories is third solo album, following 2021’s Changephobia and 2017’s Half-Light. His latest hits hard for it’s mix of Americana and traditional Persian music and instrumentation, creating an upbeat, bright soundtrack for a time that’s full of chaos, especially for immigrants and people of color in America and the people of Iran and Middle East… as our reckless, racist president reeks havoc around the world.

“The Weight” is a perfect example of this, with the song building as Rostam battles with living in America right now, to a point where the Persian influence takes a more pronounced placement in the song ending on almost a resolute note after the final lyrics: “You got courage on your side”:

Head high like a halo Warm hands on the pavement Eyes glowin’ in the heat lamps Callin’ out a broken government Walkin’ home in a rainstorm Mom and Dad don’t believe you Every word at commencement Moved to the administration

You feel the weight come down to you 'Cause you know the truth You’ve got courage on your side You feel the weight come down to you And you know it to be true You’ve got courage on your side

It’s a perfect ending to the album.

The beginning features two of the strongest songs on the album: “Like a Spark” and “Back of a Truck”…

On “Like a Spark” he tries to disconnect the idea of love and possession:

Some nights we slide up together Side by side And some days you wake in the moonlight I’m not around

Everybody Wants you Tied up easily except for me

I only ever wanted you to feel freed of it I only ever wanted you to feel freed of it I only ever wanted you to feel freed of it To feel freed of it

And “Back of a Truck”, which is my favorite track, Rostam takes inspiration from Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” “Like A Rolling Stone,” and The Supreme’s “Keep Me Hanging On,” reminding us that lyrics are ours to interpret as we need.

Sometimes I wake up feeling happy honey And sometimes I wake up sad as hell But no one wakes me up the way you would When you would roll on to my side of the bed

I’m trying to hold on to what I remember I’m trying to write down what I might forget You never knew exactly who I was But you can’t change your mind about what you said

It was written on the back of a truck Six words from a song you loved Don’t don’t think twice no it’s all right Sometimes the words mean what you like

Thought I’d find you up in front But you weren’t who I thought you was Blow a kiss to the gods above Hit play on the console turn it up

It’s a wonderful album that I think is only going to grow on me with future listens.