Aaron Frazer – “Same Old Game”

Somewhere between the perfectly coiffed hair, immaculate suits, and television performances where everyone appeared to have rehearsed their smiles, there was an era when popular music took presentation very seriously. The harmonies were pristine, the choreography synchronized, and even the TV dinners came neatly divided into compartments. Aaron Frazer would have fit right in. His new song “Same Old Game” has the immaculate charm of a '60s Motown recording, with its playful call-and-response vocals, tightly arranged instrumentation, and Frazer's unmistakable falsetto making a persuasive case for turning back the clock. Someone get this man a variety show.

Also, listen to the opening and tell me there isn't a little “Hotel California” wandering into the picture. Squint your ears. Not enough to suggest Frazer has traded soul for the Eagles, but just enough cinematic intrigue to catch you off guard. Guitarist and producer Tommy Brenneck brings a touch of the Western soundtrack tradition to the recording, adding an unexpected dimension to its vintage soul. Apparently, even a perfectly tailored suit can have a few surprises up its sleeve.

And then we get to the games. Frazer takes us back to childhood afternoons spent playing hide-and-seek until the streetlights came on, dreaming about the person you hoped might someday be more than a playmate. Years later, the games haven't stopped. They're just considerably more complicated. Tag becomes romantic pursuit, red rover an invitation to come closer, and two people who clearly belong together keep finding ways to avoid saying so. Frazer specifically cites The Intruders' 1968 classic “Cowboys to Girls” as inspiration, a song that similarly uses childhood memories to explore the awkward transition into romance. It's a lovely tradition to revisit, especially when the grown-up frustration feels so familiar. Apparently, some of us never graduated from the playground.

As the co-lead vocalist and drummer of Durand Jones & The Indications, Frazer has spent years keeping classic soul alive without treating it like something that belongs behind museum glass. “Same Old Game” continues that tradition and introduces Corners, his forthcoming six-track EP arriving October 30 via Dead Oceans. Working with collaborators including Brenneck, Mayer Hawthorne, Gabe Roth, and Kelly Finnegan, Frazer has assembled a project rooted in his love for the music and the people who make it. You can hear that affection in every note.

Perhaps that's the beauty of “Same Old Game.” Everything feels beautifully considered, from the period-perfect presentation to the playful songwriting, but none of that polish gets in the way of the feeling. Frazer isn't asking us to pretend it's 1965. He's reminding us why records from that era still make us feel something sixty years later. The clothes may change, the TV dinners may have improved, and the rules of romance remain anybody's guess.