ALBUM REVIEW: Upstate - Abalone
**This article originally appeared in our October 2026 issue**
Photo by Julia Ross
“The themes within Abalone are deeply human, making a listen-through feel light and airy, even while holding a magnifying glass to the troubles and faults within human nature.”
If there ever was a band that lived up so effortlessly to its name, it would be Upstate, a Hudson Valley-born indie-folk group. My case for this is supported by the very first track off the quartet’s upcoming album, Abalone. “Corner” feels somber, yet hopeful, and reflective of the past, yet awaiting the future. The swell of acoustic bliss woven into this song sets an exciting tone for the rest of the record.
“Slow Down” greeted me with a warm welcome of harmonies that ushered in a bebop-style instrumental. This track is intricately layered without offering so many components that it diminishes any other layers. The vocals are eloquently raw while matching the tempo of the piano and soft percussion that carry the tune along. Things get acapella as the song begins to close out, shining an even brighter spotlight on the impressive control and range of Upstate’s voices. At the very end, the spoken “We did it,” feels like the cherry on top.
The themes within Abalone are deeply human, making a listen-through feel light and airy, even while holding a magnifying glass to the troubles and faults within human nature. In “Circumstance,” listeners get a softer taste of this with the lyrics “I’m doing the best I can under the circumstance / tried to write a plan but I dropped my pen / I’m searching for the light / don’t shine too bright.”
From “Friends With the Devil,” the album rolls into “Party to the Grave,” another upbeat bopper that was released as a single in 2024 and features some really great saxophone throughout.
“Alone in New York City” takes a bit of a departure from the rockabilly swing of the first two tracks and delivers what is quite possibly my favorite song on the album. “Well you can take any advice you want but I know this much is clear,” growls Lowery on this punchy rocker with more than a dash of an old-school country attitude. “Alone in New York City” is nearly perfect in its structure and urgency. It would be just as impactful whether it was on stage with a full band or sitting alone with an acoustic guitar.
Next up is “Cherry Cigarettes,” starting with an upbeat, riff-forward groove. “Cherry cigarettes. Lipstick on my neck,” wails Lowery. The tempo shifts slightly down about 20 seconds in. The mood of the song has become just a few shades darker, blurring the line deftly between punk and emo.
The second-to-last song brings everything together in a melancholy haze accompanied by surges of hope that leave a bittersweet taste in an old-timey soul. As the title track, it serves an important purpose, and this one rises to the occasion seamlessly. From the scene-setting verses to the woodwinds that gracefully bring the song to a close, “Abalone” is everything you could want as the representative for the record.
The finale of this 10-track composition makes light of the contradicting battles that someone may face internally. It extends one last easily relatable message to the listener in an album full of self-reflection. One subtly humorous line says “I can’t stand being alone / I can’t stand not being alone.”
Abalone transported me to a place beyond the pines of the Adirondacks after a long car ride through the mountains. There I found myself blanketed by the warmth of a crisp fire, its smoke rising to the star-riddled sky, each constellation offering a figurative glimpse into a dimension of myself to be explored. I invite you to embark on the journey to do the same.
Abalone is set to be released on October 2 on Bandcamp and wherever you stream music on November 6. Upstate is also scheduled to perform at Lark Hall on November 12.
