Five Times August

Five Times August, the moniker for Brad Skistimas, delivers a sound that feels like a warm conversation in a quiet room. It is built on the foundation of clean, rhythmic acoustic guitar playing and a vocal delivery that is both intimate and unwavering. While the melodies often lean toward the accessible, bright structures of early 2000s indie-pop, there is a grounded, Texan sensibility that keeps the music from feeling overly sugary.

What truly distinguishes this project is the marriage of 'Laguna Beach' era melodic sensibilities with a fierce, DIY independent streak. Skistimas manages to craft songs that are commercially viable enough for national ad campaigns while maintaining a lyrical edge that often tackles personal and social truths. The production is typically sparse, allowing the clarity of the songwriting and the resonance of the acoustic strings to take center stage.

Start with 'Fry Street' for the quintessential mid-2000s singer-songwriter experience that put him on the map. If you are looking for his more recent, pointed social commentary, 'Silent War' showcases his evolution into a more overtly political folk artist while retaining his signature melodic touch.