5 Reasons You Should Listen to 'See Through Now' by Sam Gelston
- Louise Clark
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
In an era where music is often polished to perfection, Sam Gelston's See Through Now stands apart by embracing the beauty of imperfection. Written, performed, and recorded entirely by the Boston-based singer-songwriter, the nine-track album is a deeply personal exploration of relationships, mental health, mortality, and modern alienation. Drawing from the emotional honesty of Elliott Smith, the melodic instincts of Big Star, and the raw intensity of Jeff Buckley, Gelston delivers a record that feels intimate, unpredictable, and profoundly human. Here are five reasons why See Through Now deserves your attention.
1. It prioritises emotional truth over technical perfection
One of the album's defining strengths is its refusal to hide behind studio polish. Gelston leaves in vocal cracks, missed notes, and spontaneous moments that many artists would edit away. Rather than feeling unfinished, these imperfections make the songs feel alive. Every performance carries a sense of immediacy, as though listeners are hearing emotions unfold in real time rather than through a carefully constructed filter.
2. The songwriting finds beauty in contradiction
Throughout See Through Now, Gelston balances opposing emotions with remarkable skill. The record is funny and heartbreaking, cynical and hopeful, absurd and sincere. Songs such as "I'm Coming to LA to Kill You" transform dark humour into genuine affection, while tracks like "Who You Are" and "IDKY" navigate complicated emotional territory without offering easy answers. The result is songwriting that feels authentic because it embraces life's inherent contradictions.
3. Its lo-fi production enhances the intimacy
Recorded entirely in Gelston's bedroom, the album's lo-fi aesthetic is not simply a stylistic choice—it's central to its emotional impact. The stripped-back production creates a feeling of closeness rarely found on contemporary releases, drawing listeners directly into the songs. Every room sound, every rough edge, and every imperfect take contributes to the sense that these songs are being shared rather than performed.
4. It tackles difficult subjects with honesty and imagination
Mental health struggles, fractured relationships, isolation, and mortality all feature prominently across the album, but Gelston approaches these themes with creativity rather than cliché. Tracks like "Lazy Too" and "Meet Me Downtown" examine depression and self-perception through sharp observations and unconventional imagery, while "Somethings Last a While" demonstrates a unique ability to make discomfort feel strangely beautiful. The album consistently avoids predictable songwriting paths.
5. "Make It Make Sense" is a devastatingly powerful finale
The album reaches its emotional peak with closing track "Make It Make Sense," written after Gelston's diagnosis of kidney failure. Preserved from an iPhone demo because the original performance could never be replicated, the song captures a moment of vulnerability that feels almost impossible to manufacture. It serves as both a confrontation with mortality and an affirmation of resilience, providing a fitting conclusion to an album built on honesty above all else.
With See Through Now, Sam Gelston has created a record that refuses easy categorisation. Its combination of raw production, fearless songwriting, emotional vulnerability, and unconventional beauty makes it one of those rare albums that feels genuinely personal. For listeners searching for music that values authenticity over perfection, this is a release well worth discovering.
