The Criticals’ “Mother of Style” Channels the Pulse of a Changing Nashville

For The Criticals, "Mother of Style" is more than just a song—it’s a time capsule of a city in flux, a love letter to a Nashville that’s been torn down and rebuilt before their eyes. The track captures the restless energy of a scene that once thrived in dimly lit basements and crowded backyard gigs but now finds itself displaced by high-rises and commercial sprawl.

Born from a spontaneous loop left open on a laptop by Parker Forbes' roommate, "Mother of Style" quickly evolved into a fully realized anthem of nostalgia and displacement. The slinky bassline and sharp drum groove propel the song forward, while the shimmering guitars echo a feeling of longing—both for the past and for a sense of stability in an ever-changing city.

There's an undeniable Stone Roses-meets-Jane’s Addiction swagger here, but beneath the cool confidence, there's also a deep melancholy. Forbes and Cole Shugart lean into that bittersweet contradiction, their lyrics weaving memories of old haunts and lost moments into something visceral and immediate. It's the sound of a band trying to keep up with a city that won't stop moving, and in doing so, The Criticals have crafted a track that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.

With "Mother of Style," The Criticals don’t just reflect on the past—they make you feel it in your bones.