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While it recalls the scathing sarcasm of his early career gem, "Honorable Mentions", Chapter One of Chris Rudel's PAINTER EP is titled "Solving for Ex", a clever and apt name for a song that is by far his most lyrically explicit and specifically referential. One need only contrast the titles of the two songs to see where the similarities begin and end. While both are 5+ minute piano ballads, "Solving for Ex" has a playful, hummable melody defined by a gentle lilt that belies the content of the lyrics. As the title suggests, it is a breakup song with an emotional intensity right up there with Alanis Morissette's angsty 90's anthem "You Oughta Know" (its expletive-laden choruses will stop you upon first listen). However what distinguishes it from Morissette's unbridled anger is the way Rudel crafts such sweet and supple harmonies and a solemn, straightforward lead vocal that undercut the brutality of the F-bombs by imbuing the track with a gut-wrenching sincerity. It is this earnest delivery throughout coupled with carefully constructed details (such as throw-back doo-wop style finger snaps in the second verse) that make "Solving for Ex" Rudel's most .