This Irih band was showing up on a bunch of post-punk lists, but they are really just a punk band. There is none of the melancholy of post-punk; instead, it is projected as anger. They are not bleak and bring more swagger to "Party Lines". There is a well-produced guitar sound to "Shades." In some ways, it touches on a Gang of Four-like sound in the angular riffing. The emphasis is placed on the explosive dynamic."Pins" is more in the vein of Fontaines DC as it carries a moody groove and big hooks, but only flirts with punk.
They are sonically rowdier on "Today is Not Enough," but the song feels more focused on the weird guitar sound than the dynamics; compared to other songs on this album, "Drones" takes a minute to become an actual song. When it gets there, it works out of a moodier throb; with that said, it might be the closest they have gotten to post-punk so far, which here is likea depressive version of Stone Roses. When they erupt from this, it is a clanging, garage version of punk excitement. I appreciate the dynamics.
"Nothing Happens Twice" finds them carrying the jagged, raw attitude to punk into Britpop. The chorus pops off with a similar chaotic energy to where they took you in the previous song, but more controlled. There are interesting guitar textures, and this album sounds great with a very organic feel despite some of the noisy experimentation at the fringes. 'Waiting For Fisher' is a more restrained version of punk but still frantic enough. I prefer this over unhinged noise. They ebb down to melody for "I Wish I Was". The vocals are more sung than spoken. It floats off into an atmospheric haze with a rumble inside. The last song, "Crybaby" finds the rowdiness also dialed way back. Interestingly, the album's final act finds them going off in a show-gazing direction; it is, however, also the best vocal performance on the album. I will give this album a 9.5, it is not perfect but pretty great and good to hear some punk with a sense of sonci adventure and not just banging out chords.
7.9
pst504