Up Next: August
Unreal Unearth – Hozier
Genre: Rock
Favorites: Francesca, Abstract (Psychopomp)
My Thoughts
Hozier’s third studio album was much anticipated, and he delivered us his pandemic-inspired work full of mythology and Biblical references. Where he has excelled in the past, he continues through this album in songs like ‘De Selby (Part 2)’. We also get our first taste of Hozier’s writing and singing in Irish, adding a new raw side to his music.
The album is earnest and full of great songwriting, he explores darkness in the context of connection to self and to others. Inspired by ‘Dante’s Inferno’ the album is a loose concept album about the nine circles of hell, and there is certainly a lyrical basis to back that up. Just about every song has some reference to God or heaven. This approach to mythology and referencing poems is not new to Hozier, he references Irish poet Seamus Heaney on his album Wasteland, Baby!.
Highlights on the album are hard to pick, each song is incredibly well-written and a joy to listen to. “Eat Your Young” seems to be a universal favorite, and its irony and darkness make it a real piece of art. I listened to “I, Carrion (Icarian)” outside next to a windchime for the first time and it holds a special place in my heart now. If you can recreate that first listen I recommend the experience. Ultimately, I think Hozier delivered us a thoughtful album that seems like a natural progression for the artist. The songs are meatier and where the lyrics may not be as hard-hitting at times, the sound itself makes up for it.
Song by Song
De Selby (Part 1) (4.5/5)
De Selby (Part 2) (5/5)
First Time (5/5)
Francesca (5/5)
I, Carrion (Icarian) (5/5)
Eat Your Young (5/5)
Damage Gets Done (feat. Brandi Carlile) (4/5)
Who We Are (3.5/5)
Son of Nyx (5/5)
All Things End (5/5)
To Someone From a Warm Climate (3.5/5)
Butchered Tongue (5/5)
Anything But (4.5/5)
Abstract (Psychopomp) (5/5)
Unknown / Nth (4.5/5)
First Light (4/5)
You Are Who You Hang Out With – Front Bottoms
Genre: Pop Punk
Favorite: Finding Your Way Home
My Thoughts
Front Bottom’s latest album is an over-autotuned, whimsy album about the struggles of someone in their mid-30s. They stick to their lyrical guns, metaphors about being a piece of shit and feeling stuck scattered throughout, but with a tinge of some more mature issues as well. The feelings of hopelessness and directionlessness are consistent throughout the album.
Some of Front Bottom’s aura gets lost with the move into more polished, modern production methods. The ache that comes alongside their music seems more manufactured and approachable, but some fans find that off-putting in itself. The sound is rather upbeat and lively for the band, a cheesy cherry pop-punk sound rather than the emo I know so well from them. Overall, fans should take a listen for themselves.
If the entire album leaned more like “Finding Your Way Home” instead of more like “Brick”, I might find it a bit more tolerable.
Song by Song
Emotional (1/5)
Outlook (3/5)
Punching Bag (2.5/5)
Clear Path (2/5)
Not Joking (3.5/5)
Paris (2/5)
Fake Gold (1.5/5)
Brick (2/5)
Batman (2.5/5)
Finding your way home (3.5/5)
The Window – Ratboys
Genre: Indie Pop
Favorites: It’s Alive!, Black Earth, WI
My Thoughts
The Ratboys have previously been a bit of a local gem to the Chicago scene, but since 2020 they have grown from a duo to a quartet and I think this album marks another growing point for the band. Their fifth studio album, produced by Chris Walla, is saccharine-dipped guitar riffs with vividly alive lyrics.
The album as a whole is the most diverse the band has ever sounded, ranging from fuzzy power pop, imagined punk rock bands, warm country, and classic indie pop. Overall, it is tender and experimental. I expect this album to be a hit as we move into colder, hazy weather and we all start hungering for something like this soft-hearted midwestern indie pop sound.
Highlights are “Black Earth, WI” a nearly nine-minute classic rock taste from the band, with wandering guitar lines and a smooth bass line. “It’s Alive” is one of the best melodies off of the album, poppy and upbeat without losing the heart-warming indie feel.
Song by Song
Making Noise for the Ones You Love (3.5/5)
Morning Zoo (3.5/5)
Crossed That Line (3/5)
It’s Alive! (4/5)
No Way (3/5)
The Window (3.5/5)
Empty (3/5)
Break (3.5/5)
Black Earth, WI (4/5)
I Want You (Fall 2010) (3.5/5)
Bad Reaction (3.5/5)
Love + Pop – Current Joys
Genre: Indie Pop
Favorite: Love and Pop
My Thoughts
There seem to be two camps of thought about Nick Rattigan’s latest album Love + Pop: what the actual fuck and wait maybe he’s onto something. I have a foot in each camp here, still slightly shocked by the whiplash of sound change from the usual indie we hear from Surf Curse’s drummer/vocalist but also intrigued by the fingerpainting of sounds displayed.
I think it is important to walk into this album’s experience knowing the inspiration and origin of the album. Rattigan calls it a “tribute to the process of creating” and cites 100 Gecs and Lil Peep as major inspirations. He never shied away from the truth of this being a DIY experimental album, and it certainly tests the limits of what makes a DIY experimental album for such a large artist.
The songs bounce all over the place, from goth rock in ‘CIGARETTES’, hyper pop in ‘Dr Satan’, sad boy emo, and soft indie. There seems to be a common thread throughout the otherwise confusing chaos; Rattigan let every thought and idea grow to its fullest with no holding back. While the songs are jarring and unbearable at times (there is a lyric about sucking toes), he explored himself thoroughly throughout each song as well as exploring his collaboration processes. Each song is frantic and to the point, not lasting long over 2 minutes for each track.
Song by Song
Walk Away as the Door Slams (3.5/5)
Love + Pop (3/5)
Gatsby (1.5/5)
My Shadow Life (2/5)
CIGARETTES (2.5/5)
bb put on deftones (2/5)
Dr Satan (1/5)
Moon Sickness (2/5)
Rock n Roll Dreams (1/5)
I feel truth inside of u (1.5/5)
3lefant (3/5)
U R THE REASON (2/5)
Road – Alice Cooper
Genre: Indie Pop
Favorite: Dead Don’t Dance
My Thoughts
Overall the album seems to be received as a jokingly good time. Purposefully guitar-driven, it showcases a lot of talent from Alice Cooper and his band. It is playful in its concept and lyrics, but no one seems to be taking it as a serious album to be considered. For good reason, the songs fall flat in a lot of aspects. There aren’t any real new sounds to be heard here, instead just kinda sounding like a metal song made up in your dreamscape; mashing together lots of catchy riffs and melodies you’ve heard before. It is well executed and it should be as it is his 29th studio album.
This can be best heard in the song “All Over the World”, deja-vu guitar riffs, and some light-hearted lyrics about touring backed by some simple rock and metal music. Road is not lacking in skill or production, but just seems rather forgettable.
Song by Song
I’m Alice (2.5/5)
Welcome to the Show (2/5)
All Over the World (2/5)
Dead Don’t Dance (2/5)
Go Away (2/5)
White Line Frankenstein (2/5)
Big Boots (1/5)
Rules Of The Road (1.5/5)
The Big Goodbye (1.5/5)
Road Rats Forever (1/5)
Baby Please Don’t Go (1.5/5)
100 More Miles (1.5/5)
Magic Bus (1/5)