The Suburbs - 3/5 Feels like musically it doesn't really *go* anywhere. Sounds like music I'd hear in an indoor mall when I'm not really paying attention. A bit longer than it should be.
Ready to Start - 3.5/5 This one has some much needed energy behind it, drums kinda carry. A solid groove. Loses a bit of it towards the end.
Modern Man - 2/5 The instrumentation does something weird when "modern man" is said that I don't totally vibe with. Again lacking energy and longer than I'd care for.
Rococo - 1/5 What is this intro-- whatever instrument they string in the background across the entirety of the song is not it. Lyrics are annoying.
Empty Room - 4/5 THE ENERGY IS BACK! The multiple singers did not harmonize very well sometimes, other times it worked really well and added to the vibe. Jerry is tweaking.
City With No Children - 3/5 This is the most "its fine" so far. The main groove is fine, doesn't build to anything, the multiple vocals is done again but much more sparsely and to a lesser effect. Lyrics are indeed based.
Half Light 1 - 1.5/5 The lyric structure is completely all over the place. Instrumentation is monotonous. I don't see myself ever wanting to listen to this again.
Half Light 2 - 3.5/5 The transition to Half Light 1 to 2 is expected but nonetheless appreciated. This one is a much better song than its counterpart. The song actually isn't the same thing for its entirety. Almost late-night nostalgia vibes?
Suburban War - 3/5 Similar to the last song vibe-wise. I really like the melody from the guitar, but as a whole composition its kinda just eh. Lyric structure is strange again.
Month of May - 3.5/5 Once again proving that if they use their drums right their songs can have energy. Verse structure I fuck with. I surprisingly liked "and around and around and around..."
Wasted Hours - 2/5 The guitar sounds like its peaking throughout the song. It's a decent melody but a tad repetitive. When its essentially all vocal it's not bad.
Deep Blue - 2/5 I don't imagine I'll remember this song in a day's time. Kinda just more generic stuff not dissimilar to everything else.
We Used To Wait - 2/5 Intro sounded like "Money Money Money" by Abba for a split-second lmfao. Sounds like its going to build to a chorus with energy, does not.
Sprawl 1 - 1/5 Lyric structure yet again is not fitting. Very slow and musically uninteresting. Doesn't even have the chill background vibes the other songs have. Doesn't even transition to Sprawl 2.
Sprawl 2 3/5 - Certainly more interesting than the previous with female singer taking the lead. Actually pretty distinct too with some synth instrumentation and a recognizable chorus. A bit too long for my taste, cut the last minute (its literally just a slow fade out), pretty burnt at this point.
The Suburbs (Continued) 1/5 - Very brief finale yet still not very good. Don't know why or when I'd listen to this again.
Overall Thoughts: Decidedly not my cup of tea. Some of the songs are a decent groove or provide a very niche but enjoyable vibe-- others don't. When the songs have life and energy behind it, it's actually pretty enjoyable to listen along to. They don't really have a unique identity I feel? They don't really follow typical song structure of verse chorus verse chorus etc which can be fine but it also just kinda makes them all feel monotonous. Lyric structure is all over the place. They do not really know how to end a song other than instrumentation fade-out which is a pet peeve of mine. It's fine.
Broken Skin - 4.5/5 Honestly a great groove. Honestly did not think this style of music I'd fuck with so much.
Letting Go - 4/5 THE HARMONY. A bit more of a reserved song compared to the previous but still a chill vibe. Sampling a bit strange.
Homelands - 2.5/5 Supermajority of the song is in Hindi, last minute is Portuguese. A bit of a strange start, but towards the halfway mark it really picks up and hits a stride.
Pilgrim - 1/5 I don't enjoy the strings throughout this song or the rapping. Very generic compared to the rest of the album so far. The entire song is super repetitive. I don't care that life is like a puzzle not pieced yet.
Tides - 3/5 PIANO!
Nadia - 1/5 Sounds like the intro to the powerpuff girls. Entirely in Hindi. I did not enjoy the singing.
Immigrant - 2.5/5 Kinda gives Disney princess music vibes lmfao. Very pleasant. Male singer detracts in the latter half, but the lead singer did an absolutely great and beautiful performance.
Serpents - 0/5 This song is simply not good. It is repetitive and the instrumentation is bad. Entirely in Hindi. I thought Nadia was bad, this is worse.
Anthem Without Nation - 1/5 Does not go anywhere. Sounds like its going to be promising and build to something but does not and stays relatively somber throughout.
Nostalgia - 3/5 A rebound after these last few songs. I swear its not because its sung in English (the singing is just okay anyways)-- it actually has a vibe and a groove. Still probably wouldn't listen to it outside of this experience.
The Conference - 0/5 oh boy. just skip it. honestly bordering on so bad its good, but still overwhelming bad.
Beyond Skin - 1/5 Doesn't become a song until 90 seconds in, but what follows isn't worth the wait. Oppenheimer referenced.
Overall Thoughts: Lots of Hindi which takes a lot to get used to to be honest (I am not even sure I ever did). Honestly fell off so hard after the first few songs. I will admit I am almost certainly not the target audience for the vast majority of these songs, and the language gap almost certainly contributed to that, but that didn't stop the first few songs from slapping. Feels like a majority of the songs try to be "artsy" over being an enjoyable experience; no consistency or musical through-line. Would almost certainly not have listened to it without this site, and I don't entirely think that's a positive this time around.
Sun it Rises - 4/5 Decent folk song, road trip montage type beat.
White Winter Hymnal - 4.5/5 A very cozy song, don't know how to describe it further.
Ragged Wood - 4/5 Very upbeat and energetic compared to the previous. I like it. Weaker 2nd half.
Tiger Mountain Peasant Song - 2.5/5 Meh, not much going on musically. Vocals carry.
Quiet Houses - 2.5/5 Repetitive lyrics, but carried by a great vocal performance and a nice beat.
He Doesn't Know Why - 3/5 Very triumphant sounding.
Heard Them Stirring - 3.5/5 A somber song with a lot of soul, no lyrics no problem.
Your Protector - 4.5/5 Very beautiful start, builds into yet again a very soothing folk song.
Meadowlarks - 3/5 A much more reserved song, it's fine. Musically engaging nonetheless.
Blue Ridge Mountains - 5/5 I am ill equipped to describe this types of music-- it's just a very pleasant vibe that just excels, with unique and powerful sections throughout the song.
Oliver James - 2.5/5 Decent, albeit a bit empty.
Overall thoughts: Did not think I would really enjoy folk music but this ended up being very pleasant and cozy. Came out swinging with the first few songs. For a debut album this was surprisingly solid and there weren't any songs I was bored listening to, didn't overstay its welcome.
Street Life - 4.5/5 That's an 11 minute song and WHAT A SONG IT IS. So fuckin groovy. The length obviously makes it a harder commit to re-listen to but it's really good, there's a shorter single version of this song that might be worth a listen.
My Lady - 3.5/5 No lyrics this time around. Still decent, a bit more stereotypical funk-type beat. The cowbell works better than I'd care to admit. The song sounds like its like a minute long but loops throughout its actual 6 minute runtime and gets repetitive. Sounds like background music for a puzzle game.
Rodeo Drive (High Steppin') - 3/5 No lyrics yet again (I have a feeling Street Life is going to be the only one with lyrics). Bass line carries the song, other than that, just some more jazz.
Carnival of the Night - 0.5/5 Unironically sounds like hold music. Is too long, I was more than ready for it to be over at the halfway point.
The Hustler - 1.5/5 Saxophone. Skipped when I was halfway through.
Night-Faces- 0.5/5 More hold music. Only reason this and Carnival of the Night don't get 0's is that it's not terrible, just terribly boring.
Overall thoughts: Street life is the only one really worth listening to, and you might be better off listening to the edited version so you don't have to commit to an 11 minute song. The vocalist is really freakin good, and other songs would've benefited from her inclusion. Latter half really fell off, very boring compared to the strong start.
