This album starts off with “Graffiti”, and it’s certainly a very sunny intro, with blaring synths and a decent beat and all. And to be honest, it’s really not that bad of a track at all. It’s well written and explosive, and this chorus is just gigantic. Lauren sounds confident on vocals, for a sort of crossover track this really isn’t bad at all. Because let’s be honest, at the end of the day this is certainly much more along the lines of a Pop tune than anything. But it’s sweet and youthful, and CHVRCHES seem comfortable to say the least. Even if this sounds like an actual Paramore cover, I think it works as an intro. Then we have “Get Out”, and the production on this one does sound great. I love just how bulky these synths are. But this my friends, is the start of the downfall. Remember when I said that intro sounded a little too much like a cover? Well, this track sounds even more like a cover, in the worst way. This just seems so inorganic to me. Lauren sounds like a robot, having no passion or emotion to give if her life depended on it. Not to mention, the songwriting here has taken an absolute nosedive. Oh boy. On the other hand, “Deliverance” takes things in a much icier direction, as CHVRCHES begin to cling to that 80’s sound a lot of artists are going towards these days. Now, I actually think the verses here are solid, but the chorus here while it’s catchy could have been so much more. Not to mention, I hate to break it to these guys, but everyone from Paramore to Carly Rae Jepsen are doing this sound just so much more justice. “Deliverance” is alright. But where is that sense of urgency and the anthems that CHVRCHES were pushing out for years? By the time we get to “My Enemy” that production is really pushing its luck. This is the most modern track we’ve heard here yet. But holy fuck, not even The National’s Matt Berninger can save this one. I would be down for a catchy Synth Pop crossover, because they’ve proven plenty of times that they can do that. But this is literally sucking the life right out of me as it rolls on. It’s just so sluggish and robotic. I don’t know where all of that fire went that CHVRCHES had years ago, because this album still sounds like a covers compilation. And I don’t have a clue where the groups songwriting went, because it sure isn’t here. Now, “Forever” actually sounds like a CHVRCHES track I would have gravitated towards years ago. And to be honest, it may be the best song they’ve wrote in years. I absolutely love how pulsating this one is and how triumphant it comes off. Lauren’s vocals absolutely soar here, and I can’t remember the last time I heard the band playing with so much determination. Even the songwriting here is a huge step up from what they’ve been giving us. This is just a fun, intense Synth-Pop tune, which at this point is all I want to hear.
But with “Never Say Die”, we’re well on our way back to a slower, more somber tune. Oh joy. Now, of all the singles here, this is probably the best of the bunch. It’s at the very least sort of epic. And while it’s almost the most repetitive here, it actually ends up coming off hypnotic. It’s good and all, but it still lacks the urgency of many early CHVRCHES tunes. Then we have “Miracle”, and I don’t even know what to say anymore. Like, there are some cool elements to these tracks, like those 80’s synths. But the rest of this tracks sounds like an Imagine Dragons song. That production which I really didn’t mind earlier is just so pristine to let in anything remotely edgy. Some of the choruses here are catchy, but the majority of this one is just way too much for me. If anyone could have made a crossover Synth Pop album, I feel like it could have easily been CHVRCHES. But tracks like this, tell me otherwise. With “Graves” CHVRCHES try to run back to the Synth-Pop sound they built up in the past. But would you believe it, it’s just way too late. These verses come off so awkward, like a Pop artist trying to desperately go for some Synth Pop. Smell that/ That’s irony. Now, I do have to commend CHVRCHES, because they can still write an absolute mammoth of a hook. And trust me, the one on “Graves” may be the best of the album. It’s a shame the rest of this one is absolute trash. Now, I actually do like the sort of grim tone to “Heaven/Hell”, even if it is really just more of the same at this point. Thankfully though, CHVRCHES have brought their A-game as far as songwriting goes. This has a whole lot of the same anthemic qualities that their early material had which I loved. But I can’t get past just how squeaky clean this instrumental is. I hate that it has to be like that, it’s not a terrible track. But this i just so far from a CHVRCHES track still. With “God’s Plan” however, I get legitimately excited to hear a beat that I can really get into. But all of a sudden we have Martin Doherty taking lead vocal duties. And much like the early material where he would take the reigns, it’s boring beyond belief. No matter how eccentric that beat gets, this one is just putting me to sleep. The songwriting has hit an absolute low, and CHVRCHES don’t even seem like they are trying anymore. Even when that beat just grows and becomes this massive creature, this track is nothing more than hot garbage.
At this point in the album, the last thing I wanted to hear was a whisper quiet ballad. But that’s exactly what I get with “Really Gone”. This track isn’t as innocent and sweet as you would think, and certainly not as much as it wants you to believe. It’s just completely void of any emotion and absurdly bland. Then we get “ii”, and at this point give me a one minute instrumental, it’s not like we need content. Ironically it’s not even that bad of an interlude, and for one minute of an instrumental, I would swear there’s more emotion here than for what passes for an “anthem” on this album. But all of it is washed away in seconds with this absolutely dismal Synth-Pop finale in “Wonderland”. If they’re trying to be all quaint and cute, first off you’re way too late. Second of all, I can count numerous bands that are doing this sound just so much more justice. Once again, CHVRCHES can write a hook and really make it pop. But literally, everything else about this track is a mess. From the generic beat that sounds like it was ripped out of Sonic Adventure to the verses that go nowhere, it’s a mess I tell ya.
Rating: 5.8/10
Give A Listen To: “Graffiti”, “Forever”, “Heaven/Hell”, That's literally it
Least Favorite Track: "My Enemy"
Genre: Synth Pop / Indie Pop
Overall Thoughts: CHVRCHES ever since their debut album, have seemed to slowly go fall from grace in a big way, and trust me this is far from the exception. The band seems like a shell of their former selves. At one point, they wrote anthems that demanded listening immediately, but the material on here seems like CHVRCHES aren't even too sure of what they're doing anymore. From sounding like a cover band to giving faceless, emotionless ballads, this album is a mess. All I can say is, thank God CHVRCHES can still write a catchy chorus that will stick with you, because if they couldn't this may have been the biggest snoozefest of the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment