Animal CollectivePainting With
On Painting With, everything echoes and vibrates with an experimental pop feel, and the lyrics are nothing short of picturesque.
âDinosaursâ and âGolden Girlsâ are evocative of not only ancient civilizations, cave paintings, and tribal warriors, but feminist issues, too. David Portner (Avey Tare) said, in an interview with Billboard, that this interest was sparked by a TED Talk about universal figures seen across civilizations. âUsually you think about the animals, but there are actually other things that seem confusing but are in every cave painting,â he said.
?Avery Tare, Panda Bear, and Geologist piece their ideas together to make a very synthetic collage â if you see it as a whole, the thrash can sound overwhelming. The key is to listen for the creative details in each layer â for example, an audio clip of a reporter saying, âWhile youâre out and about on the freeways, there are no dinosaurs to worry about,â amongst powerful, dinosaur-like synths and ambient jungle creature voices on âHocus Pocus.â
?âGolden Galâ pulls a quote from âGolden Girls,â and calls out how the ideal âGolden Galâ is âcomplex and brave, a powerful lure without showing some legs.â Whether or not you agree with feminist values, Animal Collective argues that society values superficial issues, and the way they lay out real, complex topics in their tracks is beautiful: âYouâd think the gals should feel so comfortable these days / But sex and gender bring some troubles to the fray / And trouble tears apart another golden heart / So I want to be the reminder that sheâs stronger than the bulk on other days.â
Jordan Klassen
Javelin
Jordan Klassen stays mostly the same in his latest release: the same melodic and melancholy tones permeate the entire track list. Usually much more reserved, Klassen explores similar emotional themes to his other records, yet in Javelin they hold a raw and confident power that he has not previously exhibited.
Klassen sings of his motherâs struggle with cancer and delves into deeply personal territory with the same delicate passion of Sufjan Stevens, attempting to pin down his worries, failed relationships, and emotional tribulations. Yet through it all he finds time to smile and dance on âBaby Moses,â and indulge in â80s-like sounds on âLight in the Evening.â Javelin is confident, emotional, and heartwarming. The most significant change from his past records is the pop vibes that layer over much of his dreamy atmospheric soundscape.
Villagers
Where Have You Been All My Life?
An atmospheric, acoustic, folk-like rhythm and a soothing voice: thatâs exactly what Villagersâ new album, Where Have You Been All My Life sounds like from beginning to end.
While listening to the album, I was captivated by its melodic and harmonic components â the synthesis of bass, keyboard, guitar, vocals, and various other instruments are mystical and enticing.
My favourite song on this album is âThe Waveâ because of its simple yet intense composition; the variety of sounds, progressions, and basic rhythms used in this particular song is enchanting. Another great little encouraging tune I enjoyed was âCourage,â which was catchy, incredibly atmospheric, and engaging.
Band leader Conor OâBrienâs easygoing yet poignant lyrics and unique instrumental arrangements all worked to make Where Have You Been All My Life? an absolute delight to listen to.
Simple Plan
Taking One for the Team
While scrolling through Facebook, I realized that the band that influenced me the most growing up had a new release out. For nostalgic reasons, I had to check it out. When I heard the first track, âOpinion Overload,â I immediately smiled to myself, the same as if it had been released over a decade ago.
I recognize that Taking One for the Team is not Simple Planâs greatest work. It essentially follows the same formula as their previous releases: the songs feature the same topics in lyrical content, and they still only work on maintaining catchy hooks and the pop-punk roots that made them famous, yet this works in their favour, as it doesnât alienate older fans. Features from Nelly, Rock City, and Juliet Simms update the bandâs sound, though. The songs I continuously gravitated to were âI Donât Wanna Go to Bedâ and âBoom!â
As if thatâs not enough, to wrap up the album, âI Dream About You,â fades out into a dream-like mixed-sports game. (The members of the band are the players.) Play-by-play announcer Bob Cole, known from his spot on Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts, closes things out with this modest sign-off: âSimple Plan have won the game. Oh baby.â
Regardless of the 17 years since their inception, Taking One for the Team shows Simple Plan still know how to fulfill fan expectations well.
