Hello, all! Today, I’m excited to bring you the second edition of “My Friends Review Music!” Read on to hear their thoughts on some of the latest releases out there, plus which records made it to the top of their list.
boygenius – The Record
Released March 31st, 2023
Review by Kasey (POETRY DANS LA RUE music blog)
Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus, also known as boygenius, open their debut album, the record, with two sonically polarizing tracks. “Without You Without Them” is a minimalistic, harmonic vocal intro that immediately showcases the three women’s raw voices. The album then leads into “$20” with boisterous guitars and an emotional, climbing crescendo. The three lead singles reflect each of the singers’ styles. “Emily I’m Sorry” features Phoebe’s melancholy musing, Lucy’s “True Blue” is an ode to everlasting friendship, and Julien’s “$20” adds an edge to the record and kicks up the adrenaline.
As listeners weave through the group’s three artistic styles combined into one entity, they revel in the push and pull of rock-driven tunes and stripped-back, hushed desires. Other highlights of the record include the guitar-driven track, “Satanist,” opening with Baker’s edgy vocals. Following this track is “We’re In Love,” which contains a nod to Taylor Swift’s “This Love.” Every song on the twelve-track LP coalesces perfectly together and defines the style of the supergroup.
I suggest listening to this album on vinyl. You’ll hear every intricate detail amplified more than ever before. And if you can catch boygenius live on tour, you’ll find your eyes darting between the contagious chemistry between these three friends and gawking at their unique individual talents. Rolling Stone, DIY, NME, and Dork all boast 5-star reviews for this 2023 debut. I’m naming the record my AOTY!
RATING: 10/10
FOR FANS OF: Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker, Lizzy McAlpine, Snail Mail
Noel Gallagher – Council Skies
Released June 2nd, 2023
Review by Will D.
It’s 2023. Taylor Swift’s latest fling and a Gallagher brother throw jabs in the press, and somehow all I’m left with is a melancholy reminder that Oasis has been broken up for almost 15 years. Alas, the Mancunian brothers are still kind enough to grace us with their works, each carving out an identity that “definitely maybe” evokes their collaborative past while simultaneously breaking new artistic ground.
Noel Gallagher’s latest effort– his fourth since departing Oasis – does a workman’s job of solidifying his 21st century vibe. Along with his band High Flying Birds (NGHFB), Gallagher employs signatures (dare I say tropes?) of past and present that remind us why we fell in love with him in the first place.
Council Skies’ opening track, “I’m Not Giving Up Tonight”, kicks off the album with a twinge of anti-climax. Filled with quintessential Gallagherian production, though, one could simply be excused for thinking they’d walked into the middle of a NGHFB record. One cannot help but to notice the strings on this track as well, which become a stylistic motif throughout the album.
Side 1 continues with a subtle low-fi segue into track 2. “Pretty Boy”, perhaps the most Oasis-esque track on the album, moves the record out of first gear and into something one hopes may last.
In perhaps a subversion of expectations, however, the first side recoils into a sort of ethereal dreamscape reminiscent of the middle part of many of his previous NGFHB releases. Never conceding to bombast, Gallagher relies on subtlety to bring you along his artistic journey.
Track 4, “Open the Door, See What You Find” is an early candidate for best song on the album. An upbeat opening is followed up with a string section that really drives the track. One can only imagine a smug Noel metaphorically smiling down on The Verve and knowing that “Bittersweet Symphony” was probably never written without him.
The first side of the record ends with a textbook example of a stripped Noel acoustic track (if I squint hard enough, I swear Track 5 is actually “Talk Tonight” wearing a string-based disguise). For the first time on Skies, Noel affords us a bit more clarity with his vocals, reminding us of the rawness of emotion he conveys while singing.
* Interlude— is the end of “Trying To Find A World That’s Been And Gone Pt. 1” whale sounds? If so, they aren’t credited in the liner notes and that whale needs a better agent.*
Side 2 continues much where side 1 left off, making continued use of The Roxys (backing vocal group) and The Wired Strings (an extremely accomplished all-female string ensemble led by Rosie Danver– look them up. Hello, Adele yo?). The title track, “Council Skies”, admittedly leaves a bit to be desired given the requisite anticipation a title track yields. In a more muted role, The Wired Strings continue to be the understated heroes of the record, making their presence felt in a variance of capacity that truly speaks to their Danver’s compositional chops.
“Love is a Rich Man” does wonders to pull the record out of a mid-tempo Gallagherian malaise (I mean this endearingly) with an early driving beat and some fun horns. Gallagher goes from strength to strength on the last track, “Think of a Number”. After a spacey, quasi-hallucinogenic journey through the record, Gallagher leaves us with the version of himself with which we are most familiar. A guitar and piano driven track with signature NGHFB syncopated drums, Gallagher’s compressed vocals float above a masterfully arranged track that perhaps perfectly encapsulates his post-Oasis identity.
While one can cite qualms of lack of a standout track (or two, because I know he’s capable), it may just be Gallagher’s sonic cohesion and subtly that is his genius. The record is over in a flash, and feels just out of reach enough that you may just want to stand up and flip it over again.
-Will
RATING: 7/10
FOR FANS OF: Oasis, Inhaler, Liam Gallagher, Sam Fender
Paramore – This Is Why
Released February 10th, 2023
Review by Natalie (@nataliehope245)
Even if you weren’t a pop-punk, emo pre-teen, Paramore’s latest album, This is Why is worth a listen. In our post- mask, COVID-filled world, this album evaluates the lingering feelings of isolation that all of us experienced during the pandemic. If you listen to the album straight through, you’ll notice that the first several songs express feelings of anger and frustration, while the last few tracks hold somber, yet hopeful themes. Personally, this album reminds me that both negative and positive feelings are equally valuable throughout the process of grief and change. If you are one to gravitate towards emotional, meaningful songs and lyrics (who also enjoys some crazy catchy melodies), I highly recommend this album!
RATING: 8/10
FOR FANS OF: Hayley Williams, Fall Out Boy, Avril Lavigne, Florence & The Machine
Picture This – Life In Colour
Released June 25th, 2021
Review by Lauren (@laurenbromley97)
Picture This is a pop rock band from Ireland consisting of members Ryan Hennessy, Jimmy Rainsford, Owen Cardiff and Cliff Deane.
When I first heard their song “This Morning,” I instantly fell in love with their music. I love their mixture of lyrics in addition to the sound, and I feel like with every song they make, they aim to tell a story. Love, happiness, heartbreak and the rest…they’ve got it covered. They’re the perfect band for car anthems to belt at the top of your lungs, too.
I saw them live for the first time last month, and I could definitely feel the emotion in the room from both the fans and the band. Their live music conveys just as much emotion as the pre recorded versions. The goosebumps were REAL!
Life in Colour is their most recent album. It’s very hard to pick favourites, but if I had to pick a track, I’d choose “Winona Ryder.” It’s so catchy and the quirky lyrics bring it all together. While reading up on Picture This, I read that the band said: “Winona Ryder is a celebration of the nervousness and edginess bestowed on you by someone you are in awe of.” I think that’s a really cute way to think about it.
They have a new song worth mentioning – “Song To Myself” is such a personal track and when I heard it live, I felt every word Ryan Hennessy Sung.
Overall I’d give Life In Colour an 8/10, but I’d rate the band itself an 10/10. I can’t recommend them enough! 🙂
RATING: 8/10
FOR FANS OF: McFly, The Vamps, The Wanted
Thanks to all my pals who contributed to this post!
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