The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 342

Yes! Glad you’ve heard of them. Love those guys. One of my favorite EPs!

 

Getting an early start on next weeks trade as I was paired with @anonimito

They gave me Head on Straight by Tonic

they got

Nasty Little Thoughts by Stroke 9

 

definitely gonna check out the EP

 

I need to be brief for now, but I might expand on this review when I return to write about the other album @bachna84 assigned to me.

But first...



Get Well Soon by Worlds Greatest Dad (2018)

It is ironic to me that perhaps my favorite assignment I've received thus far from CMCS is the one I liked the least at first.

When @bachna84 and I were assigned together, I wasn't sure if I'd have the bandwidth to take upon two recommendations, so I received another album as my primary assignment, and then I took up Get Well Soon as a secondary, potential assignment. I wasn't sure if this band would really appeal to me, especially based on his description of Worlds Greatest Dad as an "alt-rock group that has some 90s vibes." Those descriptors are more likely to be found on a list of my triggers than on a list of my preferences.

Nevertheless, after being quite pleased with my primary assignment, I gave this record a try, and I also nearly gave up on it during the first track. The opener "New Recording 3" has a lo-fi vibe to it, in which lead vocalist Maddie Duncan has a shaky timidity to her performance. I immediately felt I wouldn't be able to get into this. Thankfully, this low-production track is a bit of a non-sequitur on the album, (which should have been apparent to me from the song title alone).

I'm so glad I stuck around for the second track, "Laughing (While You're Smiling)," where my reaction was, "Oh, okay, I get what they're doing now." Duncan's voice proved to be a lot stronger and more charismatic than that opener had let on, and by the time I got to the next song, "Cough," I was all-in. Whether or not this band plays a style I typically enjoy is a non-issue; these are fantastic songs, played with a mature pop-punk swagger that's absolutely delightful.

I don't tend to be much of a pop-punk guy (and classifying Worlds Greatest Dad in that genre might be missing the point), but this music is very clearly a mature evolution from the pop-punk of the aughts. When this album finally clicked for me, it reminded me of when The Wonder Years' The Greatest Generation or The Sidekicks' Runners in the Nerved World finally clicked for me. On top of the urgent rhythms and tasteful guitar licks, Duncan taps into a zeitgeist of lyrical relatability. She sings things I've felt but would never dare write into my own lyrics. The anthemic refrain of "Sorry I'm so lazy" from the aforementioned "Cough" might make this single my theme song of 2018. Carried by Duncan's lyrics and melodies, every single song works a little better than it should, and moments such as the transition from "Ciggies" into "A Song for Mogis" displays how Get Well Soon really was a thoughtfully-constructed work of art, rather than a bunch of random tunes tossed together.

I needed to leave ten minutes ago, so I'll finish by saying...I love this album. Thanks @bachna84 !

 

Glad you enjoyed it! I had never heard of them until a couple months back but this is something I’ve really been into the past couple months. The same thing could also be said about Warm Thoughts!

 

Worlds Greatest Dad, Soccer Mommy. We just need Bully Older Brother and Brat Little Sister; we can have a ‘Family BBQ tour’




But seriously good review Chase

 

Thank you!

 

Wednesday Night I will be doing a concert review for the Taking Back Sunday/ Coheed And Cambria coheadline Show. I also have Vip for this show so this will be interesting

 

Hey! For my first week as a member of this welcoming club society, I was paired with @Nate_Johnson and @CSWAPPO. Here is the first album I was recommended, and its accompanying mini review.


Turnstile - Time & Space @Nate_Johnson




I'm not totally unfamiliar with Turnstile, due to the amount of hype they've been getting as of late. Moreover, I came across one of their sets on Youtube a few months back, and if I recall correctly, the energy displayed on stage amazed me.

When I saw the name in the list, I knew it was finally time to see what all the fuss is about. My verdict in a few words? Pleasantly surprised. I don't listen to much punk-hardcore music nowadays, but their sound translates so well in the studio that I'm ready to seek out more stuff in the same vein again.

The first thing that stood out is the diversity, not only between these 10 songs, but within each one of them. It features a lot of interesting sounds for the genre, one of my favorite parts being for example that lounge outro on Real Thing. At times, I was reminded of early AFI, Hostage Calm, Snapcase, Ceremony, among other bands I used to hear ap.net rave about a decade ago.

In that sense, I appreciate that they're not afraid to switch things up with these twists. It definitely adds a lot of personality into the mix, and makes for rewarding following listens. Another stand out part is the inclusion of a dance-y piano line on High Pressure. I'm also a sucker for garage rock, and Big Smile goes into that genre for a little while before almost turning into a lost Foo Fighters track.

The unpredictability is possibly the best aspect of the record, and is the main reason I kept thinking of Hostage Calm, particularly their self-titled album. That said, the most straightforward songs shouldn't be ignored or regarded as lesser than the aforementioned ones. I particularly loved (Lost Another) Piece of My World, which feels straight out of a Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack, and made me reminisce that era.

Consistent and with a wide range of influences, Time & Space is an album that seemed short at first, but its catchiness and bounciness are enough to make you crave for more. It might be a bit early to tell from just a few days removed from my first listen, but this could very well end up on my top 10 by the end of the year.

I'm definitely going to listen to the rest of their discography this following week, and this album will keep brightening this summer.

Favorite songs : Big Smile, High Pressure, (Lost Another) Piece of My World, Moon.

 

Nice review! Welcome to the club society

 

Thanks! I was a bit nervous due to english being a foreign language, and with the unfamiliarity of this writing format. Hopefully I did decently, and will improve over the time.

 

You did fantastic! Don’t tell yourself otherwise

 

Fantastic review! Great first write up! I’m really glad you enjoyed it and stepped outside your comfort zone. That is the amazing thing about the club.

 

@Petit nain des Îles I’ll echo the others, great first review there and I would’ve never had guess English isn’t your first language from the review. Glad you enjoyed the album, it’s most likely going to be on my AOTY list. They’re playing a festival I’m going to next week and I’m really looking forward to catching them live.

 

Here is the second album I had the pleasure to discov

 

Really glad to hear you liked this! I love the idea of this recommendation having "one foot in my wheelhouse and one foot outside" as you said - that's exactly what I was expecting based on your interests! Awesome review...really well written & it captures my own feelings about this album perfectly as well.

 

I've been out of this for months now. What's it take for me to get back in?

 

Just this message! I’ll even forgive the two albums I traded you that you didn’t review lol. We’re starting a new session now, @Nate_Johnson @Patterns in Traffic who wants a new partner this coming week??

 

Also I remember you were the originator of keeping track of a master list of albums. You should check the first post, @anonimito went through and has catalogued every album ever reviewed here since day 1 until last week

 

Hi @Mister Lyrical

Unless @Patterns in Traffic wants another partner of course.

 

Maybe they could do those two and then one with the new person?

 

I’ll leave that up to him. I’m not too concerned about it

 

that’s not what i heard ;)

 

some potential concert reviews coming soon!

@Bad Frequencies seeing TBS/C&C this week, I’m seeing JEW next Sunday, and @Colin Your Enthusiasm is seeing Radiohead next Monday!

 

Hey @Mister Lyrical if you feel like exchanging an album I'll gladly trade with you. Sounds like @Nate_Johnson is open to it as well so pick your favorite CMCS staff member. No pressure