Review Summary: A glorified soundoff to give this pretty spankin album a review.
Squid’s debut album wrecked me. It was an insane mix of cathartic post-punk music that was electrifying and depressing. It lit something in me that I couldn’t explain when I listened to it. It was a culmination of a lot of influences for sure, but it still retained a stench of originality and more importantly, viscerality. That album shook my world two years ago, so my expectations were very high here. They definitely didn’t disappoint…they just changed.
And not even that much! Change is not a problem and my placement here is biased and personal and tilted (duh, it’s my list). This album is more refined and album-oriented than its predecessor and while I’m not penalizing it for that, I inadvertently am. Where Bright Green Fields was more focused in taking you on intense islands of songs, this album is more of a connected resort. Sometimes the filth and dust that was shook up on the debut record is sacrificed for a more streamlined, connected approach here. It’s probably the better album, and it ***ing rules. But, selfishly, it’s not in my top five or ten this year because it’s too focused?
A great record from a great band that makes music look hard in the best kind of way. Awful musicians have a tendency to make music playing look very difficult (or easy, if you're a "hey, I can do that!" kind of person), and excellent ones make it look easy (I'm realizing this more sports analogy is not so fool-proof when it comes to music.) Post-amblings aside, this is a band that makes making music look extremely difficult because of the intensely sweaty focus applied to ensuring every moment is worthy. This over-stuffedness can probably sway swing voters the wrong way, but their ability and more importantly, ambitions, to fill empty slots with worthwhile music doesn't always mean screaming and Krautrock motions gaining muscle by the second. Though those aforementioned moments are generally abound in Squid's music, they equally appreciate the hushed tones of instrumental music that produce spellbinding moments of serenity and contemplation. This all culminates into an insane band experience that definitely requires a mood because of its general...er, moodiness. But, Squid are a workman type band that shouldn't be working at the factory but rather in a lab. But, they always choose the factory, and god love em for it.
