Review Summary: Masterpiece or Fustercluck?
Nouns' first full length album in 8 years is a chaotic genre-defying experience that will have you either blissfully enthralled, demanding repeated listens, or disregarding the whole thing with the thoughts "what the hell did I just listen to?"
Classifying this album traditionally is almost impossible as we run the gamut of Screamo, post-hardcore, emo, lo-fi, art pop, shoegaze, indie, noise rock, prog rock, math rock, and bedroom pop just to name a few. This doesn't merely occur as different tracks, but throughout each song, often blending into the next, as can be seen with the opener "INTRELUDE". After a slow intro, some harsh screams fill the air, then for 5 seconds an uplifting 5th-wave-emo synthy riff reminiscent of Glass Beach kicks in, then it is full on skramz, but not for long, we have descended into a saxophone solo and now we are in art rock territory, or is it noise pop fading out with a little more emotive screaming, and just as the madness subsides, we get a little jazzy breather that is actually the start of the second track "WE WILL NEVER SURFACE". This cohesiveness runs throughout, and if listened sequentially as intended, then the question "what genre is this?" becomes redundant, as nouns have put together something special that will have their fans seeking and sharing favourite moments for years to come.
The variety of singers on the album defies the modern day emo band, where vocalists are often criticised for their limited range and similar feel. Nouns, however, have borrowed from the electronic music scene, where numerous featured artists keep albums exciting and fresh. Some outstanding vocal performances by mostly lesser known and recent breakthrough artists including Parannoul and Asami on the excellent track "AMITA DRIVE", Jason Henry on "THE REST OF YOU", and Alicia Mann and Jono Berkshire on "MAGNIFICENT STEINER" all compliment nouns' own raw visceral sound.
It isn't just the addition of extra vocalists that give this album a unique feel. Nouns have gathered an array of musicians, and musical instruments to expand the diversity of sound. Featuring not only the alto and tenor sax on "INTERLUDE", there are flute, piano, violin, gamelan, cajon, trumpet, electric organ, and plenty of other sampling, field recording, databending instruments, to pick out in a Where's Waldo of sound. The production on this album is also a stark improvement from the bedroom quality of their earlier releases, and a clear step ahead of peers such as STOMACH BOOK and Bigger Boot.
Some might argue that this is all too much, and nouns are trying too hard to be experimental. Countering that, this album has been 8 long years in the works, and as nouns state on their Bandcamp page, "I feel as though I got to make the album I finally wanted to make." This is an artist who has purposefully created such an album, including all the unique sounds, blending numerous styles of music, for their lifelong ambition. It is an album that does not need classification, but demands your attention. It is an album, that upon first listen, will evoke a strong reaction, leaving one to question what they just heard and necessitate repeat listens. There is a lot to unpack on While of Unsound Mind, and in doing so, one will continue to discover stunning experimental moments that not only standout by themselves, but contribute to the overall complexity of such an album.
This review could not be complete without a quote from former Sputuser, pmmets07, who reviewed nouns last album, "Nouns are a hell of a lot more interesting than their name suggests". If only they were around to see how uninteresting nouns have become. RIP
