The musical equivalent of a therapy journaling session, Petey's second album (his first since
signing with Capitol Records) offers a glimpse into Petey's psyche and perhaps his struggle with
ADHD. The song-writing here is frenetic, with these twelve tracks jumping between structures and
lyrical themes at a dizzying pace. The results vary a bit. There are moments of true introspection
and humor but also trite/clumsy lyrical passages and ideas that feel a tad undercooked (especially
near the middle of the album). Musically, the instrumentation is lush and layered; most songs have
a bouncy synthpop foundation but there are also elements of post-punk ("I'll Wait") and some
almost new-wave undertones at times ("How About That"). Unfortunately, the chaotic production does
not always do these songs any favors (e.g. the disorienting vocal effects on "Skip This One" or
the silly whisper effects during the second verse of "How About That").
Despite some of the song-writing shortfalls and on-the-nose lyrics, the record is definitely worth
a listen, especially if you enjoyed Petey's first project. Overall, USA is a bit all-over- the-
place but there's ultimately more here that works than doesn't.
Favorite tracks so far: I'll Wait, I Tried to Draw a Straight Line, Did I Mention I'm Sorry,
Family of Six, How About That and Goodnight Nurse.
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