Review Summary: Get ready for a dosage of New Medicine.
Minnesotas New medicine is something of a commodity in mainstream music. An alternative rock band trying to get their name established in an overcrowded scene. The first time you listen to them take opening song ‘Laid’ for example, the comparisons swing from left to right, a little of the zico chain in the riffs and the vocals could be akin to a illegitimate lovechild of family force five and buckcherry.
Now this makes New Medicine sound like just an ordinary generic band. This could be further from the truth; the point is ‘Race You To The Bottom’ isn’t complex with layers of meaning and intricacies but then do you really expect that from a mainstream rock record. This is a newcomer band playing to their strengths and showcasing an impressive debut.
Every track is memorable in its own right. For example the choruses are massive on tracks such as “Rich Kids” and “American Wasted” the riffs are generally power chord driven although there are many flourishes and guitar fills that show talent throughout the album such as the solo in “Little Sister” The guitar work is memorable in its own right.
The vocals are the greatest point of this album. There is not a bland sounding song on this album, hell even the ballads have character to them. The way “Rich kids” is delivered for example is the definitive point on this album for me. It is schizophrenic catchiness with a seriously contagious energy to it but then the ballad ‘Little Sister’ is a ballad with real heart to it though it doesn’t sound forced or sappy. Even the lyrics and subject matter are not cliché such as the aforementioned track which deals with the death of the vocalists’ sister who died at a young age.
The thing is New Medicine deliver a sound that sounds fresh in a place where many bands end up sounding mundane and boring. To sum it up New Medicine could be your latest fix if you are prepared for the trip.
Recommended tracks
Rich Kids
Little Sister
Laid
Race You To The Bottom
