Review Summary: Feel good punk by the numbers from a confusing source
Maybe
Bomb the Music Industry!’s breakup was the right move on Jeff’s part. His solo venture proved to be of a different flavor, but was undoubtedly still crafted by the musical master chef that Rosenstock is. It proved that he hadn’t forgotten who he is as a musician, but that he has also matured and plans on doing some different things in his future. The songs he crafted post-BTMI! are what a solo career should sound like. There’s no attempted recapturing of the glory days, just moving forward with what you’re familiar with and creating something different.
Enter
Antarctigo Vespucci.
Musically, this debut sounds like a cross between BTMI! and
Jeff Rosenstock as a solo artist, and that’s a problem. It is Jeff attempting to recapture what he did in BTMI!, but with the more mature attitude that he now has directed toward writing music. The remnants of Bomb’s sound are on display throughout the album but are turned down to minimum intensity, almost as if they are shameful. It took me multiple listens to even pick up on the ridiculous drum machine fills as they fall completely flat somewhere in the background of these recordings. Bomb’s mismatched synths technique also comes out to play on a couple of occasions here. Unlike with BTMI! however, here they are pushed to the back of the song. So instead of getting the over-the-top and ridiculous but somehow infectious synth mix that we may have come to expect from Jeff, on
Soulmate Stuff they sound timid and is if they’re played by someone that doesn’t fully understand the instrument.
“Ah! But Jeff is the guitarist for Antarctigo Vespucci, silly!” Right you are. And the guitar proves to be the most disappointing aspect of the record. Throughout the majority of the album the guitar is not the focus of the songs. It is mainly a vehicle for the vocals to ride atop. This may not be a problem if the vocals were at all interesting. But alas, these are some of the blandest vocals you’ll find anywhere. And not just bland, oh no. They are that rare breed of bland that somehow find a way to be simultaneously annoying. They are very hooky vocals, but the hooks aren’t really anything unique or all that engaging. Things like that can be forgiven sometimes with interesting lyrics, but there’s not a single line here that jumps out. Sure they are relatable, but way too obvious. Who
can’t relate to these kinds of lyrics? So most of the time, the guitar takes a step back to let the vocals do their thing. Then the vocals do their thing and you wish that Jeff would just sing. Then Jeff sings and you feel disappointed that he is even associated with this album. Then there’s this reprise of a song that wasn’t any good the first time around.
It’s a mess.
Sometimes the fuzzy feel of the guitar parts almost approach shoegaze or noise rock levels, but they stop short of truly being aggressive or having an all encompassing atmosphere. Jeff also shows off once or twice on lead with his signature technical but sloppy guitar fills, but they always come at awkward times in the songs instead of feeling organic. And most of the time they sound like they’re there just to be there.
There are not any legitimately good songs here, but there are glimmers of hope throughout. The chorus of “I’m Giving Up on U2" is very well done power pop that will probably get stuck in your head for at least a few hours. The closer is easily the best song here though. It is extremely uneven, but somewhere in its crooked, architecturally weak structure is a good song. The buildup toward the end of the song where the vocals chant “How much lower can I get?” (Probably the best lyrics on the entire album), while drums pound away and build in the background actually had me headbanging along until it fell back into its underwhelming chorus. Those are really my only takeaway moments from the album.
The best word to describe
Soulmate Stuff is disappointing. I’m far from giving up on Jeff Rosenstock, but sometimes you just miss the damn target.
Death (sort of) Recz:
I’m Giving Up on U2
Bang!
