Review Summary: Predictably and perfectly executed
Disappear Here is a bit of an enigma. A harmless, inoffensive, and poppy affair, it picks up almost exactly where Bad Suns' debut record
Language & Perspective left off; few curveballs are thrown, and the train never really veers off the tracks. And that’s perfectly fine, given that this band has no business being as good as they are.
In music, stagnation is death, and the focus shown on
Disappear Here could easily be mistaken for stagnation. However, that would be unfair to a band who seem so determined to forge their own trends instead of following everybody else’s. Where their peers have taken their sound down a more folksy path, Bad Suns double down on their relentlessly catchy brand of pop rock. Where other singers opt for a more pitchy, subdued approach, frontman Christo Bowman projects with even more clarity before. Where other artists latch onto lo-fi production like it hadn’t already gone out of style,
Disappear Here is polished like the Hope Diamond.
Of course, none of that would mean anything if the songs were crap, which mercifully couldn’t be farther from the truth. Bad Suns are truly gifted songwriters, crafting songs that are catchy and sugary as all hell, but never hammy or trite. I mean, just listen to closer “Outskirts of Paradise”, and how each succeeding vocal line in the song becomes more infectious than the last (“separate yourself/integrate yourself” stands out, especially considering how well the band heeds their own advice). Likewise, bubbly single “Heartbreaker” is a fast-acting glue with its immediate chorus and riff to match. Aside from the mildly forgettable filler track “How Am I Not Myself”,
Disappear Here leaves very little fat to trim.
The individual performances on
Disappear Here shine brightly as well. Rhythm section Gavin Bennett and Miles Morris work in lockstep, with drummer Morris in particular highlighting his skills with punchy kick-snare beats and intricate hi hat work atypical of the genre throughout. Shimmering guitars riff and stab on the upbeats with regularity, while Bowman pieces it all together beautifully with his confident, unwavering vocal melodies.
Poised, tight, and undeniably fun,
Disappear Here is the sound of a band mature beyond their years fully realizing who they want to be. It’s not radically different from its predecessor, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s entirely possible that the formula Bad Suns have forged will one day grow stale, but for now, it’s best to close your eyes and enjoy the ride.
