Review Summary: A shoegaze album from a hardcore band??? Well, when it's this good, it doesn't really matter...
Rare is an unusual album. Whilst bands like Turnover, Title Fight and Pianos Become The Teeth have all delved into the shoegaze/dreampop playbook, all 3 weren't quite so far removed from the genre going in as Hundredth are. What is remarkable then, is that Hundredth's effort might just be the best album to come out of the genre's resurgence.
Without a doubt, Hundredth haven't written an album here that will be pleasing many former fans. Whilst Neurotic has a bit of beefy guitar work in its latter moments, and Disarray toys with some hard-edged riffs, the vocals and guitar lines are so drenched in reverb that nothing is really comparable with their previous efforts.
What the band does do excellently here though, is craft a whole new sound. Far from their fairly generic hardcore roots, the spaced out, but subtly gritty feel of Rare feels very much separate from their contemporaries. Rarely falling into self indulgent melancholy, the band keeps the tempo up with driving drum beats underpinning some energetic and lively riffing. Hole is probably the best example of just how lively and positive the band can get, taking on a distinctly grunge-esque style, whilst tracks such as White Squall revel in laid back, shimmering guitar melodies. Each song feels distinct, save for the somewhat shapeless closer Departure, which lacks the personality or energy of the rest of the album. Shy Vein features a flurry of electronic effects and layered vocals at the 2:30 mark; Vertigo's relentless guitar drone propels the track through to open the album; each 3 minute reverb-fest is purposeful, dynamic and engaging.
The only major criticism is that the vocals can tend to blend in to the background a little bit, suffering the same fate as Title Fight's Hyperview, as Chadwick Johnson's dream-like whispers blend in to the mix. Aside from that, compositionally, the album feels staggeringly unique for a sound that is well trodden by this point and the little details of electronic sounds, harder riffs and some excellent driving drum rhythms underpinning it all make for a truly captivating listen.
Hundredth have done something that isn't easy on Rare. They've abandoned their old sound, taken a huge risk, but remarkably stuck the landing. A definite, albeit unexpected contender for album of the year.
