The Smith Street Band
Don't Waste Your Anger


3.5
great

Review

by Brad USER (11 Reviews)
April 17th, 2020 | 104 replies


Release Date: 2020 | Tracklist

Review Summary: If Throw Me in the River was the Smithies dark, gloomy winter and More Scared of You Than You are of Me was the thawing freshness of spring, then this album is the manic summer.

The Smith Street Band has been in hibernation for the past few years now. Wil has had a rough time the past few years dealing with personal relationship struggles. Mistakes were made and time was spent working on a correctional path to get to this point. The Smith Street Band is back and from just a glance at their new album art, it was clear something had changed. A cover exploding with vibrant color and animals in a forest setting like the bears that adorned their juvenile debut. A scrap book page that ultimately foreshadowed the bright variety and rebirth to come.

Opting to open with the familiar; a traditional, building and cathartic Smith Street Band song is found in the opening track “God is Dead”. Reminiscent of the bands 2014 album opener “Something I can hold in my hand”, the song starts off with meandering and introspective ramblings. As the song slowly builds and Wil admits his past defeats, a renewed hope, a birth of sorts emerges from the acceptance of these character flaws. This explodes into a shouting and glistening ending before gently fading into the album's stand out single “Big Smoke”, their most mature and developed single to date.

After the initial emergence from the final chills of spring in the three familiar-sounding opening tracks, the album emerges into the quirky, sun-drenched sounds which make up the meat of the album. Synth, female backing harmonies (courtesy of new member Lucy Wilson) and funky guitar effects are scattered throughout. For better or for worse, this is The Smith Street Band’s most experimental album to date. The album feels like a homecoming: anthemic, victorious and slightly-cheesy guitar flourishes litter the tracks. Harmonies beg to be shouted along by the crowd.

A self-assured confidence is seen by the group more than ever. They don’t sound overly serious. They sound loosened up and like they are allowing themselves to have some fun. “The End of the World” has enough cutesy flare in its instrumentation to be a new track from The Front Bottoms. At risk of further comparisons that may not sound favorable, certain moments bring to mind Panic! at the Disco’s light and cheery sophomore album Pretty. Odd. From the electronically dancey "Heaven Eleven", to the bird-chirping, acoustic "Its OK", all the way to the galloping and optimistic title track. The album's variety of bright, sunny and whimsical touches add a much needed differentiation from the rest of their discography. Although the sad-boy introspective lyricism remains true to form, there is a new sincerity to be found in Wil’s ultimately hopeful outlook.

Despite all the album's strengths, minor flaws exist when the band treads too far outside their comfort zone. Stripped-down “Dirty Water” doesn’t hold its weight with its tepid, nervous and repetitive delivery. The same can be said for the band playing it overly safe. “I Still Dream About You”, the album’s second single, is a by-the-books shout-along track that could have found its home on any of the band’s past releases. Acoustic and bare “It’s OK”, although strong in its own right may feel to some like it is just trying to reclaim the past glories of “Little Sinking Ship”. The song would have fared much better as a separate release under Wil Wagner’s next solo outing.

The Smith Street Band is generally the same. Wil Wagner’s overall heart on sleeve lyrical approach has remained intact, but there is something about his hopeful outlook that has changed. There is a sincere optimism. There is an acceptance to all that life has thrown his way. “Profiteering's” victorious opening guitar met with Wil’s shouting of “Everything’s f**ked, everything’s fine, everyone sucks, everyone’s lying!”, is the perfect contrast. A resounding acceptance that although everything is not perfect, there is still victory in the hope for what is to come.



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user ratings (119)
3.6
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Feather
April 17th 2020


10559 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

It has been quite awhile since I have reviewed, but with work drying up quite a bit for awhile I thought I would start reviewing some of the new albums I have been jamming. Feel free to criticize! I have always struggled with writing briefer reviews.. gunna work on that for the next one.

Slex
April 17th 2020


17287 Comments


Got a special one cooking for this but I'm glad you reviewed this bud, good write-up

Feather
April 17th 2020


10559 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Thanks man. I had a feeling someone would steal the show soon enough! I’m excited to see others opinions on this, I think it has some huge standouts but I’m still a little iffy on some of it.

Slex
April 17th 2020


17287 Comments


I believe that's where I and the person teaming up w me mostly stand rite now as well

deathschool
April 17th 2020


28939 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

Damn, this is out too? Gotta get on it.

Sowing
Moderator
April 17th 2020


44539 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Love to see reviews from you Feather, always appreciated your work. "the albums stand out single", "the albums variety of bright", and "despite all the albums strengths" need to show possession, and something about the last sentence of the second paragraph needs to be re-worded, unless it's just me. Otherwise great analysis, and I agree that while this is very passionate, it's also very bright and triumphant/optimistic at times. This is actually my very first SSB album - heard bits and pieces of others but never really got into them. They remind me of a cross between Spanish Love Songs and Frank Turner. I'm very glad I checked this out.

porcupinetheater
April 17th 2020


11070 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Nice review



But ugh, it's like Wil used up every last ounce of inspiration for Throw Me in the River and it was a non-renewable resource

Feather
April 17th 2020


10559 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

*edited the rating to 3.5, I have been going back and forth all day and have settled on 3.7*



Thanks Sowing and Porcupine, made the edits and just axed the awkward sentence



@porcupine I think thats a bit of an over statement. The last album was awesome and this is still very good, it does seem to be getting a bit more formulaic.

porcupinetheater
April 17th 2020


11070 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Fair play, and nothing on here's egregiously bad or anything like that, it all just feels kind of gray-scale to me, only bit that I can recall 5 minutes after the album was the Lucy said I was a dickhead bit from Still Dream.

And even then, just feels kind of self-consciously "crowd sing-along"



Really miss the buoyancy of that Surrey Dive shit, or all the groove No One Gets Lost was bringing. Missin' Chris on this one fierce

Feather
April 17th 2020


10559 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I mention it in the downsides of the album, but I really at not a fan of Still Dream for that exact reason, it feels too catered to crowd sing-along. I understand playing to strengths, but it feels like a weaker version of something they have done countless times before.

Snake.
April 17th 2020


25382 Comments


lmao this band still exists

mynameischan
Staff Reviewer
April 18th 2020


2407 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

great album, can see it growing on me even more. lucy's vocals and the inclusion of piano are highlights

Douglas
April 18th 2020


9303 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Don't forget Jess Locke as an additional member/vocalist. She also created the artwork, and is a fantastic solo artist in her own right.

mynameischan
Staff Reviewer
April 18th 2020


2407 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

not sure how many people listened to live at the triffid, but the version of "don't fuck with our dreams" is fucking amazing mostly because lucy sings the bridge.

Douglas
April 18th 2020


9303 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Saw them live just before the lock down her in Aus. Yep, it's a glorious moment of the live set. Both Lucy and Jess are amazing live.

Ebola
April 18th 2020


4574 Comments


great review, will probably listen to this at some point

BlushfulHippocrene
Staff Reviewer
April 18th 2020


4053 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

"and is a fantastic solo artist in her own right" -- yes, yes, loooooove her. Also, the artwork is maybe their best. Will read this review super soon.



A few typos scattered about, but a fine review! Do disagree quite a bit, but I love your point about the album cover.

BlushfulHippocrene
Staff Reviewer
April 18th 2020


4053 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Come a long way from a neck in a noose / Look me in the eye and call that an excuse / I wasn't sure what to make tight or make loose / Was never a boy scout so I feel straight through



Oh God : ((((((

DeadGuy
April 18th 2020


1235 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Just started it and the first line of the first song already makes me know I'm gonna love it

Deathconscious
April 18th 2020


27465 Comments


i really like the title track. hopefully this will be the one that makes it to a 4 for me, unfortunately i find their albums to be pretty inconsistent.



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