Review Summary: All I ever wanted was transcendence
Oyster Cuts is Quivers’ fourth full-length, but it’s my first experience with the band. Going in, my reading about this Aussie crew suggested that they’re one of those myriad underground groups taking their cues from the jangly sound of an earlier era. Based on the evidence of this LP, though, that’s a far too narrow scope to capture the influences in play. While there’s absolutely a retro spirit to the proceedings, the music is surprisingly varied, with touchstones ranging from the expected jangle pop to crunching alt-rock to ‘80s sheen to ‘60s psychedelia, all integrated alongside a more contemporary strain of dream pop. The listener might not quite know what they’re getting, song by song, but the whole tracklist remains high-quality guitar-driven pop. There are notable highlights - among them the utterly infectious opener “Never Be Lonely”, the immaculate title track, and the drugged-out and strangely hypnotic “Screensaver” - but every tune has its own merits. The record’s mood walks a tightrope between outward mellowness and inward anxiety, but the real winner here is the undeniable catchiness the band manages to weave into every song, one way or another. I’ve been giving
Oyster Cuts plenty of spins based on that impressive strength, once more proving the adage of noted philosopher John Popper - “
the hook brings you back”.
