Review Summary: An underground gem that is bursting at the seams with hooks and creativity
The Doozers sound like they were transposed from a different era entirely, when
indie music – whatever that may entail and however one may define it – dominated the music industry. It’s a time I remember fondly, as I consumed albums from groups such as The Shins, The Strokes, and Neutral Milk Hotel like they were essential for survival. I have no doubt that
Becoming An Entity would have
thrived back then. The guitars are prominent, intricately weaving their way through blissful, breezy melodies that sound effortlessly off-the-cuff but feel meticulous and profound. Vocal duties are led by Sean Donnelly, but we get some gorgeous accents and occasional leads from bassist Melanie Kelley. They just
feel like indie-rock in its purest essence: a shared effort by scrappy musicians rocking out together while creating beautiful and interesting music. As someone who grew up buying CDs from my local record store, before streaming existed and finding an album
exactly like this constituted the entire thrill of the hunt, it simply doesn’t get much better.
Becoming An Entity ebbs and flows throughout its fourteen tracks, from the subdued and exploratory opener ‘World 1: Gopher Bop’ to more energetic crescendos like the riff-driven ‘Start me up, my friend’, replete with an absolutely wicked transition into an all-out stomper outro. The music could best be described as danceable – not because it will ever play at a club, but because it’s so upbeat, lively, and all-over-the-place that it will compel you to get up and dance in your living room. ‘Make it tessellate’ is another prime example of this phenomenon, as lower-register vocals in the initial verses give way to stuttering guitars and a layered vocal chant, which all culminates in an ethereal and oddly satisfying harmonized howl. Nothing here is what I’d categorize as truly novel, but it offers such a rare blend of distinguishable strengths: superb vocals, deceptively complex chord progressions, driving percussion with diverse patterns, a strong bass presence, memorable hooks, and adventurous songwriting to tie it all together. ‘Tidal song’ is yet another instance of ingenuity: Kelley takes the vocal lead and absolutely slays it, while the band chalks up this slinky,
funky rhythm in the background. There’s really no shortage of examples –
Becoming An Entity marches along for its entire duration, continually pulling tricks from deep up its sleeve every time you think that The Doozers might have finally played out their hand.
There’s really only a couple ways that
Becoming An Entity falls short, and each seems like a comparative drop in the bucket compared to the record’s numerous strengths. The songs are lyrically beautiful, but more so in the sense that they paint pretty imagery rather than actually saying anything substantial to
move the listener. Additionally, the sound – for as vibrant and nostalgic as it is – will seem very familiar to anyone who has listened to a variety of indie music over the past few decades. In essence, it’s a melting pot of influences that, in spite of its obvious assets, manages to sound like so many different artists that it nearly lacks an identity of its own. It’s easy to cherry pick flaws while placing a release in historical context, but The Doozers could benefit from shifting their sound in a direction that is a little more unique. Neither of these observations are enough to stop me from listening to
Becoming An Entity on repeat, but they
are just enough to keep the release a tier below any “album of the year” conversations.
As a whole, The Doozers have crafted a record that will demand the attention of indie-goers everywhere. It’s infectious,
fun, and highly dynamic.
Becoming An Entity is the type of album that you can play in your car for weeks or even months without wearing it out, which is a rarity in today’s music industry – especially from an act that is relatively unknown and doesn’t have the same resources that are enjoyed by titans of the mainstream. If you’re looking for an underground gem that is bursting at the seams with hooks and creativity, then you’ll want to place The Doozers, and
Becoming An Entity, directly in your crosshairs.
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