reviews

Spotlight: Dream Jacuzzi’s Stunning New Single “Rollercoaster”

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Birmingham, AL, natives Dream Jacuzzi are gearing up for the release of their debut album Lemon Hazy Nights, due December 4th. The band has been consistently dropping singles since 2019 after the release of their first EP Out With the Moon. Since that EP was unveiled, they’ve added new members to their lineup, officially signed on with Red Knuckle Records, and experimented with some new sounds.

The newest single “Rollercoaster” (Oct. 23) is a testament to that stylistic exploration, and it might just be Dream Jacuzzi’s strongest single to date. Strap in and enjoy the ride as a filtered intro culminates into the chorus to kick off the tune. The catchy hook is instantly infectious, and a pulsating bassline persists all throughout the song. Punchy percussion, scintillating synthesizers, and ethereal background vocals immediately consummate an expansive atmosphere and unique musicality reminiscent of records like The Sounds’ 2013 album Weekend or Thumpers’ 2014 debut Galore.

Drawing some inspiration from pop rock of the ’70s and ’80s, “Rollercoaster” is certainly a cultivated amalgamation of synths, tight guitar melodies, and sublimely reverb-infused vocal harmonies. During the second verse, a glissando-tinged guitar line emulates the ups and downs of a rollercoaster, sliding from one octave to the other. The whirlwind of a song closes out with one final chorus, which greets the listener with robotic-esque vocal effects and a zenith point of every cog in the band’s machine blissfully melding together.

The band’s chemistry is undeniable, being comprised of brothers Lucas and Rhett Jackson and long-time friend Josh Pastor. With six singles and an EP under the band’s belt, Dream Jacuzzi is ready to make the huge splash they deserve, and “Rollercoaster” is undoubtedly a superb display of what this young, talented group is capable of. This latest single will interest fans of Atlas Genius, Smallpools, Summer Camp, and Jukebox the Ghost. Click here to pre-save “Rollercoaster” on Spotify!

Listen to Dream Jacuzzi here:

Rachel Wurstner, Alt Col administrator, graduated from the University of Chicago with a master’s degree in creative writing and currently works as a small-town journalist.

Bastille’s “Helter Skelter” Moment? “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???” Track Review

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British indie pop band Bastille just unleashed their newest single “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???,” stylized in all caps with three question marks to, you know, really give you that ~edgy~ feel. This latest song sets many firsts for the group: the tune is arguably Bastille’s most rowdy, punk-inspired anthem to date with a little help from Blur’s Graham Coxon on guitar and vocals; it’s their first song in the key of G major, which is notable considering frontman Dan Smith continually claims that the majority of their discography is “depressing;” it’s the band’s shortest single; and it supposedly features Smith’s highest note that he has achieved with his full chest voice on a studio recording (a G4, in case you’re wondering).

With the intent of making a rock track for the sake of being in your face and as loud as possible, this is relatively Bastille’s “Helter Skelter” outing, albeit much more brief (and of course not comparable to The Fab Four). But although this is the band’s largest step into rock territory, “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???” still has its shortcomings in other aspects.

Lyrically, the tune is nothing new in Bastille’s catalog. It primarily revolves around people being glued to their phones and how the media has the power to influence us because they’ve “got us listening.” These sentiments hearken back to earlier tracks like “Doom Days” or “Power” or “Blame” or “World Gone Mad” or “Million Pieces” or really any other song that tries to offer social commentary in some way since the lyrics are rather broad and widespread (like most of their repertoire). While it’s an important message, Dan Smith seems to have wrung it out dry on paper one too many times. How is this any poetic progression from their last record Doom Days? “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???” merely encapsulates half of the ideas presented on its full-length predecessor, causing it to feel trite and overdone.

Musically, “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???” is something fresh and new but only to an extent. Sure, this is Bastille’s most all-around rock song to date, though one could argue that their “heaviest” tunes come in the form of “The Draw” or even their blander indie rock efforts like “Blame” or “Warmth.” (I am a fan of Bastille, but you must admit that they weren’t really blazing any new trails sonically with 2016’s Wild World. It’s a solid LP, but it wasn’t a groundbreaking new sound in the alternative scene.) “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???” also missed a wonderful opportunity to display a guitar solo from Graham Coxon. It would have perfectly sufficed as a bridge section and allowed the group to squeeze in one more chorus repetition before the end. But instead, they cut the tune short at 2 minutes and 11 seconds after just two go-arounds of the verse-chorus dynamic.

On a positive note, “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???” does give us a glimpse at what may be to come on the band’s next record. While this lead single may have fallen short on a few fronts, it indeed showcases what Bastille is capable of and what direction they might be moving in next. It’s a catchy pop rock rager, meant to feel aggressive and fast-paced. I can’t dock the band too much since they did achieve what they set out to do. I just believe they could have pushed the envelope even farther. (Perhaps my standards are a bit high because Bastille is one of my favorite bands.)

Let me know what you think about the new single down in the comments below, and if you’re a fan of Bastille, I post lots of Bastille-related content over on Reddit if you’d like to check it out!

Best Albums of 2019

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While 2019 offered up a multitude of mediocre and disappointing albums, a few gems shone through the rough. Here are our best albums of 2019!

Honorable Mentions

  • blink-182 – NINE
  • The Dangerous Summer – Mother Nature
  • The Maine – You Are OK
  • Carly Rae Jepsen – Dedicated
  • Grayscale – Nella Vita
  • MILKK – HEADRUSH
  • Emarosa – Peach Club
  • Maggie Rogers – Heard It In A Past Life
  • FRENSHIP – Vacation
  • Wallows – Nothing Happens

Let’s get into it…

3. Local Natives – Violet Street

Image result for local natives violet streetLocal Natives is one of my top three favorite bands of all time, so of course I might be a bit biased here. The California band has yet to disappoint me; all of their albums have a special spot on my shelf and I love each one so, so dearly. Their previous record Sunlit Youth, released in 2016, displayed a more experimental approach to their indie rock orientation by introducing synths and programmed percussion, as well as some politically-charged lyricism. For some fans, this style was a turn-off, but for me, I enjoyed the hell out of that LP. So how does Violet Street shape up? Local Natives dial their tone back to a more organic sound, fairly reminiscent of their debut album Gorilla Manor. Piano melodies, lively drumming, and twangy guitars constitute Violet Street, strengthening the authenticity of the album’s libretto. Heartstring-tugging subjects and impassioned vocal performances (those harmonies!) show no mercy for a weathered soul—the band never fails to deliver a captivating, affective listening experience. Violet Street is without a doubt another home run in Local Natives’ discography.

Favorite tracks: “Café Amarillo,” “Someday Now,” “Gulf Shores,” “Vogue,” “When Am I Gonna Lose You”

2. Bastille – Doom Days

Trust me, I’m as surprised as you are. Back in 2016, I named Bastille’s Wild World one of the most overrated albums of the year. Since gaining mainstream success back in 2013 with their debut Bad Blood, Bastille had yet to impress me in any way. There weren’t many songs on that debut that left me in awe, and their sophomore effort didn’t fulfill me either. But with their latest release Doom Days, I don’t hate it. In fact, I think it’s pretty darn good. I’m not sure if this is because I’m shocked that Bastille is actually winning me over for once or because it’s genuinely decent, but either way, Doom Days is a welcomed improvement in their discography. Lead singer Dan Smith has greatly refined his vocals, although there is a handful of moments on this record where the vocals feel a bit overproduced. The production overall, however, is certainly superior to the album’s predecessors, and the instrumentation sounds fresh and lively. The lyrical content displays recurring motifs of late night adventures and sober contemplation, and the tunes themselves are relatively catchy. The band described Doom Days as a concept record and I’m on board with that idea. Doom Days gets the stamp of approval from yours truly, and that really says something considering my negative history with Bastille.

Favorite tracks: “Quarter Past Midnight,” “Joy,” “Bad Decisions,” “Nocturnal Creatures,” “The Waves”

1. Greyson Chance – portraits

Greyson Chance recrudesces with his real debut album, portraits. After gaining popularity back in 2010 from YouTube and Ellen, Greyson was shoved into the industry spotlight at a young age and released his original debut album in 2011. However, since Greyson has grown over the years, he’s dubbing portraits as his genuine artist debut. And genuine it is indeed. Greyson’s lyrical writing is emotive and captivating—he wears his heart on his sleeve. But while the subject matter may be pensive and thoughtful, he doesn’t hold back the fun you would expect from a pop record. From the bouncy single “shut up” to the booming percussion of “west texas,” from the exuberant vocal harmonies of “white roses” to the spirited synths of “lakeshore,” portraits is a refreshing listen from start to finish, coupling heartfelt emotion with upbeat musicality and charismatic vocal delivery. You don’t want to miss this outstanding LP. While you may not consider this alternative, I couldn’t keep it off this list considering I haven’t been able to keep it off my mind and stereo.

Favorite tracks: “west texas,” “yours,” “lakeshore,” “timekeeper,” “black on black”

Let us know your favorite albums of the year in the comments below!