We kick things off with "I'm With You" a downtempo, piano driven tune that is a little out of the ordinary from the group, but fits in quite nicely with the other sonic arrangements gathered for you afoot. "Borderlines and Aliens" is a high energy, fast paced rocker featuring terrific vocal patterns from Christian Zucconi and Hannah Hooper who provide a great deal of the band's charisma and contribute a great deal to the cosmic makeup of the group that is well evoked in their music. Ryan Rabin also provides a terrific drum solo in this song that stands out particularly well here. My favorite song off the effort is the first single "Ways To Go", an electro fueled rocker that features dynamic time signatures and varying shifts in tempo that I've never witnessed before and features terrific dual vocal and guitar abilities from Andrew Wessen, and is just a flat out thrill to listen to front and back and one that you'll have on repeat for some time to come. "Shark Attack" is a peaceful and serene track, with harmonic vocal delights pouring out of the speakers instantly on contact, and immediately springs to life with thoughtful and inquisitive musical textures that give the album some zest and joy that the effort has already unloaded to a great degree so far. "Hippy Hill" is an eerie, mellowed out number that is radically different from the other songs featured on the album, and presents a wealth of diversity from the members in the process as we move forward to the second half of the album.
The second half begins with "Didn't Have To Go", an ethereal, somber sounding tune that features eloquent vocal arrangements from Hannah and soft, whispering instrumental patterns that provide for a quiet evening and almost feels like the band is performing right on your front porch or backyard taking in all the elements from the environment around them and the supporting cast gathered to watch them in action. "Bitin' The Bullet" provides some more upbeat musical tonality and gives some pep to a diverse and entertaining effort heard here so far. We get ready to punch out with "Raspberry", a earthy and radical delight with solid instrumentation and a driven musical edge to it that bodes well as we head into the final track "Save The Party For Me", an acoustic styled ballad that brings together all the musical elements from everyone in the group that we've heard in one way, shape, or form here and gives us a look back to show how we got to this point musically, and brings everyone together in friendship and unison as we sing along together one last time. I was really enthused with Grouplove when I first heard "Tongue Tied" on the radio last year, and impressed with the band's effervescence and joy for life in general whether it be playing music or surfing at the beach, these guys evoke the southern California lifestyle that we have come to expect, but these guys clearly have a strong bond between one another that is beyond friendship and family, and is clearly displayed in the simplest musical terms here.
In reflection, a terrific and sensational second effort here from Grouplove, who continue to bring their brimming positivity and unbridled enthusiasm to the musical masses with an effort that fans will definitely grow to love upon first listen.
Album Score: 4/5
Track Listing:
- I'm With You
- Borderlines and Aliens
- Schoolboy
- Ways To Go
- Shark Attack
- Sit Still
- Hippy Hill
- What I Know
- Didn't Have To Go
- Bitin' The Bullet
- News To Me
- Raspberry
- Save The Party For Me
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