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Published 12/11/23
I don't have much to update this time, other than that as usual, I have lots of things i'm working on at once. My first game review should be coming out sometime soon so that should be good. This is my first negative review, I don't really like hating on things so I won't be doing too many of these. It's much more useful and enjoyable for me to talk about what I like rather than what I dislike. Regardless, here we go.
Rating: 3/10
Image coming soon
In my continuing quest to find an album that scratches that same itch as Innerpartysystem – Innerpartysystem (2008) (which I will have a review out for eventually), I’ve gone through a lot of albums. Most of them come up short, some of them are alright. Of the two I found through Music-Map, this has got to be the least impressive. In fact, it’s the first album I disliked enough to write a negative review about. I try not to judge an album by its cover, but I probably should going forward. It tends to communicate a lot, actually. This one has a picture of two women’s asses, which perfectly encapsulates this album:
So Long is basically textbook butt rock, only it’s about five years late to the scene and brings nothing new to the table. It’s full of uninspired instrumentation and generic songwriting, seemingly designed for mass market radio appeal. Only that didn’t seem to work because I had never heard of this band before a few days ago, and here’s the thing. I generally LIKE this kind of post-grunge hard rock music. Not quite as much as I used to, but Three Days Grace? Sure. Egypt Central? Absolutely. Shinedown? Why not. This album seems to be emphasizing the worst, lowest aspects of rock music, the trailer park, white trash, ankle tattoos, Walmart, beer drinking sort of culture. Saliva or Papa Roach sort of fit this description as well, but at least they have some talent to balance it out. This album feels empty, like it’s just going through the motions, it’s a “rock album” and nothing more. The tracks ‘Too High’ and ‘My Life’ are passable, but I detect no authenticity, no emotional depth, just “badass” macho posturing. To me, that type of presentation signals insecurity. The most egregious track is the final one, On Our Way. Here’s part of the lyrics:
So if you care about rock
Just sit right there
We'll take your ass back to to the early years
Where the jams were tight
The kids could play
The music didn't suck
And the bands weren't gay
(and then a bunch of references to various classic rockstars)
These guys seem really concerned with letting you know they are REAL ROCK FANS who care about REAL ROCK AND ROLL like the GOOD OLD TIMES, unlike these god damn NEWFANGLED BANDS. It sounds like a t-shirt your boomer uncle would buy at a gas station, with some tired joke or slogan about those GOT DAMN LIBRULS RUININ’ THIS COUNTRY or similar. It’s a cheap play to the audience, preaching to the choir. This is like Oliver Anthony before Oliver Anthony. Same kind of self-soothing defeatist tone. Stop looking back longingly on the past and impotently complaining about these new “gay bands” (whatever that means). Aim higher. Make actually good, actually transgressive rock music. It can be done. See Nothing More – Spirits (2022). I’ll be listening to that instead of the rest of Stereoside’s discography.
Made with love by gray
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