GutterPutter

So, where do I begin to describe a record like this one? For one, it’s the fourth album from an experimental band who mixes psychedelic music with the distortion of noise pop ever since its self-titled debut in 2014. Ever since Entertainment, Death is out in April 6^th, it’s been making a bit of a wave as being one of the better albums in 2021 with reviews like an 8.3 from Pitchfork, an 8 from Exclaim & an 8.2 from Paste Magazine. So much hype has been placed in its boundary-pushing sonic shifts from the folktronic piece in the verse in ‘ENTERTAINMENT’ to the hazy dream pop of ‘GIVE UP YOUR LIFE’ in between its limitless glitches & electronics & topped up with its layered production. The bricolage of different genres & musical direction is so remarkably grand, but in the end of the day, it feels like it’s all for spectacle. I don’t think I can put into words how much I admire the vision that the Spirit of the Beehive, but it’s in its mish-mash of sounds that only makes the whole ordeal feel like an erratic chore to begin with – & without even a basic focus to entertain.

So much of the songs in the record is fixated on the need to flex on how much it knows about the underground pieces of music that it can come off as being disorienting. It can come off as being a chore to listen to in its entirety even if it lasts just over 30 minutes. One minute, you’re listening to a nice Beatles-inspired tune that’s been filled with some subtly energetic, punk-inspired performance that is ‘THE SERVER IS IMMERSED’ & in a blink of an eye, the whole song sinks into some sludge-singing with some awkward response of ‘I do’ in ‘IT MIGHT TAKE SOME TIME’. ‘I SUCK THE DEVIL’S COCK’ (I kid you not, that’s the actual title of one of the track) has barely audible vocals with some bizarre ringing & keyboard playing with abrupt changes between the parts & the cumulative effect is that I struggle to enjoy that song very much. It doesn’t help very much that the lyrical content is unspectacular to say the least & with the muffled vocals between the bombastic instrumentation, repeated listening can backfire the enjoyment even more. Take ‘BAD SON’ for example which, with its ruthless dream pop direction, was supposed to give off an impression of being romantic. Yet, the lines just gives off an impression that they’re ripped straight out of a bad Emo song:

“How do you wanna pass the time?

I know you wanna live so you can’t die

But no one knows my name, they don’t know why

“Someone wants my trust in lies

I’m a bad son, that’s why the family thinks twice

I don’t have love, I just sympathise nice”

It doesn’t matter what the context surrounding the record is. Some opt to use music as a vehicle to present what is essentially poetry (not that there’s anything wrong with it, I actually like singer-songwriters with this focus) like the Mountain Goats, others might feel charged to make music as an outright critique on the political/social conditions of their home like beloved rapper Mos Def/Yasiin Bey. The majority are likely going to make music for the adventurous opportunity to widen the ways in which we can craft songs. The issue is that if much of the record is squeezed to its core with the whole range of genres with barely any breathing room for a calming interlude, then the verses in question is only going to dilute how much I enjoy the album as the whole. It might as well be straight out of a Simple Plan single & I’m certain that its reputation in the circle is borderline laughable. At least ‘I don’t have love, I just sympathise nice’ is a good line though, however much it can be reminiscent of a stereotypical loner.

To end my review, this album is going to split some opinions & while I may not enjoy it even after many repeated listens, there are so many others who find it to be one of the most colourful record of the year. If you love albums with a complete disregard of accessibility & goes all in on pushing musicianship to its logical conclusion, be more than welcome to give this a listen. However, you might find that even that can have its limit & that there are moments where its drive can bite more than it can chew with no leash to put it in its place. Do so at your own risk.