Why review this album?
This is the first album that I am reviewing from a recommendation from one of my Instagram followers (huge shout out to Martín for this one.) Feel free to send me recommendations through the comment box or DM me on Instagram if you have more!
Dreamland
This song is aptly named with reverb-laden marimba and sweeping strings building, well, a ‘Dreamland’ vibe. Ethereal vocals keep the vibe going. Based on the album cover, I was expecting a bit more vaporwave or synthwave but I guess this is more dreampop. I like it; getting warm and cozy, almost lullaby like feels from this one.
7 out of 10
Tangerine
Is it just me or does this sound like Wii shop music with a nice beat and vocals? I mean this in a good way; ‘Tangerine’ is extremely catchy. Super poppy, super upbeat, all good chill vibes. The drumbeat takes second stage only to the vocals; while there may be 808 bass elsewhere, the drums are so simple yet so clean and really drew my attention. The synths are great also. Like this tune!
8 out of 10
((home movie: 1994))
This is a seven second clip. Not reviewing it.
??? out of 10
Hot Sugar
Okay these lyrics sound so similar to the other Glass Animals song I know: ‘Gooey’ and this is a good thing. This tune feels a bit more subdued and intimate compared to the previous tracks on the album. In general, I’ve noticed the production quality on this album is solid to very good; nothing is overwhelming, and everything is mixed very well.
8 out of 10
((home movie: btx))
14 seconds. Not reviewing either.
??? out of 10
Space Ghost Coast To Coast
I like the intro and build up of this song. You get a warbly, rubber-band sounding bass line, then the drums, then the vocals. And once again, the vocals are just so damn catchy. I just wish that there was “more” to the song; I get Billie Eilish vibes a la ‘Bad Guy’ from this track with the immaculate yet minimalistic beat here. Also, a lot of the lyrics are just direct references to pop-culture from the 80’s/90’s.
7 out of 10
Tokyo Drifting
How did this trap song sneak its way on the album? Definitely a change of pace from the previous tunes. Not a banger by any means but a lower gear song especially for the typically fiery Denzel Curry. I think the second half of the song is my favorite part of the song as I especially like the trumpet-like synths.
Wait, there’s the Denzel Curry I’m used to. I just had to wait for it. This song slaps. I take it all back.
9 out of 10
Melon and the Coconut
‘Melon and the Coconut’ feels dreamy but the lyrics kind of turn me off: it’s almost a litany of random things seen and experience in a dream (at least that’s what I heard…) I like the guitar solo (if that’s what it is) in the middle. But otherwise, not digging this one.
5 out of 10
Your Love (Déjà Vu)
The bass and drums really drive this song but the trilling synths keep it going. I like the addition of guitar in this one too. The chorus keeps you grooving along as well. The vocals double up halfway through the song, adding some much-needed depth and body. But in the first mixing error on the album, the vocals are mixed at the same level as the instruments, making it a bit difficult to understand what’s being said. This song is still good though.
8 out of 10
Waterfalls Coming Out Your Mouth
The volume in this song is all over the place. Kind of a minimal beat similar to some of the previous songs on the album. To be honest, I’m not really digging this one. I think it comes down to the melody not being my cup of tea as, again, a lot of the instruments/vocals are similar to previous songs.
6 out of 10
It’s all So Incredibly Loud
Okay, interesting filtering on the drums in the intro. This one also take a while to build up with guitar and a single “oooooooh” for the vocals for a while. After the first verse, the build-up continues. Maybe 2:45 in, things start to peak. I really like the thematic elements here (i.e. crescendo, the title, the lyrical content, etc.) I just think it takes a while to reach the destination and that limits whether I would listen to it on its own.
7 out of 10
((home movie: rockets))
I think this is more of a skit than an actual song although there are chords and drums here. So I will refrain from rating this song although I do like the melodic content here.
??? out of 10
Domestic Bliss
Beginning sounds like Radiohead, especially off ‘In Rainbows’. Vocals are compelling and have enough variety to keep you interested. It just seems a little strange to have a Radiohead-esque beat with these lyrics though, it seems dissonant to me somehow. It’s not bad though.
7 out of 10
Heat Waves
I have heard about this song but haven’t really heard it yet; seems to be the standout single from this album. I can see why it gets radio play (is radio play a thing still?). Everything about this song is catchy: the hip-hop beat with trap hi hats, simple and compelling vocals, even the synth!
8 out of 10
((home movie: shoes on))
30 second skit/chords. No rating.
??? out of 10
Helium
I feel like ‘Helium’ does a great job of bringing us back to the world that Glass Animals promised in the first few songs. Slightly warbly guitar, soaring vocals, and drums mixed way in the back give you the ethereal dreamlike sensations you are looking for. Dreampop and bubblegum as far as the eye can see.
8 out of 10
Summary
I’m torn here. Finishing Dreamland made me crave more of the dreampop, nostalgic vibes that opened and closed the album. Yet at the same time, I appreciated the interspersed variation and I strongly feel some of the best songs on the album were part of this variation (e.g. ‘Tokyo Drifiting’). Ultimately though, the album structure didn’t really work that great for me. Love the singles though!