Beaches - Second of Spring Album Review
The anticipated release of the double LP, Second of Spring, by the Australian all-female rock band, Beaches, made its debut on Sept. 8. The quintet filled the 17 song album with heavy bass fills, a steady drum beat, guitar solos and a rare sound of smooth, mysterious vocals. The entire album put out a psychedelic rock feel, which is no surprise coming from these women, but the aesthetic isn’t the thing that should be focused on. This underrated band has created a new sound of music for the 21st century to have and appreciate. Seeing the year 2017 next to the album cover and not 1969 may genuinely surprise people, which is why their music should gain nothing but praise and appreciation from the indie rock genre.
The album begins with a fast and steady drum beat. The song then immediately flows into a heavy bass and guitar riff. It’s an immediate attention grabber, especially for the first song. Throughout the rest of the album, the songs have a tendency to grab attention by having a solid, loud drum hit, to an immediate guitar solo, to even fade-in vocals. They do an excellent job of grabbing their listeners ears from the very beginning of the song and letting them sink into it slowly.
In general, the album is a bit instrumental. There are only seven or eight songs with vocals out of the 17. Music nowadays is usually filled with lyrics making stories, telling memories and making you think. It’s rare to find a heavy instrumental song on an album, let alone a heavy instrumental album. It is easy to find yourself bored or checking your phone and to sort of zone out from listening to the song. Sometimes when a song has been playing for 8 minutes and it’s been nothing but the same guitar riff and drum beat over and over, it’s easy to lose yourself in the world around you rather than listen to the music.
If the band is going to release a double LP and have an album be almost an hour and a half, it would seem fitting to have some kind of songs with lyrics so the audience can sing along to and make the songs memorable. It would catch their attention and draw it more to the music.
Another criticism that arose after listening to the album was the repetitive nature of the songs. It seemed that the flow of the song stayed the same from beginning to end. There were not many breakdowns or rhythm changes, which is another element that could factor into the boredom of the listeners.
This funky, psychedelic vibe is no stranger to Beaches. Their previous albums and EPs have received much praise for the old-fashioned songs that they create, their first album even earning a spot in 100 Best Australian Albums. They are praised for their consistency and 60s rock feel in a world of Justin Biebers and Macklemores. It’s an amazing album to listen to if you want to just sit back, listen to some music, and forget about smartphones, politics and football games.
Rating: 6/10
Lilly Adams is a freshman majoring in Film/Video Studies. To contact her, email lillyadams11@gmail.com.
