BODEGA - Endless Scroll
I am really excited to write about this new debut that came out yesterday: Endless Scroll from Brooklyn post-punk group BODEGA. To say the least, I have been floored by the post-punk releases of 2018: Shopping, Moaning, Frigs, Ought, Iceage, and Shame all instantly come to mind. I have yet to hear one I have hated so far in the genre - it really seems to be picking up momentum with its superb balance of boundary-breaking and listenability. Endless Scroll continues the trend, creating a succinct 14-song, 33-minute set of danceable and surprisingly hooky music for the genre. Each song bounces along with humor and clarity, brandishing post-punk's straightforward sound and lyrics in the standard but still very enjoyable fashion. The beat and grooves are great, but the lyrics are what keeps the band from muddying the punk waters, leaving the genre as yet to fall into potential cash-grab territory.
The album starts off in a way typical to 2018 post-punk: a throbbing bassline, tom groove, and atonal singing. The opening lines ("It's a new world now don't discriminate, everyone is equally a master and a slave") have a charged punky sentiment, which you later realize is ironic as the narrator sees you "smugly walk past," clearing blaming you for not understanding your questions of "how did this happen?" The little details of the song are what bring it to life: the concept of standing by and doing nothing is told through the character watching the marches and demonstrations, all the while thinking "hey, there's a half off sale at Barnes and Noble!" Of course, these bits of humor encourage a chortle but are also wonderfully double-edged to be telling about modern society. The technological concepts of the "endless scroll" of your iPhone and the "Bookmarks" you make to maintain your monotonous routine; the "secret to my success" in "Gyrate" and the depressed individual's realization that "truth is not punishment". Usually, even the saddest remarks come across as catchy and happy, so clearly the band has succeeded in their sharp juxtapositions.
What surprises the most is how hooky and singable the songs are without having almost any vocal melodies. "How Did This Happen?!" is filled with riffs that keep getting more memorable with each repetition, and the other standout "Can't Knock the Hustle" uses its sharp wit and under two-minute runtime to continually seem fresh. "Jack in Titanic" actually does have a vocal melody, and while this initially seems out of place, it displays how each track develops its own character. Other than this track, the primary factor holding together Endless Scroll is the band's youthful energy, the punch that defines a truly punk sound. Not one of the band's qualities is ultimately unique, but they have found a working combination that makes the album feel new, as all successful modern bands do nowadays. The band channels classics like Gang of Four, but with some pop and dance à la LCD Soundsystem thrown in - and in the current state of rock music, hearing a band's influences has actually become a recipe for success.
In short, just about everything on this release works. The listener has a lot of short songs to deal with, so they never feel bored by excess or cheated out of a full length. You can listen to the lyrics for some new perspective or motivation, or just get out some pent-up energy on the dancefloor. Endless Scroll is an essential summer cut of modern youth, both playfully sarcastic as well as exciting and uncompromising. For indie and punk lovers, this release will not disappoint - your summer plans away from college have a new soundtrack.
The album starts off in a way typical to 2018 post-punk: a throbbing bassline, tom groove, and atonal singing. The opening lines ("It's a new world now don't discriminate, everyone is equally a master and a slave") have a charged punky sentiment, which you later realize is ironic as the narrator sees you "smugly walk past," clearing blaming you for not understanding your questions of "how did this happen?" The little details of the song are what bring it to life: the concept of standing by and doing nothing is told through the character watching the marches and demonstrations, all the while thinking "hey, there's a half off sale at Barnes and Noble!" Of course, these bits of humor encourage a chortle but are also wonderfully double-edged to be telling about modern society. The technological concepts of the "endless scroll" of your iPhone and the "Bookmarks" you make to maintain your monotonous routine; the "secret to my success" in "Gyrate" and the depressed individual's realization that "truth is not punishment". Usually, even the saddest remarks come across as catchy and happy, so clearly the band has succeeded in their sharp juxtapositions.
What surprises the most is how hooky and singable the songs are without having almost any vocal melodies. "How Did This Happen?!" is filled with riffs that keep getting more memorable with each repetition, and the other standout "Can't Knock the Hustle" uses its sharp wit and under two-minute runtime to continually seem fresh. "Jack in Titanic" actually does have a vocal melody, and while this initially seems out of place, it displays how each track develops its own character. Other than this track, the primary factor holding together Endless Scroll is the band's youthful energy, the punch that defines a truly punk sound. Not one of the band's qualities is ultimately unique, but they have found a working combination that makes the album feel new, as all successful modern bands do nowadays. The band channels classics like Gang of Four, but with some pop and dance à la LCD Soundsystem thrown in - and in the current state of rock music, hearing a band's influences has actually become a recipe for success.
In short, just about everything on this release works. The listener has a lot of short songs to deal with, so they never feel bored by excess or cheated out of a full length. You can listen to the lyrics for some new perspective or motivation, or just get out some pent-up energy on the dancefloor. Endless Scroll is an essential summer cut of modern youth, both playfully sarcastic as well as exciting and uncompromising. For indie and punk lovers, this release will not disappoint - your summer plans away from college have a new soundtrack.
Comments
Post a Comment