Highlights: Myth, Wild, The Hours, Troublemaker
Some have already
proclaimed this the or at least an album of the year, but I’m certainly
not going that far. You know that proverbial album where you enjoy every second
and every moment, but don’t find a single song you couldn’t live without. For
me, Bloom is more or less that sort
of album. Dreamy, engaging, melodic – just not gutsy enough. That said, fans of
the band and lovers of the genre (mellow dream pop, obviously) will find
another gorgeous and leisured world to wallow in. Nothing wrong with that.
Bloom
is a very well-written, well-constructed collection of songs. Much like Teen Dream before it. Not yet prepared
to say which album is better, but one thing for sure: you can’t beat these guys
in terms of consistency. Ten 4 and 5 minute dream pop confections with
slow-burning melodies and positive, charming vibes. Picking highlights is a
completely random thing here: they are all
good. Hey, nice tune, you would think. And then you would think that again.
And again.
The impeccable
instrumentation proves that the guys have mastered the form to the extent where
you could just sit back and admire the whole thing, bit by bit. Songs like
“Wild” or “Troublemaker” have such intriguing, hypnotic intros, you almost regret
the moment those hazy vocals come to wash you away and take to the world of
milk and honey. Thinking, rather cynically perhaps, that those vocals are more
lovely and precious than, well, beautiful.
Bloom
is a perfect album, that bit is certain. It so clearly was made to sound
perfect. My only problem with it – it may just be not great enough. But its
musing, infectious tentacles keep growing on and inside of me in a way most
irresistible and beguiling. I’m giving it a low 8 now, and feeling a tad
uncomfortable about that. Bloom is
not much. It’s a bit like plague. But God what a sweet, sweet plague.
8/10
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