Never Loved 'Over It' - Album Review

 

     Florida alternative rock band Never Loved has finally dropped their long-awaited debut album 'Over It'. Since the release of the band's first EP titled simply, 'Never Loved', and a tour with bands such as Like Pacific, Homesafe, Assuming We Survive and We Were Sharks in 2019, Never Loved began to accumulate a bigger fan following. With that following, came fans eager to see what was next. Over the course of the following year, the band would hint at a song called 'Autumn' which kept fans on their toes as to when they would end up releasing it. With the announcement of their debut album, also came the release of 'Autumn' and we finally got to hear everything the guys have worked so hard on. 

     The first taste fans got of the album was with the release of three singles which included 'Over It', 'Sunshine' and 'On and On It Goes', as well as 'Autumn which was the last single released before the album's debut. All the singles that were released were so different from one another, it was a nice variety of styles that there was something for everyone. 'Over It' is the first single, first track and the title of the album makes it the most important one out of the three as it is the kicker for the rest of the album. As a first single, it was the best choice. If you are an older listener of Never Loved, 'Over It' is exactly what you'd expect, it doesn't stray far from what old fans know and love, but for new fans who have never listened to Never Loved before this album, this first single will definitely catch your attention. The catchy chorus will have you humming "La de da da da da da" to yourself non stop and any song that gets stuck in your head must be a good one! The following singles included 'Sunshine' and 'On and On It Goes'. 'Sunshine' is heavier than the band's past work and it fits them so well! The pre-chorus reminds me of early 2000's rock/alternative music. Once the chorus hits, all you can imagine is screaming and jumping to this song in a pit, and then the bridge hits, and the instruments cut out and then come back into a sick guitar riff. The third single 'On and On It Goes' is a perfect mixture of both previous singles. It starts off with a kind of acoustic vibe and by the time the chorus hits, all the instruments come in, and once again you can scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs. Last but not least, we have 'Autumn'. This song is much different than anything the band has previously released as it's a mainly acoustic song with simple guitar, tambourines, and drums. It's the perfect pace and on the album itself, it comes after a beautiful interlude that transitions perfectly into it. For fans who waited almost 2 years for this song, the wait was definitely worth it. It really helps show how Never Loved can really do any type of song, from a rock song to a heavier song, to an acoustic ballad. There's isn't much this band can't do! 

     The rest of 'Over It' is also outstanding. Not one song is weaker than the others, all the songs flow so seamlessly together, its an album you need to listen to from front to back rather than on shuffle for the full experience. 'Over It' really shows the band's progression as a band and for a band who are newer to the scene, you will be blown away by their talent. The album has such a unique sound to it that it can not really be compared to anything, which says a lot! Never Loved have made an album that is the true definition of alternative rock and they are about to change the game! For a debut album, the time and attention to detail that went into creating 'Over It' shows with every single song. Definitely give this album and band a listen if you are into this genre of music because you will for sure find a song that resonates with you and wouldn't you want to follow a band that is this talented and will just continue to make better and better music as they continue to grow?! 'Over It' by Never Loved gets a 10/10!   

        

Ashton Irwin 'Superbloom' - Album Review

With 2020 being the way it is, it has allowed bands and band members to step out of their comfort zones and release different projects. This includes Ashton Irwin (drummer of 5 Seconds of Summer), who just released his debut solo album titled 'Superbloom.' Ashton explained in an Instagram post; "The album title SUPERBLOOM lasted the WHOLE process. I came up with the title alongside the first song we made. It sounded to me like my favourite 90's record that never existed." 'Superbloom' shows a more vulnerable Ashton side that fans of 5SOS have not been exposed to before. With themes of eating disorders, mental health and love, it shows that everyone deals with similar situations in their lives, and you are not alone. There is something on this album for everyone.

The album begins with 'SCAR,' which was the third and final promo single to be released. The song focuses on Ashton's struggles with depression. In the second verse, he references his mother, with who Ashton has a close relationship, significantly since she raised Ashton as a single parent, and he was the one to help her take care of his younger siblings. The third and fifth verses also mention his siblings. The first sibling he references is his sister Lauren. Ashton has stated she has helped him through tough times and has supported him since the beginning, and loves her. The next verse is for his brother Harry in which Ashton says he speaks to every day and hopes that he can help him grow into a better man. 'SCAR' is an excellent example of the 90's rock that inspired the whole album! (It even has a bit of harp in it!) 

The album continues with its 90's rock-inspired sound for the next songs. 'Have You Found What You're Looking For' and 'Skinny Skinny' contain that grungy guitar that was popular back in the late '90s? Ashton does what he does best with the drums on 'Have You Found What You're Looking For' and harmonizes with himself, showing off his vocal range that fans have waited so long to hear, especially during the bridge where Ashton holds the notes for a lengthy duration of time. 

'Skinny Skinny' is more on the grungier side with an intro consisting of palm muting on an acoustic guitar, which sounds similar to the Nirvana classic 'All Apologies.'  The first single released, 'Skinny Skinny,' focuses on eating disorders and the struggle of not feeling like you belong in your body. Ashton explains how he did not feel comfortable in his body, which caused him to suffer from an eating disorder (probably bulimia).  Indicated in the post-chorus with the lyrics "I wanna eat, I wanna stay thin," as well as the lyrics "My fingers stretching into my larynx" in the second verse. This song is an excellent example of how even men can suffer from body image issues, and this was Ashton's way of educating others on a sometimes taboo topic. 

The cruel treatment inspired the next track titled 'Greyhound.' Ashton witnessed what greyhound racing dogs would endure before their races and if they did not place in the top three when he worked at a racing business.  A heavier song musically and lyrically, when you know the origins of the track, you can begin to imagine the lyrics coming from the dog's point of view. 'Greyhound' is the song you think of when someone mentions rock. From the bass to the guitar solo after the bridge, to the vocals, rock is the genre that Ashton's voice was made for. 

Halfway through the record, we reach an interlude appropriately titled 'Matter of Time.' Featuring cellos and other string instruments, this two minute almost ballad is a reminder to the listeners that even though you might be struggling with something at a point in your life, there is still time for things to get better, and they will. So do not give up because you won't always feel this way, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 

'Sunshine' is a song that seems appropriate to how the world is at the current moment. In this song, Ashton describes how he is upset at society's way but should always look for the sunshine to distract yourself from all the negativity. Also featuring cellos, but with just a faster tempo, 'Sunshine' is the perfect transition from the previous interlude. Using a 3/4 timing, same as the Waltz, the music sounds just like what you would think of when you think about sunshine, and you can even picture yourself sitting on a sunny mountain top admiring the view!

Bringing back the synthesizers and powerful drum beats, we reach probably the loudest and darkest song on the entire album. 'The Sweetness' is referencing the happy thoughts in Ashton's head that are overpowering the demons that also live inside him. The lyrics are very repetitive, which in this case works well with the theme of the song. When you go through depression, your emotions kind of go in waves. One second you are having all these evil thoughts (the darkness), and then the next thing you know, you start to feel like yourself again (the sweetness), and the cycle continues non stop. As the song concludes, you are greeted with a creepy sounding voice. The voice is likely representing the darkness and how it is still there and always waiting to creep back into your head again.

Not your typical breakup song, 'I'm To Blame', doesn't focus on the relationship's negatives. Still, more of Ashton admitting that he blames himself for the relationship ending but then explains that it isn't a negative thing that the relationship ended, as it helped both of them find their right paths in life. Once again, Ashton shows off his vocal range and unique drumming abilities that we all love him for.

Possibly one of the more personal songs on Superbloom, 'Drive,' is a song Ashton wrote for his girlfriend who's dad passed away, and Ashton was with here while she was experiencing this terrible loss in her life. The song's main idea is learning how to process your grief and have someone help you through it rather than letting it become this thing that completely blinds you. The way Ashton thought of helping his girlfriend with her grief was to take her for a drive around California since there are plenty of lookouts and places to drive away from the city and help you clear your thoughts where they can sit in private and talk about anything you need to get off your chest. Just taking a drive and being there for someone while dealing with something is sometimes all that person needs to feel better. 

Finally, we reach the final song titled 'Perfect Lie.' Opening with a synth and an electronic voice effect creating a futuristic tone to the music. In an Instagram live, Ashton explained that this song's idea stemmed from old songs he and the boys in 5sos wrote when starting as a band. The whole piece is Ashton saying how he loved the songs he wrote with the band at the time, but as they all got older, he began to fall out of love with certain songs even if these songs brought them to where they are now. The lyric "I'll try to love without hating you" is a nod to those older songs with Ashton saying that he wants to stop hating on the type of music he released at a different time in his life. He also mentions how some of their most popular songs are breakup songs, and now that those are the band's most famous songs, they are forced in a sense to play them every night, bringing them back to the mindset they had when they originally released the songs rather than moving on from once was. 

In the end, 'Superbloom' is a fantastic album for a first-time solo artist! You can tell with each song that Ashton put his entire heart and soul into them. This album is a great way to see a more vulnerable side of him that many fans may not have known before. 'Superbloom' is not the album you think of when someone says 5sos, but Ashton has successfully made an album that shows a different music style that would not necessarily work for his band. Ashton is an inspiration for other artists that want to make a side project who may be too scared to do so, but without 'Superbloom,' nobody may have ever known what Ashton was capable of creating! You can listen to 'Superbloom' for yourself on any streaming service, and be sure to follow Ashton on his social media to be kept up to date with him and his music!

 

Why Don't We '8 Letters' - Album Review

     2018's newest breakout boyband Why Don't We released their debut album titled "8 Letters" after a year-long wait. No strangers to the music world, the boys of Why Don't We's long-awaited debut album has finally been brought into the world. The album which features the singles 'Hooked' and 'Talk' is a much more mature sound for the boys with more mature lyrics. Featuring 8 songs (only a couple more songs than their previous 5 song EPs) all written by the boys themselves. Most songs consisting of the same theme of love and heartbreak. All the songs sound much more different than what the fans would expect, with less repetition of the lyrics but still keeping with their known catchy choruses. There is no doubt that everyone will find at least one song they claim as a favorite with a mixture of both slow sad type songs such as "Hard" and upbeat catchy songs like "Friends." You can tell a lot of time and work went into the writing as well as the recording process. No matter what song you listen to you will automatically recognize it as a Why Don't We song with each boy's distinct vocals and how all of the tracks sound like something you've never heard before. For fans just getting into Why Don't We because of this album are going to be really impressed with the evolution of the band when compared to their last EP released late 2017 titled 'Invitation'. Every track on the album has a different story behind it and none of the tracks sound similar which is great to hear from a band labeled as the stereotypical boyband. The boys wrote songs that are more mature and aimed more at fans and people their own ages (17-20). Why Don't We has a lot of younger fans which they were aware of and you could tell with the lyrics they would write on previous EPs that had songs that were more for the younger crowd but with '8 Letters' the boys prove that they don't have to stick to writing innocent lyrics in order to stay "on brand". Fans who are around the age of the boys and even fans who are older will appreciate the riskier lyric approach the boys took while still staying appropriate for the younger fans. The album also consists of different background instrumentals rather than the same dance beat heard on their past work. Overall, Why Don't We exceeded all of the expectations and came out with a fabulous debut album which will without a doubt help them in their rise to fame.

Why Don't We's debut album 8 Letters is available on iTunes, Spotify, and other streaming services so don't hesitate to give this album a listen!!