Skip to main content

IN REVIEW: Walrus - "Family Hangover"


This album has been a long time coming for Walrus. The Haligonian band started up five years ago, releasing a couple of EPs and touring extensively (including some opening dates for Wintersleep, which is how I first heard them) before finally getting around to this debut record. Listening to Family Hangover, it's clear that great care was taken in their first full-length statement. While rooted in psych-pop, there are several styles at play over the course of its ten tracks; there are splashes of new wave, power pop and modern indie rock throughout, and its dreamy and full-blooded soundscape feel both methodical and organic.

Take the slow burning, jangly lead track Later Days, the sun kissed balladry of the title track's opening section, or the rose-colored R.E.M. jam Step Outside; all tunes that can be lazily pegged as psychedelic, but upon further inspection these songs aren't mere callbacks to the days of free love and LSD or blatant Beatles worship. There's a ragged modern charm running under the surface, a classic aesthetic filtered through contemporary methods. This is more apparent on the album's second half, as Free Again starts off with some percussive electronics, while Glam lays its bass-heavy groove on thick and is a little distortion away from being post-grunge. Closing track What Goes On, meanwhile, approaches alt-country territory en route to the album's most pleasing guitar work.

So yes, while on the whole Family Hangover hearkens back to a certain place and time, there are plenty of layers to peel back and darkened corners to explore; given proper attention and repeat listens, Family Hangover is a consistent and rich experience, and one that was certainly worth the wait.

June 9, 2017 • Madic Records
Highlights Family Hangover • Regular Face • What Goes On

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Year in Rock 2025

  Alright, I've got some explaining to do.   By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but:   a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2014: And the Winners Are...

It's been a long year, and another great one for rock n' roll. While the pop charts were overrun with barely legals obsessed with their asses, rock soldiered on undeterred even as pundits (hell, in some cases even rockers themselves) mourned the genre. Sure, rock didn't dominate the money game in 2014, but that shouldn't evoke sad nostalgia and eulogies. Even for as little perceived impact rock music made, a hell of a lot happened if people had only paid attention. From grizzled vets adding jewels to their crown (Springsteen, Petty) to new beginnings (Against Me!, Antemasque) to happy returns (Faith No More, The Tea Party) and all points in between, rock continued to thrive, evolve and thrill in 2014. Enough talk. It's winning time. Your Year in Rock winners for 2014 are...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hear Me Out: Why Do A Greatest Hits Album?

So, Silversun Pickups announced a "singles collection" today. Now, I'm no expert on "singles" or "hits" compilations; even so, I've got to say this announcement threw me for a loop for a couple of reasons. For starters, isn't it a bit early for a band like Silversun Pickups to be given the "greatest hits" treatment? I know, I know, it's a "singles collection". But, come on; it looks like a greatest hits album, it smells like a greatest hits album, so on so forth. More importantly, though, are these really necessary entities in 2014? I mean, who is this album for? Casual fans who've already downloaded the singles they like or established fans who are expected to shill out $15 for one new song?
1 comment
Read more