Review Summary: Chill, lightly enjoyable, and flawed.
This psychedelic indie/garage rock record is as average as it is enjoyable. While the drum work is nothing memorable, the guitar front brings plenty trip-out moments, and some wiggly guitar melodies surprised me. Beyond that, well, this isn’t going to make your belated, year-end list. The light coat of psychedelia, including unexpected vocal parts and other oddities was nice, but done with little gusto. Songs blend into each other with little distinction despite the psychedelic moments. It’s not boring, but it’s getting there.
Laid back rock is the style, using guitars with swaying sounds, and the singer is average at best. Klaxons, The Beatles, and Wolfmother came to mind, though Wolfmother is a generous comparison. Sadly, Tropical Gothclub don’t rock very hard. There’s certainly influence from Dean Fertita’s presence in Queens of the Stone Age, but Tropical Gothclub lack the same punch. Aside from consistently catchy choruses (the highlight), the bass is basic, and the vocals are quite average. Their style is lackadaisical hippie couch potato, and in a way it’s somewhat calming, but I would’ve preferred some more energy. There is a time and place for this lazy, hazy music, but it’s not often.
