The Garden
Mirror Might Steal Your Charm


4.0
excellent

Review

by chris. USER (51 Reviews)
March 31st, 2018 | 42 replies


Release Date: 2018 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Like a drunk wizard in my ear

Promptly around the time when the chorus kicks in on early cut “Shameless Shadow” and Wyatt Shears sings “what the flip you thinking bud” with his tongue audibly in his cheek, I find myself unable to hold back a ***-eating grin. The Garden play with such an over the top sound that I don’t hear from any other band right now, it’s both a good and bad thing. They’re goofy. They’re eclectic. But at the end of the day, they’re just such damn fun to listen to.

Experimental post punk really is the best tag for these guys, as nothing they do comes across as conventional. Bass is at the forefront of each and every song and mixed to such ridiculous high levels that it just works somehow. Keys, horns, cheesy pads and synths. The Garden sound the way the album cover looks. The tone and arrangements throughout the record screams circus. I mean it in the best way too. Vocal delivery is varied and delightful, ranging from sarcastic deadpan talking to typical in-your-face punk shouting. Lyrics have no meaning half the time. Either that or the meaning is so abstract and insane that only an equally crazy person would understand it.

But things like inane lyrics and circusy playing/singing styles are what make The Garden a blast to listen to. There isn’t any deeper meaning to reach for. No intimate moments or solemn words to bog down everything else. It’s just a tight collection of experimental arrangements and melodies that hit more than they miss. Anything different and The Garden would go down as the crazy junkies babbling nonsense by the side of the main road. Right now, though, they’re FUN crazy junkies babbling nonsense. And I couldn’t ask for anything more.



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user ratings (80)
3.7
great
other reviews of this album
grayfelt (4.5)
I heavily recommend this album just to hear what they have to offer, it won't be for most as it is p...



Comments:Add a Comment 
McTime50
March 31st 2018


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

woah, is this a mctime review. i thought he died 2 months ago.



you better not touch the new wonder years, that is my claim! (even though staff or contrib will get it instead :'( )

SandwichBubble
March 31st 2018


13796 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

This came up on spotify as a recommended and the cover really put me off. Might check this now.

McTime50
March 31st 2018


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

You may enjoy it, but that cover is perfect for the music. You'll know when you listen to it.

McTime50
March 31st 2018


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I also don't expect everyone (a large percentage actually) to really enjoy this release but I find it a lot of fun to just sit back and marvel at how zany the whole thing is. You can kinda just go along for the ride and smile.

SandwichBubble
March 31st 2018


13796 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I mean if it's post experimental alt-punk rock, it can't be too far out of my listening range. Hope I dig it

McTime50
March 31st 2018


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Hope you do too!

SandwichBubble
March 31st 2018


13796 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Okay, now I know why spotify was recommending me this. Definitely dug it, aside from a 2-3 songs

Mort.
March 31st 2018


25400 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

You fucking bastard i was gonna review this

Asdfp277
March 31st 2018


24385 Comments


what is this this looks cool

McTime50
March 31st 2018


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Asdfp277, its experimental post punk. check it out. :-)

McTime50
March 31st 2018


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

mort you can still review it lol. it might also get more exposure from you writing it than it ever would from me.



I assume you also thought this was pretty good.

Tranqyl
March 31st 2018


472 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

The record is definitely a nice bit of fun insanity. Good review.

TheBarber
March 31st 2018


4130 Comments


Thought Haha was ok with some potential, is this more focused ?

Tranqyl
March 31st 2018


472 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

A little bit. It's a better record overall, but it's kind of hard to pin anything these guys do as focused.

Mort.
March 31st 2018


25400 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

yeah these guys are pretty whimsical

McTime50
March 31st 2018


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

As of right now, I have to pin the favorite song tag to No Destination. It's really dreamy, even it's nothing like the rest of the album.



What about you guys, what are the goat tracks here.

SandwichBubble
March 31st 2018


13796 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Who Am I Going To Share All Of This Wine With? and Call The Dogs Out for me, boring picks maybe but I could see myself going back to those the most

McTime50
April 1st 2018


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I can't see any pick from this album as boring lol. Call The Dogs Out is really good yeah, I love the opening bassline.

Tranqyl
April 1st 2018


472 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Gotta throw some support for Make a Wish. It just sums up the album cover so perfectly. It's this crazy circusy punk-ish track.

McTime50
April 1st 2018


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Make a Wish has some fire drums ngl.



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