Review Summary: Free your mind. Have a good time.
A critic shouldn’t just say an album is worthy of a great praise just because it is catchy and stupid fun. Now, I am no critic… so that introductory statement goes out of the window. Landlady’s
The World is a Loud Place is a ridiculously catchy album with almost unheard of melodic patterns. It is not just another silly pop album with some occasionally pleasant tunes and sugary instrumentation. It is in fact a nonstop ride of instrumental versatility, play on intensity and atmosphere, song-writing mastery and -have I mentioned this already?- the single catchiest songs you’ll hear all year.
Case and point, “Electric Abdomen” as the album’s opener is as whacky a track as one could ever wish. Just like its follow-up “Cadaver”, or “Person”, or “Hard to Spell”, sweet, sweet “Nina” and literally every single succeeding cut on the record. Talking about one song is like talking about all of them. The band hit a goldmine and they are digging deeper and deeper, drawing precious songs until there are seemingly no more possibly left.
However, do not let the fact that this is just a fun pop album mislead you into thinking that there is nothing beyond that to it. It is far from being electronic, so do not be frightened of any overcompressed beats or breakdowns. The band actually makes a good effort to differentiate the tracks’ tunes even within themselves. They can increase in volume, gain on subtlety or unexpectedly change the progression to something alternative, yet oddly fitting. It’s always a treat, no matter what follows. And the instantly memorable songs just fill you up with pure, untethered joy that always, always, always makes you crazy excited for the track to come. And you are never disappointed. With
The World is a Loud Place, you cannot be.
