December 2024

Lauren Mayberry – Vicious Creature

Ramen Junkie December 27, 2024 2Comments

Probably my most anticipated album for this year, it felt like it had ended up delayed and delayed. I was feeling pretty hyped over a year ago, during the initial tour, and managed to keep that hype going pretty strong, thankfully. Being hyped doesn’t always make bias though, I have had plenty of albums I was excited for completely fizzle out.

This is not one of those. If I have any issue with this album, and its not a big one because its something a LOT of albums suffer from these days, its the lack of overall cohesion. Every track is really great. There isn’t really any sort of overall theme or flow holding them together.

And like I said, a lot of albums suffer from this. But, for a related example, CHVRCHES’ Screen Violence did not. It had a theme and a flow. I suppose Vicious Creature has a bit of a theme of nostalgic tribute to a lot of older acts, with some undercurrents of empowerment despite doubt. But it doesn’t really feel as there as it could be.

Anyway, about half the songs were featured during the initial tour set list (Bird and *Under the Knife *did not make the cut). There have also been several singles put out over the last year or so leading up to release. Before getting into the album itself, I am a bit disappointed Bird did not make the but, but Under the Knife was my least favorite from the tour setlist, so I am not super sad it didn’t.

I figure I will just run through the tracks and give some thoughts on each. Something in the Air was the first new single we got that wasn’t already known. I believe in an interview she said it was inspired by an older British musician who had been talking conspiracy thoughts to her at one point. I really like this track, and the low-fi into bit works well as the album opener. I really love the build-up and the chorus riffs. It also feels like there is a bit of an undertone commentary on the world a bit with the whole “screaming through a red white and blue megaphone (the colors of the US and Britain, and “patriotism”) about conspiracy theories, while “I just wanna be someone (someone) who’s happy…”

Like, just leave people alone with your crazy nonsense.

Crocodile Tears is the second track, with themes of toxic masculinity, which kind of carries over a bit from Something in the Air. I really like this track as well and it was one of my favorites from the tour set. I love the thumping beats of this one in general, and the lyrics are fun.

Another tour track, and also one of the singles, Shame comes into slot three. While I do like the break out part near the end of the song, I have actually started to dislike this song a bit over time. I can’t really place why, maybe its just gotten a bit repetitious. Shame is followed by a nice little low key number, Anywhere But Dancing. It almost feels like a bit of a love song but its laced with melancholia in its tones and lyrics.

Next up, two new tracks. Punch Drunk, a song I can’t decide if I really like or really dislike. I feel like I just kind of really dislike the first half, but I really like the back half. The first of two piano ballads comes in with Oh Mother. It’s a sober and personal feeling track about family relationship changing over time. Its probably arguably the best song on the album, but I am not really into this style of song and I mostly skip over Oh Mother.

Things take a sharp turn though with Sorry, Etc, my initial favorite song, and favorite from the tour set. It’s a fast, loud, and angry rock track. Despite what people seem to be thinking, it is NOT some sort of breakup record towards CHVRCHES. Its intended as a commentary on the fame industry as a whole. I want to say I saw one comment that it was a comment on the often actual abuse that occurs with young people in the music and acting industry.

Whatever the case, I love it, a lot. To some extent for my own personal reasons.

Sorry, etc is followed by the pop-bop Change Shapes. I like Change Shapes a lot for its upbeat pop sound for sure, but I kind of feel like over time I may get a bit tired of it from over-listening, like Shame. Mantra follows up next, while I like this track, I can see it being disliked a bit. It’s very repetitious, but also, intentionally so, because, “I will say the mantra, until it is a curse.” I like the increasing distortion on the repeating “I want it” mantra.

The next two are both new again, and definitely my favorite and growing favorite from the album. Work of Fiction is definitely my favorite from the album at this point. I love the quick running lyrics and rhythm. I love the sort of, double meaning of the chorus.

“What if all I want is a work of fiction?”

What if all I want is an unachievable lie? What if all I want is to escape from everything awful into a fake reality?

Maybe I am reading too much into it.

Anyway, the release single comes next with Sunday Best, which is just an all around solid track, but I particularly like the break out moment that has a strong feel of “preaching” to it, in a song called “Sunday Best,” which is a teem used for “Church clothes.”. Then of course the third tier of that with Lauren being the frontwoman for CHVRCHES.

The final track is another piano ballad, and the first single from the album Are You Awake. I don’t have a lot to say about it other than it’s my least favorite track from the album, and I am glad it’s the last one

Ramen Junkie

Josh Miller aka “Ramen Junkie”.  I write about my various hobbies here.  Mostly coding, photography, and music.  Sometimes I just write about life in general.  I also post sometimes about toy collecting and video games at Lameazoid.com.

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