
Morning World is as eclectic as they come. The new LP by The Soft Underground is an ambitious medley, infused with all of the subtlest of grunge nuances, interwoven in songs for all moods and occasions.
The album is extremely diverse, but the songs can generally be divided into two categories. The first one is the expected, full-on, all-out grunge bangers which we all know, love and miss, but the second category is what makes Morning World truly stand out.
The palpable stylistic theme that pops up in this second, still eclectic category, is nostalgia. Sometimes, it comes in the form of unassuming guitar and slide guitar solos which discretely drift along very โ90s-like rhythmical, catchy progressions and hit the melancholic bitter-sweet spot. This is particularly true in the eponymous song โMorning Worldโ which can be defined as the boiled-down essence of the album, at least when it comes to its more lyrical aspects. The songโs evocative vocals sound like a confession, somewhat reminiscent of Eddie Vedderโs effusions.
โAmong Angelsโ and its kind of heavy, fizz-laden progressions and rhythm conjures up the Cranberries, and once again, the singing sounds open, bare, genuine.
โTimes Goes By,โ as the title suggests, is again a tribute to the passage of time, best felt in its haunting guitar melodies and slide solos.
โSullen Eyesโ is my personal favorite. Itโs one of those classic โ90s grunge/alternative rock songs which sound as if theyโve been recorded on the fly from a bedroom and straight from the heart. Itโs simple, yet catchy guitar progression becomes the perfect backdrop for strikingly haunting slide guitar solos to carry you along the story which sounds like the singerโs open letter youโre lucky to be privy to. Itโs the kind of song that could give a lot of substance and flavor to a film montage.
โAddi,โ on the other hand, sounds almost like a song youโd expect to hear in some fancy New York cocktail party in the โ60s. A testament to The Soft Undergroundโs incredible range and flexibility of expression.
Overall, a great and exciting album that you wouldnโt get fed up with easily, whether youโre a grunge fan or not.
[bandcamp width=700 height=472 album=2193174532 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 artwork=small]
