Dance And Cry

Mother Mother

Universal Music Canada, 2018

http://www.mothermothersite.com

REVIEW BY: Pete Crigler

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 02/24/2019

Canadian indie pop-rock has done a few things in the last few years. Mother Mother used to be a straightforward band, but they’ve evolved and not necessarily for the best. On their umpteenth album, the band goes all over the place and tries to land in the center of the dartboard but end up veering wildly. Opening track “I Must Cry Out Loud” is a slow burner that doesn’t really go anywhere. It just stays static in one place and doesn’t pick one up or let one down. It’s a bit of a bummer actually. Not much here is actually decent. From what I remember, these guys used to be a bit more indie rock influenced, but in the years since, they’ve shifted over towards a full pop direction that doesn’t quite work.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

“Get Up” is a decent enough track, though it feels like stuff that’s been done a thousand times before. But it’s currently a huge hit in Canada, so go figure. Hard to tell if “Good at Loving You” is supposed to be a joke, but it sure as hell feels like it. I don’t know if you could classify this stuff as pop or New Wave but whatever it is, it’s not that great.

“Give Me Back the Night” is an interesting track and one of the better ones here. It’s got enough upbeat energy to keep it alive and it isn’t boring as hell, unlike “Back To Life,” which feels like the complete opposite, kind of like a B-level Fitz & The Tantrums.

“Only Love” is a complete 180, a lowkey ballad that really works and showcases a different side of the band, something they should stick with a bit more often. It’s just a really good song and definitely one of the cooler tracks I’ve heard lately. A song like this would sound great alongside some Of Monsters And Men and Head And The Heart. Meanwhile “Keep” is a nice enough ballad to close things up, not as great as “Only Love” but a pleasant enough track.

What you’ve got here is some decent enough material but not enough to make a truly great record. But what’s good here is still better than 85% of the crap that’s currently passing for popular music, and hey, who knew it would come from Canada?

Rating: C

User Rating: Not Yet Rated


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