On Belly’s first album in 23 years, they basically pick up where they left off in 1995. Opening track “Mine” is a throwback to classic Belly, great harmonies, melodic guitars and all. First single “Shiny One” follows a similar suit, though the guitars are tuned up a bit more, which elevates the song into a cool ‘90s throwback crossed with a 21st century feel.
“Faceless” has a great riff, and the harmonies of Gail Greenwood and Tanya Donnelly are as great as they’ve ever been. It’s definitely one of the highlights. On the other hand, “Suffer The Fools” feels like a bland track from one of Donnelly’s mid-2000’s solo records. However, all is not so bleak; the pedal steel on “Artifact” is quite surprising and really highlights the track, making it all the more memorable. Meanwhile, “Stars Align” is a great slow rocker that adds to the album’s general likability.
Overall, though, it doesn’t really feel like there is much here to excite today’s listener, and if you’re not into ‘90s nostalgia, you might not be a fan of this record. But if you’ve always been a fan of this band or Tanya Donnelly in general, then you’re going to love this record to death!