ALBUM REVIEW: Krill ‘Lucky Leaves’

Rating:

While it was originally released in North America in 2013, Krill’s Lucky Leaves has only just hit the UK – and with 2 bonus tracks for its UK release.

Kicking off with ‘Theme For Krill’, vocalist Jonah Furman makes us instantly aware of his vocal abilities. It’s intensely desperate, with shouts of  “Krill, Krill, Krill forever” essentially setting the tone for the whole album. It’s aggressive, full of angst, and filled with enough power to take over the world. Imagine The Pixies, merged with Modest Mouse.

Despite the manic nature of the vocals, particularly in the band’s ‘theme tune’, the album is beautifully controlled and melodic. The solidarity of the band – the tight chord progressions and invigorating riffs – both balances and carries the vocals. That’s not to say the vocals aren’t fantastic in themselves, but at the risk of being almost hectic, they are subdued to the point of perfection by the music.

Lyrically, it’s fantastic – wry and honest throughout -whilst Furman’s Boston drawl gives the album a sort of preppy college vibe. While the album is, ultimately, a collection of parables of self-loathing, it certainly doesn’t lack in its uplifting moments.

The album shifts between the teen angst and self-hatred of songs like ‘Never a Joke’ and ‘Sick Dog (For Ian)’ to the slightly more uplifting likes of ‘Purity of Heart’ and ‘My Boy’. It is, however, difficult to tell whether these slightly brighter lyrics are, in fact, sarcastic. “You’ll always be my boy even when you’re scared” is, no doubt, a seemingly comforting lyric but,when surrounded by songs like ‘Oppressor’ (“while you were having a good time, everyone else was suffering”), it’s difficult to know entirely how to take them.

That’s not to say the angst and aggression is a bad thing; sometimes, this dark, preppy grunge is exactly what we need.

The album draws to a close with ‘Infinite Power’, as the lyrics “if you wanna feel like a failure / that’s alright” sum up the general theme of the album. These guys have teenage angst nailed.

With a subdued ‘Theme For Krill’ reprise and bonus track ‘Peanut Butter’ for UK release, Krill close a fantastic album just as tightly as they started it. Throughout the album they prove that they can be seemingly on the verge of unraveling, and snap straight back into the tightness that they so clearly have as musicians. I, for one, can’t wait for these guys to bring their catchy, wry angst to the UK.

And, if you;re impatient for more, fear not – Krill have a new album out in February next year, stay tuned for details!

Melissa Svensen

@MelYeaahh

Melissa Svensen

Melissa Svensen

Melissa, 22. Editor. Student, music journalist, probably talking about Blur or Bowie