Pop Culture 101 : With Michael Peters
  • Home
  • About
  • Works
  • Pop Culture
  • Film
    • Film Analysis
    • Film Reviews
  • Music
    • Music Reviews
    • Music Analysis
  • Reading
    • Print Articles
    • Fiction
  • Contact
Pop Culture 101 : With Michael Peters
  • Home
  • About
  • Works
  • Pop Culture
  • Film
    • Film Analysis
    • Film Reviews
  • Music
    • Music Reviews
    • Music Analysis
  • Reading
    • Print Articles
    • Fiction
  • Contact
Music Reviews,

Unwritten Law- Swan

by mikepetersJune 12, 2012
0
Shares
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
a2a2

Album: Swan

Label: Suburban Noize

Rating: 3.5/5

 

Battered and bruised, Unwritten Law’s Swan was originally slated to be theSan Diego rockers grand finale as a musical quartet. Having undergone numerous lineup changes and personal struggles (confronted on this album) over their 20+ year history, the band seemingly grew weary of the whole rock n’ roll lifestyle. But things seemingly changed during recording, and the band decided to stick it out. That sense of rejuvenation permeates across most of the album.

Though it is peppered with a few sonic irregularities, the album is undoubtedly a nod and a wink to their past glory days. Summoning the essence of punk and alternative rock throughout most of the LP, Swan overcomes a weak introduction by eventually transforming into classic Unwritten Law.

Whether if it’s the return to raw, punk rock on “Superbad” or its intimate moments of heartache on “Sing”, the album flourishes when it doesn’t conceal what it truly wants to be-a solid rock album.

It’s when the album deviates heavily into pop-infused superficial rock that the album languishes. The first two tracks, first single “Starships and Apocalypse” and “Nevermind” (both appealing but nonetheless soulless) are tracks that greatly rely on catchy pop hooks. Swarming with mainstream accessibility, they come off as mere replicas of songs Good Charlotte and Simple Plan performed nearly ten years ago. Ultimately, the bouncy, feel good sonics of these tracks just do not seem to gel cohesively with the ‘seriousness’ existent on the rest of the album.

In a way, it feels like Unwritten Law originally set off to create a pure rock n’ roll LP, but felt compelled to incorporate conventional song choices in hopes of  reasserting their radio-friendly vibe.

Ultimately, it’s this lack of emotion on their pop tracks that consequently comes to undermine the darker elements and themes at the heart of Swan.

 

Previous

Edwyn Collins – Losing Sleep

June 12, 2012
Next

Moon Duo- Mazes

June 12, 2012

Related posts

50aa
Music Reviews,

Magneta Lane- Witchrock

by mikepetersJanuary 14, 2013
ana
Music Reviews,

S.C.E.N.E 2011

by mikepetersJuly 6, 2012

Recent Posts

  • COCKTAILS & MISDEMEANORS
  • Hollywood: Salvation
  • Port Dalhousie Home (Sotheby’s)
  • Welcome to Neon Village
  • L.A. Noir

Categories

  • Blog
  • Fiction
  • Film
  • Film Analysis
  • Film Reviews
  • Music
  • Music Analysis
  • Music Reviews
  • Pop Culture
  • Print Articles
  • Reading
  • Slider 3
  • Uncategorized
  • Works

Archives

  • February 2023
  • September 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • November 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • September 2017
  • April 2017
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • January 2014
  • August 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • November 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

© 2017 Pop Culture 101 with Michael Peters. All rights reserved.