Everything Is A-OK

I was stopped in my tracks when I came across this album. I loved it almost instantly, but hadn’t previously heard of this band. Violent Soho, hailing from Mansfield, Brisbane, Australia. A four piece alternative rock band that has been together for the better part of almost two decades and has toured with some incredible acts, including people I love like the Arctic Monkeys. So after coming across the single, I had to jump in and listen to the album. 8 hours later, I was still bopping to it.

Everything Is A-OK, by Violent Soho, is what seems to be a perfectly timed album for the moment. A little angst and some Smashing Pumpkins vibes come in very strong, however, they bring their own killer sound and exceptional lyricism to the table as well. This album begins with, Sleep Year, which brought me right back into the 90’s. If music time travel is a thing, this album does it. Instantly I’m 10 years old, laying on my floor staring at the ceiling, Walkman in hand playing this album on repeat, mad at the world. Vocally the tone is a mix between Anthony Kiedis, Billy Corgan, and Tom DeLonge, add that into the mix with a big driving power guitar sound and you have the first track. Almost sounding like the 90’s garage rock band I know we all miss. This leads into the track Vacation Forever, which has a strikingly clear vocal, again with those Corgan vibes. Once the chorus comes in there are amazing harmonies, and almost beachy yet angsty guitar melodies. This track has me continually bopping and smiling as the lyrics and driving guitar keep moving me along with the track. Next up comes, Pick It Up Again, which similarly to the previous is very 90’s with a strong mix of a clarity in vocals, and added big guitar sound for the chorus, which has me again bopping to the beat. This flows into, Canada, a song seemingly describing being anxious and alone, which seems all to relatable for this moment in time. Again, I am obsessed with the vocal tone, and melody, so simply angsty and refined all at the same time. For such strong lyrics the song is surprisingly light and relieving. Shelf Life, comes in with a basic beating guitar reminiscent of The Wallflowers (specifically One Headlight), and picks up into a more grungy side of the album. Stronger, more distorted guitar and a few muffled snarls have won me over on this one. I mean, who doesn’t love a song about self-fulfilling prophecy? This is followed by Slow Down Sonic, which has that strong 90’s vibe with little hints of sounds and tones that reminded me of Cage The Elephant mainly in the chorus. With the harmonies adding in and that oh so classic drop in guitar riff that I have loved for as long as I can remember. It’s another one of those songs you could just drive around blasting with the windows down so you can really feel it resonate in your bones. Lying On The Floor is the next track on the album, which was the track I initially heard that brought me into this beautiful album. What can I say, I’m a sucker for some great harmonies and 90’s sound and this song (and album) have it in abundance. When I listen to this track my heart is warmed, it reminds me of being younger and just hanging around the house with my family listening to music. Easy, comes in with a pure raw vocal, and breaks into a snarl and big guitar accompaniment. Then is rounded out by the tracking guitar to bring the whole to a beautiful apex of the song. This song is them. You can feel the passion and collaboration of the group in this song. This works into Pity Jar, which has phenomenal lyrics that hit home for anyone that has ever felt like they weren’t good enough at some point and time. This album rounds out with A-OK, which starts with an almost Manchester Orchestra sound, which is very welcomed. This is followed with some classically 90’s guitar vibes and it feels as if you’re floating along with the lyrics which are truly heartbreaking, but again all too relatable. This album has a strong message in that it’s okay to do you, no mater what anyone thinks, because, everything will be A-OK.

I am convinced these guys have mastered time travel and given us the music we didn’t know we needed. But it’s here now, and I highly recommend it to you all. Have you guys already heard this album? What do you think? Let me know!

You can find this album here.