Mommyheads, The: Coney Island Kid

Over on The Mommyheads’ bandcamp page the band themselves describe what they do as indie-pop, which might just lead to the first question for any SoT reader being, so what are they doing being reviewed on this webzine then? Well, Coney Island Kid isn’t the first of their releases to be discussed on these pages and that’s because that yes, while this is indeed indie-pop, there’s a whole lot more going on.

Firstly, this is a concept album, or a concept album of sorts, where little stories courtesy of the Coney Island Kid make for an interesting look into, well some odd goings on indeed. Secondly, the arrangement and overall ambition of this album sure isn’t ‘pop’, or at least not pop music in the sense that this is liable to start a party, but then that’s not the intention. In spirit I’d say it’s like we’ve taken a step back into the 90s, melancholy the order of the day and to go along with it, another slice of melancholy. Melody is the driving force and there are hooks and choruses you can sing, but the pace remains remarkably stoic - I’d go as far as to suggest that in places this album verges close to being upliftingly dowdy - and that kind of double negative sits at the heart of what is a hugely cohesive release.

The vocals from Adam Elk are plaintive and yet forceful in their own way, and the guitars tend to chime rather than insist, but this is under the skin type fare that begins as an irritant, becomes and itch and then burrows inside, happy to sit unnoticed by its host until you hit play once again and find the sounds slowly beginning to make much more sense.

Available in physical formats, I’ll go against current trends and suggest that you’re best to hear this album not split by the two sides of vinyl, with Coney Island Kid the kind of journey that thrives on one sitting, no breaks and full attention. There’s no doubt that The Mommyheads don’t make for my usual listening fare. It’s to their credit that much of this album negates that thought and becomes an immersive and impressive experience.

Track Listing
1. Coney Island Kid
2. Artificial Island
3. Spookarama
4. Solemn By The Sea
5. Suburban Office Park
6. Learning To Live
7. Why Aren’t You Smiling
8. Such Beautiful Things
9. Onset Ma
10. Soul’s Aquarium

Added: April 12th 2024
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: The Mommyheads @ bandcamp
Hits: 278
Language: english

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