By Tom Sundgren
Good Tiger’s New Album Comes Off Less Spontaneous But Catchiness Remains
The prog rock gents Good Tiger, are back in business with their fourth full-length The Most Negative Day of The Year, after a six-year break. For anyone who has not heard Good Tiger before, one could say they share similarities to The Mars Volta or Circa Survive. But they certainly carry their own unique spin and allure in the genre. A band that has always had phenomenal drummers throughout their discography including Alex Rudinger and JP Bouvet, now has acquired yet another one- Matt Halpern from Periphery.
Compared to their last album Raised In A Doomsday Cult, generally speaking The Most Negative Day of The Year is less bright overall and more melancholic. There may even seem like less dynamics occurring on the new album but yet this does not take away from a ton of strong and epic moments.
For the overall tones and soundscapes of The Most Negative Day of The Year, it may be a little closer to their 2019 release We Will All Be Gone. But it still carries fresh new approaches and new territory.
The album’s opener “Square Breath” holds great peaks and valleys. From fast tempo changes, intuitive soft verses, and huge guitar chords for the half-time chorus. The vocals on the verse are just as captivating as the ones on the chorus, which is always a recipe to their most catchy tracks.
The band’s first single that was released was “Decades On My Feet”. A good variety of heavy tones and phrasing from the guitars and eventually going to a powerful vocal range within the bridge later in the song.
“Beehive” would have to be the most ethereal and atmospheric song of the album. The beginning of the song has a trippy electronic delayed effect that keeps you in mystery in where the song will take shape. Then a very proggy shuffle beat accompanies high end chords, giving a tropical aura.
Next, the electronic effect drops back in perfectly. Singer Elliot Coleman’s high tones are soothing and fit perfectly in the pocket on this number. The visualization of this track gave the feeling of flying over the ocean gracefully.
A track that sounds to have no physical instruments in it but carries a very cool trip hop resemblance of Massive Attack with the virtual instruments, would have to be “Blissful Indifference”. This might have to be the most subtle song in some aspects but it is the most memorable first listen.
The chorus vocals give instant earworms making it extremely impressive for their writing skills. Fans of Portishead as well should gravitate to this song naturally.
“Pink Clouds Pink Trees” is the most energetic and celebratory song of the album. Faster tempos, huge grooves, and big counter riffing back and forth with the guitars. The bass tone and phrasings are very strong and enthusiastic to bob to as well.
The second to last song “Maybe Hope” is a powerful movement and encapsulates the closure of the album flawlessly. A chorus that is comforting and just really gives “ending credits” feelings with the layers and electronic blissful melodies in the background.
To be frank, the last track of the album, the self-titled track “The Most Negative Day of the Year” did not sit well first or even second listen through. But that is fine because I think that is what the intention was.
This is the darkest track of the album by far. Obviously very fitting for the song title, so it is supposed to feel unsettling. This one gave off more industrial Nine Inch Nails, sonically overall.
It is now a tradition for the band to have guitarist Derya “Dez” Nagle sing on the last track of the albums. His voice goes into new spaces. Sort of like a dreary choir effect in his vocals. But it is still unique and somewhat calming in itself.
This album (as all Good Tiger albums) ages like fine wine. Yeah yeah, it sounds cliché to say. But its true. A lot of their songs are on the shorter side but there is a lot jam packed at times as well. The incredible pop like vocals clashing with prog rock is always a journey and you take in more and more layers as your listens continue. So please take the time and go listen/stream/order The Most Negative Day of The Year music and merch out February 20th on 3 Dot Recordings here- https://store.3dotrecordings.com/collections/good-tiger
Score- 8.5 out of 10
Categories: News
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