About Sturdy Soldiers

Post 608:

            I’ve opined about the direction of popular music ad nauseum. Frankly, I don’t have any answers. The whole scene looks like a creative cul-de-sac; everything seems a rehashing or the same old.

            In the pop world, I’ve also mentioned that Bastille stands out as an eminently palatable exception. They’ve just released a new album, called Doom Days, so here I will tell you if it’s worth your valuable time.

            Quick answer: Oh yes. They don’t take chances and go off in strange directions. They keep to the center line and deliver their sound. Two criticisms: It feels like the production fell off a little—the vocal layering and strings aren’t as thick and stacked. This could be a creative choice, or it could be that people just don’t want to spend the time and money. Who knows what’s going on in their contract and on the production side of things. All that stuff is beyond me, and frankly, beyond most artists’ control. One more. It’s short. The songs are all around three or four minutes, and there’s only eleven tracks.

            For any other band, this is standard, but their last two studio records were double length. Something I’ve always really appreciated.

            Standout songs. “Divide” has one of those patented choruses that opens up and seems to lift the world to a different elevation. “Those Nights” is also really fun, as are all the tracks they pre-released. “Million Pieces” has a real vibrancy and feels like it could have been on their last record. (Which I loved)

            I’ll say this. If you like Bastille, nothing they’ve ever done will make you skip a song or portion of an album. If they’re not your cup, so be it. You’ll never like them. They’re good, sturdy soldiers. Old faithful. A warm blanket. An English-drum-machine-synth-based warm blanket. Have a listen then.

            Cheers and see you after.