Alvvays: "Blue Rev" (Album Review)

 Genres: Indie Pop, Shoegaze, Noise Pop

Blue Rev is everything I like about Alvvays cranked up to 11. This expansion of their sound is a perhaps rapid but natural evolution. By looking through Alvvays’ discography, one can see the growth of the band’s style, as they learned what qualities worked best for them. It’s such a great feeling when an artist you love continues to improve with each release, and Alvvays is current proof of that.

Some of the most extreme additions to this album are its most compelling qualities. The heavily distorted guitar and noise elements add a thickness to the band’s music that wasn’t really present before. Alongside the consistently strong songwriting, this allows them to explore a greater depth of sound. Melodies are richer than they’ve ever been, with the layers of instrumentation serving as such a strong support system. One of the many examples of how the instrumentation adds so much to the music is with the track “Tom Verlaine”. There’s a steady buildup of sound that leads into a false climax, which gives vocalist Molly Rankin a chance to show off a classic, smooth performance. After that, the song accelerates once more into this sea of cheerfulness and pure energy. Just thinking about it makes me want to break out into a dance. Blue Rev is quite a step away from the band’s DIY roots, but this direction looks like it’s for the best, with this being a position of growth. With this new sound, there’s some awkwardness, such as the intentionally buried and spacey vocals on “Very Online Guy” just not working. Rankin’s singing loses its impact, as it kinda just flattens out into nowhere. However, moments like these aren’t common, and for such a leap into a new direction, it is incredibly well put together.      

Alvvays’ experimentation sees them focus on addition, but they also don’t lose the charm that brought them so much attention in the first place. Referencing “reply guy” culture on the internet, and writings by author Haruki Murakami, Blue Rev is modern in the best way. There’s also the cute yet emotional lyricism, such as the internet and phone metaphors on “Tile By Tile”, which culminates in the line, “I shouldn't have ever been calling it love”. The lyrics on Alvvays’ projects have always been emotionally provocative, and this album doesn’t deviate from that norm. Their focus on the melodies and choruses is the main issue I have with the lyrics. What I mean is that the verses tend to not dig enough into the subject matter because they’re not the center of attention. While this is fine, I think that the lyricism is strong enough to stand on its own, and loses a lot by not being emphasized.

There is perhaps no stronger sense of collaboration and unity by Alvvays than on Blue Rev. Previous strengths are reinforced and built upon, and new elements fit perfectly. Blue Rev proves to me that their trajectory is something that external sources can’t put a limit on. This album sees an overall increase in the quality of Alvvays music, and I can see the continuation of this in the future. I am excited to see where the band’s next ventures take them, as this direction has been entertaining to follow. 

Favorite Tracks: Pomeranian Spinster, Bored In Bristol, Easy On Your Own?, Pressed, Belinda Says, Tile By Tile, After The Earthquake, Velveteen, Many Mirrors, Lottery Noises, Tom Verlaine, Pharmacist

Least Favorites: Very Online Guy

Enjoyment: High 8

Critically: High 8

Arbitrary Number: 8.7/10