shame: “Songs of Praise” (Album Review)

 Genres: Post-Punk, Indie Rock, Art Punk

Songs of Praise is stylized energy given life. It’s what you get when a group of brash, young, English boys come together to express themselves. Elements from across their lives are brought together, and you get much insight into their worldview through the cheeky and socially conscious tracks. It’s a powerful start, kicking open the door for bigger things. 

The album’s production shows the nuance that the group brings to their music, with a sound that’s aggressive and sharp at the same time. It’s a reflection of their charismatic punk attitude. There’s an edge that feels direct and specifically crafted. I think that you can make the argument that shame’s music has a sound that’s much more polished than other punk, or even post-punk musicians. However, I don’t think this aspect takes away from the band’s sincerity and impact. “Tasteless” is a song that feels more focused on creating a nice melody, but there’s also some real depth to it. Vocalist Charlie Sheen shows how rough he can get here, especially with his guttural screaming throughout the outro. Considering how the lyrical themes of this track revolve around the importance of having your voice heard, the execution is beautiful.

Although there are moments when I wish the band would just really let loose, I don’t think this takes away from the sound they’ve built up at all.

Sometimes less is more. Tracks on the album show just how much less can be, with a simplicity that holds your attention. When shame chooses to be simple, it’s to hammer in your head the great rhythms. “One Rizla” is an example of this, being a clear-cut example of the punk edge that lives in their music. The frustration and bitterness is palpable. It’s the kind of feeling that stays within you even after you finish listening to the track. It’s in your face in the best way possible. Such a direct way of expressing a message only makes things clearer. 

This style of songwriting works wonderfully for the band, it’s hard to deny that, but it does leave more to be desired when it feels like they lean into familiarity instead of exploring more. Viewing the album on a track-by-track basis may make it hard to notice, but as a whole, it leaves me questioning if there was more that could have been “said.” As a debut album, this makes for an interesting statement, showing the listeners their roughness, but it also ends up seeming more like snapshots of the band. Many songs are enjoyable but don’t have the strength of presence to be part of something greater. Part of this is due to the lyrics, which while not necessarily lackluster, don’t feel fully realized. Band members Eddie Forbes and Steen wrote to NPR about this album and mentioned that “Tasteless” is about “indifference in our society.” It’s a great message that’s clearly present in the song, but isn’t given enough space to gestate. Repetition is a great tool for emphasis and changing energy, but is overused on “Tasteless” and leaves less room for lyrical content. I’m not completely against how shame uses repetition, it’s used excitingly on “Gold Hole,” but it does end up being a crutch that makes the songs seem more one-dimensional than I truly believe they are. While there is this longing for more, songs such as the aforementioned “Gold Hole” and “Angie” are expansive and complete, which should not be ignored.

“Angie” is an incredible track with a wonderful buildup, that brings you from this ocean of heavy bass, to an intense crashing of high-energy sounds. Even from the initial moments of the slower instrumentation and somber vocals, you can feel the music reverberating throughout your body. It’s like seeing the beauty of every brush stroke, as they fit together to form a complete painting. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that this song is masterfully structured, with a gentleness that is just long enough for the impact of the intensity to be fully felt. It’s a great closer that represents, what I feel, is the culmination of the creative potential that shame showcases throughout Songs of Praise.                      

shame is a band that’s just so much fun to listen to. Getting lost in their melodies and reveling in the excitement they create show how real the music is. Nothing feels forced or consumer tailored, it’s an experience that we as listeners simply get to share with the band. Authenticity in music goes a long way because art should be personal and unabashed in its existence. The things I don’t love about the album, songs not quite coming together to form a whole and a want for more depth, are simply that; things I don’t love. Even taking these qualities into consideration, the band’s sheer power is what I feel the most when listening to Songs of Praise. I like to view the things I don’t love about this album as parts that don’t make it greater, not parts that make it lesser. Songs of Praise is a great first effort by a band that knows what they want, and I’m glad to be a witness as they get closer to reading it with their efforts.

Faves: Angie, Gold Hole, Dust on Trial, Lampon, Friction, Tasteless, One Rizla, Concrete, Donk, The Lick 

Least Favorites: n/a

Enjoyment: Mid 8

Critically: Mid 8

Arbitrary Number: 8.6/10