Lunatic House is the 3rd full-length album from the Seattle three-piece, Spirit Award. While the band sticks to their indie-rock roots, this album shows some of the wider range of this band’s sounds and talent. Each song brings something new, but all seamlessly come together to make one coherent album with a noticeable post-punk influence.
The first track on this album, “Someday,” caught me by surprise, opening with amplified percussion followed by a very heavy guitar riff. The vocals seem to blend into the background, and are given an airy and somewhat haunting effect, often a staple of much of post-punk music. And this theme continues throughout the entirety of the album, especially with the songs “Lily of the Valley” and “You Decide.” The tracks “Unlock the Door,” and “Unlock the Love,” while following one after the other and having similar names, vary quite a bit in terms of both sound and message. “Unlock the Door” comes across a little harsher, giving the feeling of a sense of desperation and longing. In contrast to this, “Unlock the Love” carries an airier tone with an echo on all instruments, including vocals, that can only be described as feeling like you’re floating. “Mantra,” another one of the slower songs falls almost right in the middle of the album, and serves almost as a rest-stop point for the listener, but also helps to blend all the sounds of the album together and give it a cohesive sound.
Fans of other post-punk bands such as Bauhaus or Siouxsie and The Banshees will find a lot to love about this album – distorted vocals, warped guitars, and a little reliance on synthesizers. This album is a must-listen for those wanting to find that old nostalgic sound with a new twist.
Loading ...