Alvvays Twirling, Twirling, Twirling Towards Freedom (Blue Rev)


Alvvays have always reminded me of Beach House. Of course, every dream pop band for the next twenty years will be compared to Beach House, and Alvvays have been time and again. To me, they are not particularly similar in sound, however. Alvvays are far less hazy and dreamy, feeling more propelled and direct. Rather, the reminiscence comes from the relative lack of self-insertion in their work. Aside from a specific self-referential moment on Antisocialites ("Molly Mayhem") Alvvays have maintained a distance. Much like beach house and other contempories in the dream pop genre, they keep their lyrics general enough to apply to any listener, but specific enough to relay the emotion they want people to feel.


On Blue Rev, Alvvays break through that barrier, getting more specific and personal lyrically, while also getting stranger and more personal in sound. Even the strange title "Blue Rev" is a personal touch, referencing a brand of Canadian beer. The album kicks off with the straight up shoegaze "Pharmacist", where Rankin waxes lyrical about an old flame and the paths life takes us over the heaviest instrumentals in an Alvvays song yet. It's an incredible way to kick off an album, and works as a great modus operandi for Blue Rev.

More personal, more weird, more loud.

I don't like writing about albums I feel I haven't listened to enough, and from the few cursory listens I've given Blue Rev , it feels like it's got more growing to do on me, despite a very strong showing. Because of that, I'm gonna refrain from discussing the rest of it outside of saying that it is very good and worth your time.

If you're interested based on mine or other reviews, I implore you to listen to Pharmacist at the very least, if you're not feeling that, chances are you won't like this album. If you are, then delve further, for this album will be full of treasures for you. Alvvays have branched out, and as a big fan of their previous work, it is for the better.

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