Indie rock band Slow Pulp released their second studio album, “Yard,” in September of 2023. While the album doesn’t offer a whole ton in terms of overly unique sounds, the band knows the sound they want to go for and they do their absolute best to achieve it.
The album opens with the moody “Gone 2,” a song that lead singer Emily Massey describes as being about “wanting someone to express their love to you, even though you aren’t ready to do the same.” The following track, “Doubt,” employs a lot more of an energetic and playful feel, with the opener and “Doubt” displaying roughly the range that this project will hit, and the feelings it will encompass. That being, a midwestern summery feel with lyrics about complicating feelings of love and self-conflict.
On a couple occasions, namely “Cramps” and “Worm,” the band also employs the use of overly distorted guitars, giving the songs a weirdly warm feeling and the former of the two a much more vibrant and exhilarating feel.
The album also has its fair share of tender moments, some landing better than others. “Broadview” shines above the others as particularly beautiful with some of the album’s best vocals on display, whereas some other tracks, such as the title track, fall a bit short.
Despite some shortcomings, “Yard” is still quite a fun album that can be almost hard to hate. It’s a fairly short project as well, making it perfect for a casual listen.
Rating: 7/10