by Richie Williams /// @thesobergoat
ALBUM REVIEWS 56
Watsky ‘Placement’
Joywave ‘Possession’
Miss Fortune – ‘miss fortune’
9/11
8/11
9.5/11
Watsky’s sixth studio album, Placement, which is the second of the Symmetry album series following 2019’s Complaint. The first track, “Advanced Placement,” starts with an abrasively weird yet captivating intro of rambling autotune voices before jumping off into a lively track of introspection. “Undermine” digs into family issues, most likely about his twin brother who he has not really been close with. “Dreams and Boxes” clocks in at just under eleven minutes and acts as two separate movements. Fast drums beat back the first section which proclaims that we live life for ourselves and not for someone else, and vice versa, but appreciating the people who raised you. The second section perpetuates the idea of the constant change people undergo throughout life. The album presents themes of growing up, fighting for love, embracing your emotions and fears, and staring into the eyes of a relationship that may not last. This is a distinctly beautiful album with a strong cohesive identity. -rw Release Date: March 6, 2020
Joywave’s third studio album, Possession is a great mix of catchy indie alt-rock and ‘80s emo electronic. The album begins with a slow piano ballad, “Like A Kennedy,” and expresses feelings of being exhausted with the media and just wanting to be fat and old and happy. “Coming Apart” immediately brings the highenergy beats to the forefront, as does “Blastoffff” later in the album which is seemingly about a single someone meeting up with a longtime friend who is now married. “Half Your Age” steers away from the dark rock distortion to a lighter, bouncier vibe, and lead singer Daniel Armbruster says the audio commentary, “There’s this theme at work here of misplaced resiliency… the idea that your dream might not be ‘the thing.’ It might be the thing that leads you to ‘the thing.’” “F.E.A.R” struts with a sly cool attitude about trying to let go of life’s horrors that we’re afraid of and let get in our way. “No Shoulder” has the identifying golden lyric, “’Cause it’s possession not possessions that’ll finally set me free.” -rw Release Date: March 13, 2020
Nostalgia and melodrama shift into high, headbanging gear with Miss Fortune’s first full release since 2014 — a stylish and strong self-titled album that might just drive the snakebites back into your lip — produced by Andrew Wade. Miss Fortune plays like an old Trustkill highlight reel, replete with infectious hooks, head-rattling rhythms, and jaw-shuttering riffs; though the true strength of the 11-track banger may be their exceedingly catchy choruses and Miss Fortune’s unique ability to re-invoke a genre that many let go to relics. Vocalist Mike Sawyer channels the likes of Urie and Palumbo to belt out anthems like “Surrender,” “The Shade Can’t Save You,” and “Exit Strategy” while standbys like the beguiling intro (“No Hesitation”) and the emotional outro (“Survive”) serve their contents well. Interlude “My Father’s Son” is a welcome twinkle-and-jazz number that effectively bridges the punishing harmony of “Hearts on Fire” and sardonic shimmy of “Do it for the Gram.” Is it formulaic? Yes. Is it a great listen? Also yes. -ec Release Date: April 3, 2020
