New Magnetic Wonder

11/18/2024

My roommate personally recommended this album to me. Apparently this band was the first to sign onto Elijah Wood's record label, this being their first album with them.

This album is very joyful & optimistic. I really like the sound of this band, but I do wish they went a little farther. Some of the songs feel very one-note thematically. Many of the songs on this album are best enjoyed while listening to the whole album, rather than mixed in with other songs on a playlist (which is how I normally listen to music). My standout for this album are Same Old Drag, 7 Stars, and Radiation.

There's a few short instrumental tracks in this album that I didn't have much to say about, so I skipped most of them in my song reviews.

Song Reviews

Can You Feel It?

Good opener for the album. Gets you all hyped up for music! I do think it drags on a little too long, maybe if it weren't quick as repetitive.

Skyway

I think this song is about being in limbo between life & death for 40 days. There's some fun wordplay, and I like the intonation in the singer's voice.

Mellotron 1

I was really startled when I first heard this song, because I had immediately recognized it as Mellohi from the Minecraft soundtrack by C418. I did some digging and it seems like they both sampled from default tracks on a Mellotron. Funny coincidence that I don't think many people would have noticed.

Energy

Fun, energetic (ha) song.

Same Old Drag

I really like how the singer drags out certain syllables. Commiserating about the repetitiveness of everyday life.

Joanie Don't U Worry

I think this would be suited better as a final verse for the previous song, rather than a separate track.

Sunndal Song

This song would be well suited being sung by a Manic Pixie Dream Girl to a protagonist.

Play Tough

I like the reveal in this song. It reads as the singer being in denial about being broken up with. They wish they were meaner to them, because then it might not have hurt as much when they broke up.

Sun Is Out

Good transition from previous song. I like how the intro of the song sounds like it's an old recording.

7 Stars

This song seems like from the perspective of God. It seems frustrated that people follow it without actually asking *why*.

Sunday Sounds

Possibly about loosing your religion? I like how dreamy the singer's voice sounds.

Open Eyes

I love how intense this song feels.

Radiation

I like how whimsical this song sounds. You gotta make space for what brings you joy, and get away from all the toxic shit in the world.

Beautiful Machine Parts 1-2/Beautiful Machine 3-4

I really like the transformation of these songs. Starts off as something fun & light song, and slowly transitions into a powerful, instrumental driven song. I do feel like it would be more effective as a single track. Both songs feel incomplete without the other.

My Pretend

Catchy little tune. Sounds like the singer not wanting the album to be over yet.