The Neighbourhood’s second album, "Wiped Out!," will be released Friday, and the band has clearly tested its limits. From indie and psychedelic rock to electronic beats, the California-based band experiments with new and creative sounds on its latest album.
The album starts off with an echoed chorus that transitions into an upbeat verse on "Prey." After a constant buildup, the background vocals return for the hook and create a cool combination of sounds. "Prey" has a lot going on — maybe too much — but it sets the mood for the rest of the album.
The next song, "Cry Baby," begins with an electronic-dance-music-feel but quickly switches back to The NBHD’s usual indie-rock sound. The track incorporates heavy use of the bass guitar and establishes the catchy beat, which goes perfectly with the message in the lyrics. Lead singer Jesse Rutherford questions his style of communication and personality when it comes to expressing himself. At the same time, the singer illustrates he can handle relationships and conflict properly. The title appears to be a double entendre, as Rutherford reveals that even if his significant other lies to him, he won’t be a "cry baby." However, he also wants people to understand that sometimes it is OK to "cry, baby."
"Wiped Out!" is the next song, which wastes no time in building up the tempo but slows down about halfway through the track. "Wiped Out!" might be the coolest-sounding song on the album because of the many different elements throughout the six-minute track, including digital effects, electric guitars and some warped sounds that continuously fade in and out. After the first couple of verses, the track slows down and has nearly three minutes of an instrumental before the vocals return. Because of the multiple transitions in "Wiped Out!," the record is essentially three different songs in one.
When a song is titled "The Beach," you would think that it would be a fast and happy feel-good song — that’s not the case on this album. "The Beach" is the slowest and most simple song on "Wiped Out!" It takes a break from the last few complex songs that were filled with transitions and layered sound effects.
"Daddy Issues" is a slower and deeper song where Rutherford speaks to a little girl who is troubled because of her daddy issues. Later on in the song, Rutherford communicates to a little boy who has daddy issues as well, which could be interpreted as him talking to himself and addressing the passing of his own father.
Next up is the two-part song "Baby Came Home 2 / Valentines," where Rutherford talks about a relationship he had with a woman a few years ago, as well as his upbringing.
Rutherford hits the high notes while the additional background vocals join to form a soothing combination. "Baby Came Home 2" uses a guitar solo to transition into the second part of the song, "Valentines." "Valentines" is a really cool acoustic-folk and soft rock instrumental that serves as a sort of interlude.
The NBHD uses the same stylization as its band name for the title of the next song, "Greetings From Califournia," which begins with a psychedelic intro but switches to more of an alternative rock sound. On this song, the West Coast band shows its diversity and how it can successfully use many different sounds instead of being limited to a certain area of music.
The brazen song "Ferrari" is next, which is filled with loud and deep sounds that eventually fade out and lead into "Single." This song is written from the point of view of Rutherford pleading and explaining why he would love to be with a certain girl — his soulmate.
Compared to the previous few, "Single" is more upbeat and returns to the vibe in the beginning of the album. "Single" is mellow and very acoustic, using a lot of chimes and background vocals, but catches the listener by surprise when it suddenly builds up into a climatic hook complete with loud drums.
The final song is The NBHD’s lead single "R.I.P. 2 My Youth," which peaked at number 13 on the Billboard U.S. Rock chart in September. The NBHD goes full-rock to close the album and ends with an echoed chorus fading out, similar to how the album began.
Overall, "Wiped Out!" shows The Neighborhood’s eclectic sound and creativity. The album reveals the band successfully expanding its horizons and progressing as artists.
Combining different instrumentals, transitions, incredible singing and background vocals, the band created a solid album for any-time-of-the-day listening. "Wiped Out!" has something for everyone. Listen with an open mind, and let the music take control.
