Cloud Nothings – ‘Final Summer’ album review: a masterclass in pure songwriting
Posted On
(Credits: Far Out / Errick Easterday)
Cloud Nothings – ‘Final Summer’
THE SKINNY: Pure songwriting is increasingly rare in the contemporary era, as electronic instruments and their facilitatory essence change the dimension of the art form. However, some figures remain traditionalists in that the process starts with fooling around on a guitar, and all else follows. That is the case with Dylan Baldi and his outfit Cloud Nothings, who release their eighth album, Final Summer, this week. It is a testament to his natural ability to conjure potent riffs, choruses and dynamics from his fretboard.
By this point, the prolific Cleveland native needs to do little by way of proving himself, as his acclaimed back catalogue displays. With Final Summer, he adds yet another piece of evidence ratifying him as one of his generation’s finest and most underrated songwriters. There are clear parallels to Ohio’s most diligent and lauded musical export, Guided by Voices leader Robert Pollard. It’s a big call, but given the tradition that Baldi comes from and the regional nearness, it’s hard not to make it.
For instance, on Final Summer, the band returns to being a trio, a shift that might throw others into total disarray. Yet, despite the dynamic alteration, it’s revitalised them, with more layers of guitars than we’ve heard from them in a long time. Nearly every base is covered, from glistening synth introductions to the presence of a slow song, something the group has never fully experimented with in favour of blistering punk rhythms.
The ten songs are quintessentially Cloud Nothings in that they are all energising and stirring and contain a host of memorable utterances extracted from the frontman’s mind. However, broadly speaking, they still do something new with the formula, pushing them forward as they segue into being a three-piece again at their new home of Pure Noise Records.
Perhaps the most significant reflection of Baldi’s essence as a songwriter is that Final Summer is a record that continues to impress upon you with every listen. The pieces change context, and your favourites shift as exquisite subtleties are discovered. You might say it’s nothing you’ve never heard before, but it’s also a splendidly complete set of songs that seem to have serenely come together with consummate ease.
For fans of: Hitting the coast on a sunny day, ciders in the park, and reflecting upon the good ‘ol days.
A concluding comment from my next-door neighbour: “There’s only one band that does catchy choruses right, The Beatles!”
Final Summer track by track:
Release Date: April 19th | Producer: Jeff Zeigler | Label: Pure Noise Records
‘Final Summer’: Kicking off with a shimmering synth palette, you would be forgiven for thinking you’ve got the wrong album. It slowly washes over you like a heady hit of nostalgia before the rousing riff gradually emerges through the mix. It then pulls you into an anthem that taps into the spirit of the title and toes the line between regret and pure optimism. Vintage Cloud Nothings. [4.5/5]
‘Daggers of Light’: A more immediate number, this one produces the grittier aspects of the band’s style, as Baldi delivers a direct vocal melody on top of the bending guitar line. A punchy and noisy effort boasting a fierce solo, it is made for the live setting. [4/5]
‘I’d Get Along’: The fuzzy crackles of chords, the thunderous rolls of the toms, and the chorus of “If something would happen with me” all create a full-bodied sonic treat. The tension of the verses is suspended until Baldi and the band hop into the release of the chorus, which features his raw trademark screams. It’s cacophonous and utterly arresting. [4.5/5]
‘Mouse Policy’: Another raucous number that harks back to the band’s breakthrough record Attack on Memory, with its oscillating dynamics, chiming guitars and Baldi’s infectious vocal melody, is one that longtime fans of the group will be all over. The slowcore-esque ending was also an astute surprise. [4/5]
‘Silence’: The fifth stop typifies a facet of Cloud Nothings I’ve always loved. It’s a more melancholy number that fuses noisy guitars, a minor key and a robust chorus that shoots straight out of the midst of the mix. The latter keeps the other elements at just the right level and stops them from pulling it in an overly sentimental direction. Because of this, it’s one of the strongest reflections of the scope of the frontman’s talent on the record. [4/5]
‘Running Through The Campus’: As soon as this single blasts through the speakers, it becomes clear why the band released it to pique excitement for Final Summer. The evocative verse harmonies, expressive bassline, and Baldi’s effortlessly crisp chorus opener, “I’m running through the campus at home,” are fantastic. Furthermore, lines such as “I wanna like what anyone likes” distil the profundity of the idioms he regularly musters. [4.5/5]
‘The Golden Halo’: In a recent interview with Baldi, he told me that this is the new song that sounds the best in the live setting. Given the dynamics, it’s easy to understand why, from the general energy to the bombastic chorus. It’s raw, earnest, and absolutely free, with the chants in the finale a perfect way to release anxiety after six months of winter. [4/5]
‘Thank Me For Playing’: A sharp, direct number with a series of noisy squeals as the guitar solo which counterbalances the poppy chorus, this is perhaps the most forgettable of the ten tracks. [3.5/5]
‘On The Chain’: This highlight has the perfect amount of angsty tension and spine-tingling release, courtesy of searing guitars, textural feedback and one of Baldi’s best forms of choruses, where you get fully lost in its harmonious force. It would probably still rank high if it didn’t include it, but the frontman’s scream in the final segment of “If you’re trying to save me” unlocked a few core memories. [5/5]
‘Common Mistake’: A fitting way to bow out, featuring one of Baldi’s best lines in a while – “This is your life / It’s a common mistake / You’ll be alright / Just give more than you take” – which erupts in the middle of the song, it captures the stunning essence of Final Summer and the talent of the man who brought it to life. [4.5/5]
[embedded content]
