Catfish and the Bottlemen Find Their “Balance”
By Gianna Cicchetti
Edited by Kaylee Ainsworth
Graphic: Rebekah Witt
UK based band Catfish and the Bottlemen began to gain traction after their remarkable 2014 debut, The Balcony. While many of the other black-and-white-clad bands they became associated with have undergone major sonic changes, Catfish and the Bottlemen have carried their signature sound with them into 2019 for the release of The Balance, their latest LP. The band truly balances their usual guitar-driven, arena-ready rock with new elements, never completely rehashing their previous two albums.
The first four tracks of The Balance were released in the weeks leading up to the album. Out of these, “2all” stood out to me, and I found myself gravitating towards it even after just one listen. It begins with Catfish’s recognizable guitar tones and vocalist Van McCann’s vocals, but develops into a faster, drum-heavy song that demands to be sung along to. The song serves as a reminder to both McCann and listeners to only hold closely those who stand by you, and that sometimes it takes failure to truly get it right. The musicianship in this song reminds me how talented each and every member of this band is, showing how vital each instrument is to crafting a great song.
The next three tracks were better in sequential order. After the fourth pre-released track, “Conversation,” comes “Sidetrack”. Despite this track being slightly more laid-back than those surrounding it, it still tells the story about a seemingly unrequited love in an effective manner. The lyrics are backed by softer verses which contrast the louder choruses. “Encore” comes next, which describes how perfectly McCann and the person he loves are when they are together. It feels like an encore at a concert— hearing the applause and demands for more music are rewarding to him, just like reuniting with his love. The last track before the “Intermission” is “Basically,” a song that stuck out as a favorite right away. This song is about overall contentment in the life McCann is living, and features some of the most exciting guitars on the record. The choruses are so much more powerful because of them, attracting me even more to this song.
When the gentle, plucking guitars of “Intermission” end, the album picks back up into three more tracks, all of which can be argued to be some of the best of the band’s discography. “Mission” comes off as a message of fatherly advice in its lyrics. With its marching drums and passionate vocals, as well as its unique bridge, this track is a definite contender to be on a setlist at a future Catfish concert. The next song on the album, “Coincide,” has become my personal favorite as of right now. It is a song about falling in love out of convenience and boredom. Though this song sounds similar to Catfish’s past releases, both in its music and its lyrics, it is refreshing at the same time. The final track, “Overlap,” is one that takes you by surprise with its several twists. The song begins with quieter vocals and guitars and cleverly builds up into the grooviest chorus the band has ever given us. You won’t resist the urge to dance to this one, trust me. The second verse, however, changes pace again and increases in speed. The guitars in these ‘build-up’ moments are so pleasing to the ears, and so are those throughout the entire track. “Overlap” will keep you excited for all three and a half minutes, like a rollercoaster you’ll want to embark on multiple times in a row.
With The Balance, Catfish and the Bottlemen have proven once again that they are masters of the style of music they make. The guitars are never absent, and the choruses are never anything short of anthemic and exciting. This band is one that should not be overlooked, and this album shows exactly why that is.