The Guest List’s Debut Album “Something Real” is Truly Something Special
The Guest List’s debut album Something Real proves why they are one of the most exciting bands coming out of the UK right now.
“Something Real” kicks off the album with a 70’s, Stone Roses-esque style, a departure from their usual melancholy sound. The light tone of the song is offset with lyrics about the downfall of the internet and social media, where hearing real topics and issues being discussed is an inconceivable thought.
While “Something Real” tackles the internet, “Ruine” tackles an unhealthy love. Whether it be metaphorical or literal, the song talks about another person holding so much power over someone that they have the ultimate control over their partner. Lyrics like “if love is cage, you’re the master/I’m the key,” show off the bands maturity and growth, while also driving home the meaning of the song. Sonically, “Ruine” also follows The Guest List’s usual darker tone that sets them apart from other bands in the UK scene.
“Sick Animal” has this same moody tone but takes a more grandiose approach to the sound. The chorus of this song feels big, carried out with large vocals, heavy drums, and loud guitars. The verses act a perfect juxtaposition to these choruses, where the vocals are calmer with a more meaningful tone.
Across the entire album, the lyrics are incredible. They are poetic and descriptive, adding to the dramatic moodiness of their sound. In addition to this strong writing, the album does a really great job at following an intensely rock song with a calmer song, creating a strong balance throughout the whole album. This pattern becomes more noticeable through the middle of the album when the heaviness of “Mundane” is followed by the cinematic strings in “If Ever Your Devil Is Kind,” and is quickly followed by the speedy rock in “Pink.”
“Slow Down Sally” is one of the highlights on Something Real. It carries a maturity that only a band that has been playing together for a long time can have, perfectly representing the themes talked about throughout the album and the sound throughout the album. It features poetic lyrics tracked by a strong acoustic guitar and an electric guitar that follows the tune of the vocals.
Prior to the release of Something Real, the band released singles all throughout this year and last. While it provided releases for audiences to listen to, it is one of the major pitfalls of this album. On an album with 12 songs, half of these were songs that were previously released. Overall, the album sounds complete as a whole but previously releasing this number of songs takes away some of the element of surprise from listening to a new album, especially a debut.
Each song on the album has a completely different sound, making it feel as though each song represents a different element in rock. Different songs include the bright tones of indie rock or punchy drums heard in harder rock, and even the relaxed style in soft rock. This variety is what makes The Guest List hard to pin into a certain genre or category and truly makes Something Real a special listen.
