Album Review: Now, Now - Threads

25 January 2013 | 1:33 pm | Justine Keating

Despite comparisons to Paramore, after hearing Threads, it’s hard to liken their intelligent brand of pop punk to the likes of more trendy, indie acts.

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From the get-go, Now, Now's second release (and first on Chris Walla of Death Cab For Cutie's new label Trans Records), Threads, is captivating and emotionally charged. The opening track, The Pull, uses reverb-drenched vocals and misty soundscapes in order to entrance the listener; an effective introduction that appropriately sets the mood for the tracks that will follow, and flows seamlessly into the more upbeat but not any less heartfelt second track, Prehistoric.

Dalager's sugary vocals are almost in complete contrast with the wall of sound created by fuzzy, jangly guitars and an encompassing drum kit, but this only seems to increase the delicacy of her voice. Separate Rooms sees all the elements of the track melt together to create a gorgeously rich camaraderie between Dalager's vocals and the repetitive syncopated screech of the guitar in between each verse.

The lyrics to the opening track – “Find a thread to pull/and we can watch it unravel” – are sung back to the listener in Thread, but this time they are sung with more gusto and backed by an accompaniment of powerful instrumentation that gets progressively larger, eventually swallowing the vocals entirely. The vulnerability of Dalager's vocals reinforce the illustration of a failing relationship and the desperate desire to prevent its failing. School Friends innocently captures this theme that is prevalent throughout the album. Growing apart and the tumultuous nature of young love couldn't be more accurately portrayed as it is in this album.

Despite comparisons to Paramore, after hearing Threads, it's hard to liken their intelligent brand of pop punk to the likes of more trendy, indie acts.

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