The InternetOne of the strangest things about The Internet's 2015 breakthrough Ego Death was that it didn't sound remarkably removed in style or polish from its two predecessors.
Like both of the band's previous albums, it was a murky mix of styles and loose, wandering rhythms. The songwriting was just stronger. And, in many ways, Hive Mind follows a similar trend.
Given the substantial explosion in popularity that followed Ego Death, one would be forgiven for expecting Hive Mind to be a much more expensive, expansive album. It isn't. This isn't a bad thing, however. If anything, it's something of a relief. Like Ego Death, Hive Mind has a contemporary, lived-in sound that lends a rare intimacy to a traditionally more electronic, produced style of soul.
The improvements, such as they are, are subtle. The arrangements are tighter and more precise. Everything is more refined. But, the sudden shifts in dynamic and the dreamy melodies ensure that the band never grow too restrained or predictable. Overall, it's a pretty perfect follow-up for the kind of album many may have written off as a fluke. Long live The Internet.
