The Frights’ ‘Hypochondriac’ is effortlessly mediocre
August 25, 2018
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The Frights’ new album “Hypochondriac,” released Aug. 24 offer their listeners a darker, angsty and cleaner sound as far as production.
The album clearly holds the element of vulnerability, somber and distraught, but the album shows minimal signs of growth.
Although they continue to hold onto their surfer punk-rock sound, the new album claims to be “embarrassing and personal,” according to Mikey Carnevale’s, lead singer and guitar, interview on Epitaph.
“Tell Me Why I’m Okay,” the first track on the album begins with a monotone Carnevale, which leads up to Carnevale showing off his vocals towards the end of the song.
As well as having a country feel and lots of background noise, “Tell Me Why I’m Okay” is just OK, and is one of the tracks that is easily skippable.
Track number two, “CRUTCH,” is a high tempo, angry song that is definitely worth the listen.
“CRUTCH” is Carnevale singing about his pain, angst and not knowing how something he loves so much, could turn into something he hates.
Continuing on with “Broken Brain,” the album returns to its melancholy start.
Slow tempo, softer and pleasing vocals of Carnevale start the song off and lyrics like, “I’ll be alright, staying with you, It’ll take some time, to save me, You’ll kill the pain, with all that you do,” adds to the sensitivity of the track.
“I used to like FIDLAR,” reads the opening line in “Whatever,” and it seems fitting since Zac Carper of FIDLAR helped compose this track, as well as producing the album.
The lyrics in “Whatever” are described as a toxic relationship.
Carnevale sings, “I’m just trying to pull my life back together, and I am too fucking tired, of you calling me a liar, just tell you what I want, I’ll say whatever,” fulfilling his statement that he wrote a more personal and vulnerable album.
“Hypochondriac” has tracks that have snippets of music that truly possess elements of growth and creativity, such as “Me and We and I,” “CRUTCH,” “Hold Me Down” and “Whatever.”
While they also have tracks that are mediocre and reminiscent of American rock in the early 2000s, The Frights didn’t exactly disappoint, but they also did not do anything groundbreaking for the indie-rock genre.
After releasing their third studio album “Hypochondriac,” two years later after “You Are Going To Hate This” back in 2016, the new album makes you want to head-bang along with some tracks and others, just look out the window and ponder about what went wrong in your life.
“Hypochondriac,” the third studio album by the Frights, poses a beam of growth for the small San Diego band, but fails to live up to their previous album, “You Are Going To Hate This.”
If you’re looking for an easy listen, this album can definitely provide that.
Elizabeth Corcoles is a college student at Cerritos College. She is currently the editor for the Arts and Entertainment section of the Talon Marks newspaper. Elizabeth is planning on transferring to Cal State Long Beach in Fall 2020 and from there she will obtain her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. Elizabeth’s main goal is to work for a music publication.
clickbait title. the title makes it sound like this was a negative review but you hardly talk negative at all about it and even call it an easy listen and state the band is showing a beam of growth.
The article didn’t say a single thing about effort either.
i’d seriously consider using less clickbaity titles, it makes for a bad image on your name as a writer
Hello Alex. The Frights progression was minimal, so yes it was mediocre in comparison to their previous album. As far as them showing a “beam of growth,” like I said, it was minimal and most of the tracks are skippable. The Frights are and easy band to listen to because the lead singer has a pleasing voice, it does not mean it was an exceptional album. Thank you for the advice, as well as for reading.