by aura
I need to be up front with you: Brooke and I love Shambolics debut album so much that we maxed out the courtesy listens in the promo materials we were sent. Didn’t even know you could do that! So yeah, we listened to it a lot, and I kept thinking the same thing I thought during our first run through. Basically “OMG what a fucking great album, how am I ever going to do it justice?!!”.
Continuing this straightforward thing we’ve got going on: This is one of those albums where reading a description about it will never be enough. It must be experienced. I’m aware you, dear reader, have no reason to trust me on this but, honestly, this deserves to be listened to from top to bottom.
If you’d like some company to do just that, after you’re done reading this, you could always check our debut Sound Check podcast, where we were joined by the Shams frontman, Darren to listen to and chat about the album. Once you’ve given the album a listen or two or three (yeah, I know), feel free to come on back and see if you agree. Let’s break it down!
The album opener is one that Darren himself says “should’ve been a single”. ‘Influencer’ is a high octane tune that sets the tone of the whole album with with incredible drums on double time, barreling full speed the entire length of the song, and impressive delivery on vocals that match the energy beat for beat. The vocals are, in fact, what infuses dynamism to the song and the lyrics are a cutting social commentary on the reality of social media these days, in a very fun way. Straight up banger!
After a highly entertaining and attention-grabbing beginning, the September 2023 single ‘Never Be Mine’ comes along and pulls you like a familiar, welcome friend. It’s a great song that feels just as exhilarating, no matter how many times you listen to it. It keeps the energy up, as perhaps a more “radio friendly” tune, without losing the essence of the band nor compromising their aesthetic. Great quality, and also a smart move to have had this as a single.
Next, another pre-release single with a certain radio-ready quality, ‘Attention’ maintains the energy. The distinctive tune boasts incredible riffs and drums, paired with a super catchy chorus. (Dare you not to sing along!)
‘Coming For You’ revs things up further with a bit more angry energy to it than other tracks. It showcases a punk edge with double time drums and a bass line that sits forward in the mix, giving an amazing sense of adrenaline and urgency that complements the song’s lyrics. Slow claps for the storytelling prowess going on here, too. A changing narrator POV that could very well be an allegory of sorts, it’s of course, open to the listener’s interpretation. It’s also an interesting song structure wise. There’s practically no build-up, just a wall of energy that grabs your attention from the get go, and it ends just as abruptly, like a sudden adrenaline drop. Feels like a cinematic experience. Brilliant!
The first real change of pace from the high energy trip Shambolics have had us on so far comes with ‘Daily Dosage’ brining in a ballad tempo with acoustic, and more pop elements in its structure. It’s nice to hear something that feels a little outside of the norm for this band, like working with stringy and dreamy guitar, more background vocals and the tambourine that adds a tinkling quality to the sound. Lovely vocals and beauty in vulnerability, with lyrics bringing up feelings of loss and uncertainty, while the overall feeling is still somehow almost comforting and warm. After our little chat with Darren, I appreciate it all the mroe (wink, wink). Beautiful!
At the halfway mark we are re-introduced to an old friend of those who have been following the band for a while. Title track ‘Dreams, Schemes & Young Teams’ is a great song from the band’s back catalog, and has fittingly snatched up a privileged place in the album. It features all the things that make up Shambolics’ sound, in my opinion — that snappy and smart use of the drums to keep a compelling beat going, seamless bass line that moves back and forth, great guitars and catchy melodies paired with deceitfully simple lyrics that are actually quite thought provoking. Totally chantable banger!
‘If You Want It’ comes barreling in with an energetic drums and guitar riffs combo that’s just … chef’s kiss! Another previously released song that has been re-mixed for the album, it fits quite well with the somewhat unintended narrative that the album is creating so far. Here we are privy to a different energy in the vocal interpretation with a potent frustration underneath, an almost strategically placed simmering anger. I fully giggled with glee when they hit us with that false ending. It gives the song a different dynamism, to prepare the actual abrupt ending.
8th track ‘Fooling You’ comes with a more classic pop structure to the serves as a great check-point of sorts, being a somewhat “easy listen” type of song while keeping a good amount of energy with dynamic and packed emotions. The tune features fuzzy guitars and lovely riffs and solos. Lyrically two things stand-out: the rhyme scheme, including internal rhyme (i.e. not just words at the end of lines), and bystander POV in the delivery. which automatically gives it an intriguing allure.
Then we have one of my favourites that they’ve ever done, ‘Universal Credit’. Suffice it to say that I’m incredibly glad and thankful this “piss take” that was only ever meant to be a bonus track ended up on the actual album. It sheds a fantastic light into the overall narrative arch the album explores. (You can read our full review for this latest single here)
December 2023 single ‘Everything You Should’ve Done’ is next. Great punk-rock/pop-rock energy on this one. It’s a very dynamic tune that creates an amazing build-up. Coming as an enjoyable continuation to ‘universal credit’ gives this song another life and context.
Second to last we have ‘Losing Your Mind’, which is another song that was revisited for the album and I, for one, think it’s a brilliant decision to have added it. The song fits extremely well within the narrative and it’s a surprising tune. It begins with a very pop sound, sort of like a ballad and that build up formula, then it takes you another direction, almost entirely. The lyrics are quite sad, they feel like grieving the loss of innocence.
To be honest, a slow acoustic guitar beginning is the last thing I was expecting by the time we got to closing track, ‘Filth & Scum’, but it works so, so well. The song itself is quite sad and the morose feeling is amplified with great vocal work. It made me think of the emotional weight of burning out and giving up. But then, the melodic arrangements are so beautiful, with a build up that’s completely opposed to what the lyrics and vocals are conveying. Underneath, there’s a hopeful brightness accomplished by the strings and brass additions. The song then leaves us with an open ending of hopeful melody dangling in the air. It is certainly a wild ride.
It’s been a while since I felt this way listening to an album. No one is doing it like Shambolics. The subversiveness in the songs structure is so much fun and there’s clearly a very anarchic or punk approach in this record, even if unintended in part or at times. This is without a doubt one of the greatest debut albums I’ve ever heard. It would make a proud addition to any record collection!
P.S. Very jealous of anyone who has managed to get their hands on a deluxe version of the album with the two bonus songs!
Fight In Side: Never heard a song that conveys so well what the anxious rumination thoughts feel like. A brilliant take, that’s actually two songs inside of one.
Tambourine Tam: This is clearly a song for kicks, with an oddity about it that’s quite endearing. Great use of blues infused sounds. There’s an unexpected musical reference that you may or may not get in this one. Will definitely be waiting for Tambourine Tam pt 2!
Shambolics are touring in the UK in April. Tickets available here.
Update February 23
Shambolics grafted to the last moment in their first official UK album chart battle, securing #15 in the album sales chart, #10 in the UK independent album chart and #3 in the Scottish album chart. Good job, guys!
Indie Dependent 
Leave a comment