Darkside albums

2021

Spiral - 87%

               There are over fifty music artists that officially call them selves DARKSIDE or some version of those two words. There are hundreds of albums over the year called SPIRAL. Yet somehow, I can’t think that is part of the thinking behind Nicholas Jaar’s project and most recent album. This is the type of music that feels like an alien species that hides in the background then pounces on your ears when you least expect it. It starts and stops abruptly all the time. The vocals seem to come form inside a well with sides of metal, like the singer is trapped at the bottom spiting out life lessons at you. But hey what lessons they are! And what catchy songs and rhythms they came up with this time around. BLEEP!

Though the critics didn’t seem to love it as much this year, it is very possible that the duo of Darkside nailed it this time around. Songs like “Liberty Bell” and “The Limit” are very catchy keep your attention while retaining a dance quality to them. “I am the Echo" has enough glitchy guitar in it to make you think you are in the void of outer space (use headphones on this track for real), while “Narrow Road” and “Spiral” don’t care if you give them attention or not; they already have been so ignored by loved ones that they might as well be invisible. Best of all, “Inside is Out There” is an eight and a half minute think piece devoted to all the progressions dance music RRRRRRRRrrrrrRRRRRObOT InsidE mEE has made in rock n roll up to this point, while “Lawmaker” is the best sermon for fighting the power that there has been in quite some time. Darkside’s debut record from 2013 has its supporters- while I don’t dislike it at all, it is a far cry from this one I believe. Spiral is a huge leap forward while still retaining their trademark sound- a little bit beaker and test tube and totally ready for the radio airplay or streaming you use. In fact, it may already be inside you…beware. BLORP!

Best Songs: Liberty Bell, Inside is out There, Lawmaker