REVIEWS
WRITTEN BY: MEG
Since their formation, Calling All Captains have dropped a slew of singles and EPs (with the most recent being 2019's "Nothing Grows Here"), further building a name for themselves in their local music scene of Calgary, Alberta, Canada and beyond. The quintet has spent 2021 building up to the release of their long-awaited debut full-length album, "Slowly Getting Better."
“Laurel Canyon” kicks things off, beginning with a simple acoustic guitar before more guitars, the bass, and the drums join in to gradually build up the intro and prepare for the captivating vocals and dynamic instrumentals that follow. The hook “I’m searching for solace at your place in August” will immediately stick with listeners after the first initial listen, and the bridge showcases the heavier side of the band’s music. “Collapse” steps into post-hardcore territory as well with its minor key composition, and the chorus is one of the catchiest on the whole record. Third up is the record’s lead single, “Tailspin,” and the song was a perfect choice for that with its unforgettable composition. Its lyrics (such as “Well I think it’s time that I let you know I’m spiraling out of control / It hurts me now more than it did before / I’m wearing thin I can’t take much more” and “My ship is sinking, I hold my breath before I drown again”) focus a lot on mental health, which is definitely a central theme found on the record. “Steady Pensive” delivers plenty of energy (most notably heard through the bass and drums), and the vocal performance adds a lot of emotion to the track as it leads up to yet another very memorable chorus. “Loving Cup” is a little bit more midtempo and minimalistic musically, but the composition throughout the whole track is still very catchy and will have fans singing along immediately. “Loyalty” is in a similar vein as “Collapse,” once again displaying elements of post-hardcore and even a little bit of melodic hardcore through the moody tone and frequent incorporation of screamed vocals. Instrumentally, this is one of the strongest on the record, with some riffs and drum fills all throughout the song that really stuck out. “Undone” brings captivating performances and irresistible melodies and riffs right off the bat and is one of the catchiest on the whole record. The aggression in the performances perfectly match the frustration within lyrics such as “I think I speak for everyone when I say you’ve got nothing left” and “You left me twisted up inside,” which depict the aftermath of another person’s toxicity and the liberating feeling of cutting that toxicity out of one’s life. “Broken Glass” combines the influences of pop-punk and post-hardcore quite well through the swift instrumentals and aggressive vocals in the verses, as well as the indelible hooks in the choruses, and it would’ve made a good choice for another single for this reason. Speaking of singles, next up is one of the singles, “Wasted.” This track’s lyrics touch on the effects of substances on one’s mental health (“There’s a voice in my head, but it’s not who I am / Some days I don’t mind it, but maybe I’d be happier if I gave it up and left it all out there”). Second-to-last track “Vacant Sentiment” offers up some more of the catchiest hooks on the entire LP, delivered through a vocal performance that’s very prominent on the track. “Friends & Family,” one of the highlights of the record, closes the record out strongly. The powerful chorus circles back to the central theme of mental health (“My mind is playing tricks on me again, my sanity is slowly being spent, I hear the demons in my head and when I’m falling into bed, they call my name ‘til the bitter end”), and bridge incorporates some heavier vocals and instrumentals before the end of the song offers listeners a bit of hope and encouragement, referencing the title during the line “I’m slowly getting better, you can make this happen if you just put in the effort.” "Slowly Getting Better" presents striking performances and honest lyrics throughout each of its eleven tracks, and altogether, these tracks make up a superb debut album from Calling All Captains. "SLOWLY GETTING BETTER" IS AVAILABLE NOW. LISTEN TO THE ALBUM HERE:
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