Nova Scotia alternative posse Sore Loser have released their latest album, Hurry Up and Wait, off the back of their promising sneak-peek single “Bravery.” Releasing their first album in over three years, the self-proclaimed “microwave safe rockers” show off their musical flexibility with a dynamic vibe and notation that may catch listeners by surprise.
Hurry Up and Wait is an exemplary album, as the New Glasgow group promised. The melodic percussion and soft lyrics stand side-by-side with an amplified chorus of instrumentation, showing that the band’s versatility can be realized in just a single track.
The first track, “Stoichiometry,” sounds a tad more digital than the rest of the album. The intro brings us back to the days of the Nintendo 64 with a sound similar to those found in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Following the intro is an eerie mix of sounds, as the band are joined by vocalist Seth Maclean in an address to an old friend.
“Still,” as the name would suggest, is dictated by a slower pace than most of the other tracks. Funky strings and curious percussion patterns make this a suitable soundtrack for solving mysteries in a nightclub.
The shortest track on the album, clocking in at 1:29, is “Old People.” The band drops a gleefully entertaining lyric, “But I won’t pay you $300 to make some fucking sound,” before launching into a heavy rock-induced spin.
And there are still so many styles to be spoken about. “No Clue” has one of their louder intros, with a bit of twang thrown into the mix; “Her” takes a more bluesy approach whilst resembling a conversation with your heavily-beating heart; and “NightNight” is a melodic lullaby with string pieces that make you think about the road ahead.
“Monster” rounds off this stylistic rollercoaster. A wave of melancholy washes over us as whispery lyrics and low-energy melodies take over our eardrums before unleashing newfound, string-fuelled energy into our hearts.
Sore Loser is supremely excited to be making their return, and there’s something for everyone on their latest. Perhaps microwave safe rock will see an uprising?