We are one week removed from October which means we pick up right where we left off and we cover some interesting albums for the album of the week post. I love discovering new bands and I love covering their albums and that is definitely the case with this week’s band which also has local ties for me. Have you ever heard a song, liked it, but had no idea who the recording artist was? This week’s artist Highly Suspect is one of those artists that when I was asked if I had heard of them, I had not (to be perfectly honest). When I was told to listen to a couple of tracks, I immediately knew that I had heard the track before so I did a little investigating. I realized that the band hailed from Cape Cod, Massachusetts before they relocated to Brooklyn, New York for obvious reasons (more exposure). The band who is made up of Johnny Stevens (Guitar, Vocals, Synths, and Piano), Rich Meyer (Bass), and Ryan Meyer (Drums). In 2016, the band hooked up with producer Joel Hamilton and together they recorded and released the band’s second studio album The Boy Who Died Wolf. The album received some critical acclaim as Loudwire named it the number one on their 20 Best Rock Albums of 2016 post. The album also peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Top 200 charts while also peaking at number one on Billboard’s Top Alternative Albums.
1. My Name Is Human– The song has a very full sound with the bass before the rest of the band kicks in on the album’s lead single. Johnny Stevens described the song saying, “A lot of people think the song is about being a human. I believe some of us aren’t human at all. Or at least not completely, but that is still our name. At some point in the last couple hundred years something changed. The androids, the aliens…They aren’t coming. We are here.” 5/5
2. Look Alive, Stay Alive– The track kicks off with a punk attitude before it calms down for the verse in a track that seems to be talking about how our narrator has come to the realization that he’s content with trying to stay alive then acting like he knows everything. 4.5/5
3. Little One– This track to me has a little bit of Soundgarden in it mixed with a little of today’s alternative especially in Steven’s amazing vocals. He seems to be talking about someone he has sacrificed so much for, but it’s going nowhere so he leaves. 5/5
4. For Billy– A rock tune that reminds me a little of Bush from the Sixteen Stone era, but they are reminiscing about someone they knew and loved. 4.5/5
5. Serotonia– An interesting track that starts out with a line of how he wishes he could be naked and masturbate all day. Nonetheless, he feels that he has done everything he could in New York and that it hasn’t made him the person he’s wanted to be so he thinks he should move to Hollywood. 4/5
6. Postres– Another interesting track on the album that has him talking about how he’s happy with where his life is and he’s going to enjoy it and especially his Postres (a Spanish desert). 4/5
7. Send Me An Angel– I love the original version of the Real Life track so I was interested to see how the band handled this one. They basically slowed it down and made it seem a little more ominous and creepy. 5/5
8. Viper Strike– This is a very angry track that has the band attack racists, homophobes, and anyone that just hates. They definitely voice their opinion on the track attacking all the hate in the world with some bold statements. 4/5
9. F.W.Y.T.– A very simple track with a little hip hop flare thrown in there that has the narrator giving up on the idea of a dystopia and F*** what you think! 4.5/5
10. Chicago– a cool piano track that shows Stevens flexing his musical abilities in a track that is about a girl he met in Chicago that became pretty special to him, but it didn’t end well. 5/5
11. Wolf– Another relationship related track, but this time it’s all about how he has to leave to live his rock and roll life because this one is a lie. 4.5/5
My Final Thoughts– I can see why Loudwire chose this as their rock album of 2016 because the band has so much range, but there is also a lot of honesty in their music. The band definitely was influenced by Chris Cornell or at least Stevens was because you can hear the pain in the way he sings. This is an incredible record that everyone should check out. I am giving the album 4.5 stars out of five for a final grade.
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