Matt’s Take
Without a doubt one of my most anticipated albums to release this year is the fantastic debut by Rochester-based rock band Pluck! I have been a fan of these massively talented musicians for a while, and seeing them open themselves up to the mass public is genuinely inspiring and heartwarming. Enough gushing, let’s get to the rock!
Every song on the album lends itself to a great mood piece, and is paced, produced, and track listed to perfection. Warm Safe Kind is a true powerhouse that I would heavily recommend to anyone going through a confusing or emotional time, and seeing the band live definitely adds to this feeling with Alyssa, Ben, Brock, and Javan belting it out in a way that feels unique and transcendent.
Warm Safe Kind opens with the unreal breakdown of the track “What We Do in the Sun” in which every facet comes through in full effect before the powerful vocals. The flow on this track, as well as the intermittent drum hook and swing of the vocals is used to suck in listeners and gives a great glimpse of what to come. This style is furthered on the track “Groovetown,” a song that contains instrumentals that have an almost Weezer (Blue Album) feel to it, without feeling derivative or coming off as a knock-off. Unlike other albums that feel like knock-offs of previous genres and trying to call them new, Warm Safe Kind feels very passionate and hearkens back on classic style rather than using it as a crutch. It’s like the cherry on top as opposed to being the bowl containing the sundae.
The power peaks of the album hit with “Vessel,” the album’s first single, and “The Shape of Your Hands.” “Vessel” stands as the most powerful song on the record with the instrumentals reaching the highest highs, and the vocals hitting the rawest of flows. “The Shape of Your Hands” however is definitely the emotional pinnacle of the album, for me anyways, and definitely is the song to cry to if one were so inclined. These two songs serve as perfect examples of the variety that Pluck has to offer, and I can’t wait for everyone to check them out!
Three Standout Tracks: “Bridge Song,” “Vessel,” and “The Shape of Your Hands.”