Bottlekids – Vindicted
Bottlekids are an alternative indie-pop group from Chicago, Illinois. Following a series of solid singles, they released their debut Vindicted sometime in 2021.
The album had a lot of positives. Firstly, the vocals were neat; both expressive and fitting. Secondly, there were some great tracks. River Phoenix incorporated subtle noise to differentiate it from other cheesy synth bands. The result was both uplifting, though sonically alluring. Camgirl was surprisingly creative. The honest lyrics were empowered by the vulnerable and sincere delivery. Moreover, the incorporated synthetic work during the chorus was bliss, and the progression was admirable. Lastly, Smoke Break, featuring the Galesburg Boys, was a satisfying punk rock anthem.
It’s not that the remaining tracks were lesser in quality, they were simply less unique. Uncomfortable – Ver. 2 was a chilled indie rock ballad, though despite its minimal exploration of guitar feedback, it was nothing rock fans haven’t heard time and time again. Jack Nance borrowed far too heavily from The Cure’s Pictures of You’s production and sound design. Bar the autotuned vocals and humour, Schizoid Hero was just another cheesy pop song. Women Uber Alles may have had cool moments and a solid progression, but its formula was tired once the album got to it. Moreover, most of the remaining tracks were retreads of the past.
As with most indie pop and 80’s synth call backs, Vindicted was missing a unique sound design. Thankfully, the artists were less concerned with being appealing and more focused on being expressive. In some ways, there’s wasn’t a real flaw with Vindicted; one should just expect more from our artists these days than a replication of the past. Here’s hoping Bottlekids can find a way to innovate their foundations moving forward.
Average
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