Last time we reviewed Tunabunny, we were very impressed by their ability to balance their pop and punk influences without jumping too far in either direction. The fine line they walked not only made for enjoyment of both genres influences, but gave their sound a sense of controlled chaos that made Genius Fatigue a real enjoyably listen.
Now Tunabunny is back with Kingdom Technology. The band has never settled into one genre, but with this release, the control is gone and the chaos is everywhere. While the sounds are all over the map, at times to archaic levels, there is still plenty to like about the new album.
The new direction is evident from the start. Where Tunabunny albums usually start with plenty of thrashing guitars full-tilt distorted vocals, Kingdom Technology opens with beautiful vocal harmonies and driving bass lines. “Airless Spaces” builds suspense before kicking into the piercing guitar work on “Canaries in Mineshafts.”
One thing that does show uniformity is the bands refined sound. Where the muddle of voices and instruments overloaded their previous works, tracks like “Not New Years” showcase a cleaned up sound for the band. While bass heavy, the band explores more electronic elements to their tracks. In what sounds like a track from the band Gossip, “Bag of Bones” continues the bands new electronic experimentation, but sadly the vocal get lost in the mix.
There are times when the sound drives off the road and never really finds a common thread. From track to track, it seems they are trying to up the ante every time with more avant guard sounds. However, that’s their style. Remember, “Tunabunny thinks of pop/rock as something that should be destroyed, or at the very least subverted, but would probably be better for everyone involved if it simply ceased to exist.” If a genre even began to define Tunabunny, they would ensure its death.
The Vinyl
Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records always releases top shelf wax. Along with a full color jacket, the album is presed on 140 gram black vinyl and includes a download card. A lyric sheet would be great, but the heavy duty card with liner notes is a cool addition. You can purchase your copy of “Kingdom Technology” from your local independent record store or the HHBTM website.
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