We don’t have enough sad rock music in this world.

Admittedly I am fairly new to the world of indie music with a depressing edge. I have always enjoyed music that is more somber than cheery: Depeche Mode over Devo, Black Sabbath over The Beatles, depressive melodic death metal over literally anything else… So I am a little surprised that it took me so long to get into, say, Joy Division and The Microphones. In fairness, as a prog head I had to spend quite a bit of time and muscle to fully remove my head from my own ass.

What I enjoy most about autopolitan’s self-titled release (and yes, they are in the trend of not capitalizing their proper nouns, don’t @ me about grammar) is this fairly simple formula that I have come to love:

Rough, Primal Production + Wide Instrumental Dynamics = Strong Emotional Appeal

What I mean is that artists can create a very powerful, emotional experience via their performances rather than “studio magic”. It’s Bob Dylan’s rough vocals belting out masterpieces in a single vocal track or Aretha Franklin leading a gospel choir in a small church, for some classic references. Not only do I not believe that either artist’s seminal works would be aided by contemporary “overproduction” trends, but I actively do NOT want to hear that sound. Sometimes rawness is the aesthetic necessary for full emotional effect.

autopolitan (the band AND the album) have the appeal of mixing grit with early 2000’s new wave / garage rock trends, which ends in a place of “wow this is depressing, but MAN do I want to dance to it!” The album starts off with “As It Were”, which sort of sounds like The Strokes doing a Joy Division impression, which I never really knew I needed to hear until I was graced by the presence of this excellent work. This “sad garage rock” vibe continues throughout most of the album, but I must make it clear that the songs stand on their own. Many albums fail to create separation between the individual tracks, which basically makes me feel like I listened to a really long jam session that should be cut down to about 8 minutes of ear-catching material. “autopolitan” is a great example of the opposite, an album in which each track stands on its own while also maintaining a consistent atmosphere. I will be blunt: this is VERY hard to pull off in a traditional album format.

While I quite enjoy the entire album, I will highlight a couple of specific sections that embody what I love most about this release. “Eyes and Fever” is a harrowing romp through a dark, empty liminal space, as dissonant and rough around the edges as it is upbeat and catchy. The atmosphere is soft then loud, jagged then smooth, noisy then melodic. “Ravels”, the following song, kicks into a steady groove with those Strokes-esque interweaving guitars keeping the rhythm thumping along. Then the group roars into “Always Impossible”, which is possibly the heaviest and most unforgiving song on the album. The contrast between these tracks is essential to understanding what this album accomplishes: a wide range of feelings that all feel tied together, as if we are side-by-side with the storyteller as they experience the joys and pains brought by a day, week, month, or year of human existence.

One more point of praise: I LOVE albums that get better and better as they continue, and “autopolitan” is no exception. Again, I enjoy all 31 minutes of this excellent release, but man does the album go out with a bang. “Side By Blinded” is perhaps my favorite track of the bunch with its melancholy hooks that get stuck in my head for hours after listening. Afterwards we transition into “Life Like”, which might be the most cheerful song of the twelve (but don’t worry, it is still drenched in gloom, just listen to the lyrics.) “Choose The Adjectives” opens with a JUICY bass hook and thumps into a crescendo of dual guitar leads and a passionate, pained vocal performance. And finally, to put a cap on things, “I’m Telling You” closes us out with a wall of somber sound. The chorus’s line “I’m Telling Yoooouuuuu” is probably the loudest cry of desperation on the whole LP, making the listener feel as though the waters have finally risen to fully encapsulate their body and pull them down to the depths of the ocean floor below.

While I cannot recommend “autopolitan” for the faint of heart, as it is likely to inspire some fairly emotional feelings from your rawest life experiences, I will argue and predict that many listeners will balance the doom and gloom with the brilliance of the performances and the insanely catchy hooks and melodies found throughout these 31 minutes.

https://autopolitan.bandcamp.com/album/autopolitan

Joe H