ALBUM REVIEW: A Matter of Time - Shed Seven

 Did you miss my actual full album reviews? I decided 2024 was missing me too. I will be going through several 2024 releases to get caught up on some new releases. I hope perhaps it will inform you of some albums you forgot were here, didn't realize you needed, or otherwise just learned the band of!

Shed Seven has actually been around since 1994. Well, according to what I saw. I had never heard them. This is their first release in 6 years! Youth of Killing Joke was the main producer of this Britpop themed release. They strived to return to their roots. I cannot say I am sure if this was successful, since this is my first release heard by them. 

I do hear some of the jangle of the Britpop style, but I also hear influences of a more pop/punk scene. I think the blend makes it a bit like a more fun and less dark Green Day vibe. It is a pleasant listen but not exactly a beacon of depth. 

Let's Go opens with a pop/punk flare and a demand for escapism. Why not go on an adventure after all? The drums and guitar really drive this track.

And we get yet another anthem dreaming of California. Why don't more people dream of somewhere fresh, like Kansas? I wonder what Minnesota is like. I do not mean to suggest California or New York do not deserve their glittering accolades of dream places, but sometimes I desire something new...

Talk of the Town really captures more of the Britpop beat but also uses some more interesting riffs to keep you into the song. It is a simple lyrical love song but very endearing and easy to get wrapped in. 

Let's Go Dancing takes the beat down a bit. I don't think his voice fit this melody very well. Usually I love dramatic strings, but I do not think they are utilized to their best capability. 

In Ecstasy is a nice tune to get stuck in your head, but once the next track hits you do not recall the last thing you heard.

I am not super into the references, but I can imagine other people finding Tripping on You more enjoyable than me as an earwormy favorite.

Real Love kind of captured me as a sarcastic take on how people handle relationships in today's society. It definitely feels like real love was forgotten in an abyss of streams and likes.

F: K: H: has lyricism I dislike but an instrumentation I want to go back to. I hate this limbo.

Starlings is a lovely little ballad. It definitely adjusts and makes up for the failures of the first attempt at a ballad. 

Ring the Changes has a charming catchy beat and the ability to be quite anthemic. It does not feel like something that will be a dated sort of anthem though which I appreciate. Sometimes when songs seem to reference the get go of the modern age, they do not know how to write it to make it more timeless.

Throwaways as a closer is rather charming with a promise of things getting better for those written off into the sunset, not given the main role. Is that not something we all desire?

LYRICS: 7/10 - Often a bit basic yet fit the messaging and work within the melodies. 

MUSIC: 8/10 - This is what keeps the force of the album going where the words fall flat, although in places I felt they did not quite make it work or it sounded too much like the other songs.

OVERALL: 7/10 - If you want a solid pop/punk leaning alt release - take a listen. I think it will be worthwhile. It is nothing to call home about, but something infectious enough to get you humming along.