Review
If I’m honest I’ve never really cared for Cloud Nothings in the past, it’s not that I dislike the act it’s just that it’s never done anything for me. Dylan Baldi’s project has always seemed the type to have good intentions but has lacked the ability to make any noticeable impact. But if his third album Attack On Memory has taught me anything, it’s that one album alone can make a hell of a difference. I decided to give this a spin out of curiosity having heard Steve Albini (producer of such acts as Nirvana, The Pixies and Manic Street Preachers to name but a few) was attached to it.
Going in with little to no expectations based on Baldi’s previous two albums, I came out of his third effort very impressed. Everything sounds so much more robust than before, the instrumentation sounds sharper, tighter and much cleaner than before. This not only creates a much better balance of sound but gives each track have a punchier, more potent presence on the album. This could be because of Albini’s extensive experience, but I gotta give credit where credits due. Not only is this Cloud Nothings best sounding album to date it’s also there most interesting. Baldi has spliced meaty drum and bass compositions along with simplistic yet razor sharp riffs. On top of this he’s constructed a collection of clearly projected, cutting vocals which ride over lightly tinted pop punk, OG emo melodies with ease. However he also shown a matured sense of progression on this record, you only need to listen to the record’s eight minute opus “Wasted Days” to see how he has matured as a musician. The first half of that particular track is swift, light on its feet and catchy as hell. The second half mutates into a growing specimen of layered atmosphere, it builds up to become a towering peak of tightly wound tension before stepping hard on the gas once again.
This kind of well thought, engaging composing mixed with sharp musical execution is what I always felt was missing in the previous work of Cloud Nothings. But now Baldi has proving me wrong I have been somewhat won over by him, dont get me wrong I’m not suddenly going to fall in love with the work I had previously dismissed. But I certainly have my eyes open in regards his next move.
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