A Huge New Album From Glitter Etiquette
Glitter Etiquette returns with a massive new album that runs the gamut of rock soundscapes from indie to garage, grunge, psychedelic, and more, all put together and portrayed with a bit of spaciousness, which is kind of a staple for the band in general. These guys always have a great, vast underbelly, and it adds plenty of depth to love the songs, along with some of the twang coming from those guitars at times.
The cool thing about records like this is that it takes you on a bit of a musical Adventure. Now, they're not afraid to hit it hard, with heavier tones, grungy or distortion, and drums that slam a bit more. They're also able to give you plenty of classic, almost '90s indie rock styles that feel less thick and display great attention to detail when it comes to the tones of all the instruments involved.
Love In Shards starts with the track called "Passipass", which kicks off with a wah-wah effect guitar, and reverb-drenched vocals that already start to give you that expansive tonality right from the get-go.
When the drums kick in, you get more layers of guitars that sit on top, giving you bits of hooks and melodies, and the whole thing gives that live performance feel. This is another thing the band does often. A lot of the time, they give off an aesthetic that puts you in the moment with the songs that come almost like you're watching them perform it live right in front of you.
"Blue Boy" is one of the catchier tracks on the record, with a great hook that sort of sticks with you. This track is also slightly heavier in terms of the guitar tone, but not over the top. It combines the twang with the grunginess damn near perfectly and gives you great progressions along with vocals performed in octaves.
One voice does the higher register of the melody, and another comes in with a lower register. When you put them together, it thickens things up and just makes the song more engulfing. It also lets you pay attention to the lyrics, but a bit more.
Songs like "Waiting for The Devil" are a little bit more of a garage-style blended with classic indie rock, while others like "It Will Not Be" have a bit more of a radio rock style with vocals that come through crisp and clean, more upfront than distant.
As the album unfolds, you start to get a real feel for where they're coming from. Although some tracks can be vast and expansive, others are more pop-oriented. I think that's important because throughout everything, even the tracks that feel sort of like a shoegaze style, always still attach a bit of pop sensibility to them.
There are a lot of great layers throughout the course of the record, some surprises around its corners, and a wonderfully warm sort of lusciousness to a lot of the textures as well. Even the heavier ones have a lot of sonic presence and amazing layers of tone that come at you.
Some tracks have a smoother and more flowing feel, while others rock out with an edgier approach, but either way, you're getting something that is memorable.
One of my favorite tracks on the record is actually the closing song called "When I Saw You Sunday", which gives you a bit of post-punk.
Once you hear the track, you start to realize there are elements of post-punk laced throughout the whole record, but on this track in particular, it's really in your face.
I love being able to pick up on these different kinds of influences as the album unfolds. It's quite fun.
This single has a chorus-like effect on the guitars, so everything feels like it's swimming through water. I dig that sort of wavy and flowing sensation that it gives off, and it's very addictive.
This is a great example of an album in a band that really branches out when they want to. They don't lock themselves into a very particular genre, per se. Instead, they bend and blend genres to create something with its own atmosphere, and I think that's important for a band like this.
We need rock music that isn't bound to a particular genre.
An album like this takes you on a fun musical journey and rocks simply because they're able to give you different aesthetics throughout the album, and this is part of why the record stands out.
This is absolutely an album that I'd suggest listening to all the way through, in one shot. You are able to really catch all the different approaches if you do it that way, and do it on a good volume.
Don't listen to this super low. It doesn't make any sense. As a matter of fact, I also suggest listening to this one with headphones on so you can really soak in all the different tones, textures, layers, and soundscapes that come at you.
It's part of the fun of getting swallowed up by a record like this one.
Again, these guys do hit grunge, a little alternative rock, and classic any rock across the record, so there's tons of fun to be had, loads of pop catchiness, and hooks from both the instruments and vocals that sort of embed in your brain.
Upon listening to this album, I wanted to sit-down with the band to find out where it actually all came from and what might be coming up next for them.
So, while you listen to this record, have a read through of our interview with Glitter Etiquette below.
What is the record about?
Reyson: I think it's mostly about longing for something better, and also mourning the state of things. It's sort of like a blues song but done with different music influences.
Naoki: The record delves into melancholy melodrama about love and relationships and the cracks in them. How much does it take to crack one fully open? We deal with the consequences of that, from waiting for a partner indefinitely to games being played, finding your soulmate and trying to do right by them, it falls apart, you pick up the pieces, go to your shift and think only of them, leave feeling empty, wallow and see them in everything and then finally at some point accept everything. It’s a record that reflects all the emotions within and around love.
How long have you guys been working on this one?
Reyson: We started working on this album around September of last year just coming up with ideas and laying out tracks etc but most of the work was done by the end of last year and beginning of this.
Naoki: We spend the second half of the year recording new material and then perform it for the first half of the year. This project has followed the same timeline.
Are you out there performing live right now, or are there any plans to?
Reyson: We are having our first show of the year on Friday May 1st for the release of this album at Piano's in NYC.
Naoki: We start playing May 1st for around half a year.
How do you feel like this record differs from the last set of releases?
Reyson: I think each one of our new projects tells a story and they are all very different from each other, it's like we take a theme and we run with it but we try to really not think of what was done before, we just start fresh every time.
Naoki: this project is a lot more raw than previous records, it focuses on guitar and vocals and melodies reminiscent of the 90s Britpop movement. We are bearing our hearts as authentically to the feelings as we can on this one.
Did you record the same way? Same set up or studio?
Reyson: Yes, we usually record everything at my apartment, first me and Naoki sort of lay down the basic tracks and song ideas and then Kensho comes in and recorded the drums and Jackey added bass, but it is also a very organic process we just go with the flow of the song and sometimes we come back in and add more tracks as needed, we then also mixed it ourselves which can be really challenging to say the least lol.
Naoki: Always at Reyson’s, laying everything down. It’s where we have most control.
You release a lot of music!Does it take a lot of planning?
Reyson: Actually we try to keep a general date for a new release like Spring of this year for example was the goal for this but we do not have like a strict plan no, and each song is different so we approach it as we need to.
Naoki: We are very go with the flow people but the flow always dictates certain innate timelines within us. Anything over a half a year starts to feel redundant, so we flip flop from performing and recording usually within this, also usually recording some singles or short songs even during performing season because we/ I love to record more than anything.
Do you guys write songs together in a rehearsal space, or is it one main songwriter that comes back to the rest?
Reyson: Mostly me and Naoki write the songs but sometimes Jackie also contributed with one of his ideas for "Help I'm A Bug" which he also sang on, and that one we actually just did all together here at my place, we just started recording and put it all down in a couple of takes in one afternoon lol.
Naoki: Some songs we jam out and find, many others we write individually and then solve as a band, usually starting with the guitars and vocal melody then adding the rest. We plan on potentially flipping this on its head in a future project.
Is there anything coming up after this?
Reyson: Yes we are already working on a double single release right after "Love In Shards" release which we plan to release by June so stay tuned!
Naoki: Yes, we are always evolving and working on new material. We are very much inspired by harsher tones currently so that is all I will say regarding that.
What can you say people can expect from this record?
Reyson: I hope people feel moved by it and that somehow this music identifies with them and the world we all are in now but also brings some hope and that maybe somehow this can bring some change about...
Naoki: A lot. But most of all I hope they can hear the humanity and all the flaws in it especially in the messaging. It’s coming from very broken people who rebuilt themselves, or currently are, just as we all are. This schism is a part of life as I see it and it’s all about picking up the pieces in the end and figuring a way forward. I think this has been our most authentic project and I’m hoping people can hear that and feel it.
This was massive! What would you like to say to listeners and fans?
Reyson: Thanks so much for the support and we really hope you enjoy "Love In Shards", we have totally put out our hearts out for you on this and hope you can receive it 
Naoki: Thank you to all who listen and support us- we love making music and part of the joy is sharing it with everyone! It’s cathartic to think we have the ability, platform and place to do it, and we are eternally grateful for every opportunity to share it and share love. God bless and glitter onnnnnn
Love In Shards - Album by Glitter Etiquette | Spotify
