Boston-based shoegaze band dropbear dives deep into emotional soundscapes on their debut record, Magic City. With 10 tracks spanning 39 minutes, the album delivers a lush blend of heavy guitars, thunderous drums, and introspective lyrics that create a distinctly “rock” atmosphere. It’s a promising start for the band, showing their ability to evoke raw feelings while delves through layers of sound.
The opening track, “Bloodshot Moonlight,” makes an instant impression with its longer instrumental introduction. The thunderous blend of heavy guitars and pounding drums sets a powerful tone for the album, establishing dropbear’s commitment to their rock roots. Following this, “The Mess You Leave Behind” highlights the band’s emotional depth, with conflicted and dazed vocals reflecting on the past and future. It feels like a moment of confrontation wrapped in dreamy yet intense instrumentation, a reflection of inner conflict.
The titular track, “Magic City,” starts to feel routine with its similarity to earlier songs in terms of vocal delivery and instrumental style. Despite the overall guitar-centric sound of the record, the drums shine throughout, adding texture and grounding the expansive, reverb-heavy guitars.
The closing track, “Tattersnail,” slows things down for a reflective ending, offering a contrast to the otherwise high-energy album. It feels introspective, leaving the listener with a moment to process the journey. While Magic City can feel repetitive in places, its cohesive sound and emotional undercurrents make it a decent debut for dropbear, one that shoegaze and rock fans alike can appreciate.
Written by Nthatile Mavuso
