In the modern world of political chaos, conspiracy theories, and terrifying technological breakthroughs, you can either do your best to ignore it all, or you can take up arms and get angry. Xay Cole does the latter. 21st Century Wrist is a collection of songs so loud and jarring that even the coolest of neighbors would complain about the noise. At times, a hard rock chord progression will completely stop for a twisted, jazzy drum solo, and at other points, a track will begin with a lilting synth intro, only to explode into the rawest punk song you’ve ever heard in your life. If you like a band that gets right in your face and freaks you out, then put this album on your list.
Right out the gate, Lamborghini Powder tells you everything you need to know. This record is going to be loud, chaotic, and cool as hell. It’s short and sweet, and just when you think it’s going on too long, it jumps right into Young Money. A rocking bassline, steady drums, and catchy vocals are all driven forward by the 8-bit sounds of an exploding Gameboy Color. If you aren’t in love by the time you hear the first “whip-crack”, then you’re in the wrong part of town on this one.
The off-kilter grooves keep coming with “Downer”, a mellowed out rock tune with high-end guitar chords that pull inspiration from early Strokes records. Then, all at once, the true experimentation begins. A cacophony of off-key horns and synths somehow stays together in “Plastic by Death” while the song at its heart powers through. “Twinning for the Feels” sounds like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club band sounds like it was written and recorded during the boat ride scene from Willy Wonka. The band delivers the strangest punches while the haunting vocals act as the captain of this electronic acid trip.
As 21st Century Wrist progresses, there are times when it seems like the songs themselves are alien spacecrafts that are burning up in the atmosphere as they plummet to earth. There are moments that hurt, moments that simmer, and moments that make you want to get up and dance, and these can all happen in the same three minute track. Screen Time, ATM, and All the Runaways are great mileposts to get the full spectrum of what Xay Cole has to offer with this release. There’s funky basslines, industrial drumbeats that can fade like ghosts at any moment, and some of the strangest sounds you’ve ever heard in your life. This album rocks hard, and is not for the faint of heart.
The lyric from this album that stands out the most tells you everything you need to know about Xay Cole. “The uglier it gets, the better we feel.” Pulling inspiration from garage rock staples like the Strokes, psychedelic storytellers like the Beatles in their late stage, and modern experimenters like Cornelius, this album comes together in a beautiful, twisted way. In a time where music can come from any part of the world and any walk of life, Xay Cole sounds like they are trapped in a glitched out arcade machine at the filthiest punk club in town, in the best way possible.
Written by Rob Rinaldi
