Suburban Chicago band The Orwells have now released their highly-anticipated sophomore album Disgraceland. The band had built up to its release by dropping songs like “Southern Comfort” and “Dirty Sheets,” and the one that really put them on the map was “Who Needs You,” but now that we got our hands on the full project we see that Mario Cuomo-fronted outfit had a lot more to offer.
The album kicks off with the highly energetic and danceable “Southern Comfort,” the drums alerting you that the time for jumping around and moshing has begun while the chorus is perfect for singing along to out loud in unison. “The Righteous One” is just cool and gives you and idea of what a song would sound like if The Doors if they would have teamed up with The Kinks; driven by its captivating bass line, this song builds so well for when the chorus kicks in and the whole band erupts. It feels very late ’60s. “Dirty Sheets” is another perfect example of how well The Orwells can craft a great verse that builds up a catchy chorus. The bridge in this tune is everything, and this song is probably the best example of the Punk spirit on this whole album.
“Bathroom Tile Blues” will forever be my favorite “deep cut” from Disgraceland. It sounds like a Gene Simmons-penned KISS song from the early 70’s, especially in Cuomo’s delivery, which sounds inspired by “The Demon.” Next up is “Gotta Get Down,” which feels like the first misstep. It’s a perfectly fine song, with a riff that can hold its own on a battle of the catchiest on this album, but the rest of song feels like it could have done better had it gone in another direction. “Let It Burn” is a great shift-changer. The song is very much rooted in Punk, with an aggressive guitar assault that only strengthens as the song progresses.
If you want someone to get into The Orwells, “Who Needs You” is the go-to track. This song perfectly captures their rebellious nature and knack for catchy choruses; it’s their “Last Nite.” The funny thing about “Norman” is that O’Keefe mentioned that this was his favorite song, and it’s actually my least favorite from this record. The lyrics are an awesome callback the gory lyrics and themes found in their earliest material, but the music just doesn’t quite sit well with me for some reason.
“Always n Forever” is another fun, danceable tune with a big chorus; it’s a mid-set list material. “Blood Bubbles” is another one of the tracks that found its way onto the album that first appeared on the EP’s. This one is a fantastic, slow-killer. It’s a Horror film with a 50’s-60’s Rock ballad soundtrack. “North Ave.” is an excellent song to finish to the album driven with a very Strokes’y riff. It’s their final account of what it is to be an old kid in the suburbs.
When I finished listening to this record the first thing I thought was that if I had a band, this is what I’d always wished we’d sound like. Guitarist Matt O’Keefe told us that Disgraceland is the result of what a group of guys in their late teens come up with when they want the world to have one final look at what goes on in their basement. And from the look of it, the world has a lot to thank that basement for.
Key tracks: “Southern Comfort,” “The Righteous One,” “Dirty Sheets,” “Bathroom Tile Blues,” “Who Needs You,” “Blood Bubbles,” “North Ave.”
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