Right off the bat, ‘I confess’ that this album masterfully channels its influences so well, especially the pop punk scene. “New Face” is guaranteed to remind you of those old iconic bands you loved in high school. Except there’s something oddly unique about the whole thing, which is one of the best parts about underrated artists; they get inspired, take something good and make it their own. Dreamer Dreamer definitely hit the mark with this one.
Nine songs and a thirty-minute runtime will take you back to memory lane with melodic tunes and soulful vocals clear as day. During the initial chronological listen, the vibes just get to you, making you bop your head and ponder next – it will make those influential bands resurface at the tip of your tongue as these songs are bound to make you remember them. Everything is a perfect mixture of pop punk with a lace of melancholic synth that it all sounds so familiar.
“Lullaby” – the first track that sounds just like what it seems, same goes for “Reveal”, making us get a taste of what we’re getting ourselves into once we decide to press play on this album. The transitions from track to track are also great, like it’s been playfully tampered with but the actual fun part about it is that it all works. “Placebo”’s drum parts are one of the album’s highlights, that’s for sure. “Traces” contains relatable lyrics like “When words are unspoken, there’s everything to lose”.
Delving further into the songwriting aspect, it’s truly something else; it’s raw, real, incredibly expressive. “Echo” has this remarkable, harmonious bass and guitar counterpart, with lyrics like “I need to know, is this enough, or should I just go?” and “Tell me / I’m here on my own / It’s funny how I thought I was more”. “Aether” is also amazing in terms of melody and structure; personally, the guitar reminded me of All Time Low. A memorable line from it would be “We know we all need time to heal our wounds”.
Does anyone else love it when the song title matches the tune completely? Because “Mars” just feels like I’m being transported to that planet and back, especially during that first lick. The ad libs are serving, they’re catchy, and they suit the initial impression. Likewise, it also has in-depth lyrics: “The things that I’ve repressed / Stuck in my head until there’s nothing left” and “I can’t save me from myself”.
“New Face”, the title track, earns and deserves its place at the second to the last song. It’s literally quite perfect, probably the culmination of the entire album. It’s chilling, breathtaking even, when it contains lyrics like “End of the line, they say / Cut the ties so I can stay”, “This is the end of all / When everything’s forever gone”, “Life is a dream, you can never leave at all”.
To wrap it all up, “Diving”, the ninth and final track, opens with waves and melancholy guitar, with way too similar vibes as the first song, effectively acting as a tied-up ribbon to a wrapped present. It seems as though Dreamer Dreamer was concluding their thoughts with this one, taking it all home.
Sure, it’s pop punk, but it’s also undeniably poetic. This album delivers a whirlwind of emotions, keeping you hooked from start to finish.
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About the Author
Kate Clarice Lee is a psychology major in Ateneo de Naga University with a knack for music and writing. She takes interest in playing guitar, poetry, creative writing, and lyrics that—subjectively—hit close to home. Kate mostly enjoys indie, alternative, pop & punk rock music.
