These days, an album with fourteen tracks has become more of an anomaly than the status quo (barring Grindcore, of course, the universal exception to basically every rule ever).
Fortunately, Lil Lotus’s more than a dozen songs that comprise Nosebleeder (Epitaph Records) each breed a different emotional response and thus staves off the fears of people with, shall we say, weaker attention spans.
Another plus is the guest musicians that are an enhancement rather than a crutch, further freshening the product.
Harsh vocals are scattered and sparse, which gives them more meaning and significance. Think of them as a nice dash of chili powder or black pepper: not overwhelming, but certainly present.
What also stands out is how many damn hooks Lil Lotus came up with. Whether it’s through a vocal pattern, a lyric or a rhythm, Nosebleeder is chock full of them.
“Hailey’s Comet” is a certified toe-tapper bolstered by a nifty group vocal line. “What A Time To Be Alive” and “Stockholm Syndrome” further the catchiness and good nature.
The cleverness is another pro, and reinvigorates the audience, keeping them primed for what’s ahead.
“Missouri” uses cheeky wordplay (“Missouri loves company” instead of “misery”). And “When Life Gives You Lemons” is straight-up enjoyable as hell. Not to mention the album title on the artwork ends with an “Rx”.
The lyrics aren’t put on the back burner, either. Another standout track, “Ghost”, declares “I like you better as a ghost” and the aforementioned “What A Time To Be Alive” completes the refrain with “The medication feels just fine.” Cheers.
Nosebleeder is a pop-Punk, Hip Hop-influenced hodge-podge of clearly thought out compositions. Seemingly every box is checked off, giving the abundance of songs a sense of endearment rather than overabundance.
Even if a handful of tracks aren’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of other flavors and varieties to choose from.
Buy the album here:
7 / 10
MATT COOK