Vulfpeck - Hill Climber


Vulfpeck
Hill Climber
2018
Spotify

I've been following Vulfpeck for a few years now and have seen them develop form a University of Michigan side project to a full on band. The whole bunch are super talented musicians in their own right with Theo Katzman, the lead vocalist here, releasing a record of his own recently. The problem with Vulfpeck is they are almost too talented for their own good. When they get together it becomes a cacophony of inside jokes, 70s funk references and weird as hell lyrics. "Darwin Derby" has this breakdown that goes: "Of all the creatures in the sea, my favorite is the bass It climbs up all the rocks and trees And slides down on its hands and knees But why does the shark have teeth? The shark has teeth to eat, I see And why does the whale have feet? Well it- I don't know". They are fun on one hand but strange as hell on the other. But that is Vulfpeck's M.O., they are going to better at their instruments than everyone else, but they are never going to put into a box. The problem is that their music has become such a "thing" that they almost have boxed themselves in without trying. They are one of the only bands who you wish would just be a little bit more normal so that they had a more even sound, rather than this bumpy off kilter vibe that they work so hard to curate. "Love is a Beautiful Thing" works because it is gentle while still appealing to the band's ability, subtly sometimes goes a long way.

For each "Love is a Beautiful Thing" Vulfpeck record about 10 strange avante garde pieces that are wildly colorful, but lack any real emotional depth. That's the thing about Vulfpeck, they show you how fucking talented they are at making music, but they don't dive into the reasons we actually listen to music. It isn't just proving how good you are at your instrument, that fact is not in question when it comes to these guys, it's also about creating something that people can truly connect with. So often you just can't do that with Vulfpeck, they are in their own lane and their own zone, almost inaccessible to the fans at large. That's the most frustrating part about Vulfpeck they are emensely talented but they keep going back to same gimmick every damn time. "Soft Parade" sounds just like every other song with an organ lead they have in their catalog. They feel stuck in a sound that doesn't have that new excitement anymore. Maybe that's what they want, nerdy music for music nerds but they have so much more potential so much that they could give. Let's hope their next album blazes a new path because this one is getting worn out.

6.0 out of 10

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