23 Dec 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Crying Club - Single Review: Hide

06 Nov 2022 // A review by Steve Shyu
Poneke Wellington indie-emo maestros Crying Club, formerly and hilariously known as The Chonus Brothers, have made waves both in Tamaki Makaurau as well as in their usual stomping grounds of the Capital. After said name change, and the release of their brilliant 2021 single Taxi Man, the quartet pressed on, and are now proud to present to the world a dark, new single for all to sing along to, headbang with, and feel appropriately glum to.

Downbeat guitar chords lead the way on Hide, before giving over to some grief-stricken vocals, in the style of early Robert Smith on a bad day. Before long, the drums and bass guitar swing into the mix, all set to a four-four beat but with an almost hip-hop rhythm.

The track’s instrumentation is brilliant. The bass guitar and drums don’t stray far from what’s required of them, providing the solid, and rhythmic foundation. The vocals and guitars are arguably the primary feature of the song. The latter of the two varies between trilling away beautifully, like in the post-choruses, to punchy, punk-rock chords in the chorus. Listen closely, and you’ll hear light arpeggios going on in the background of the choruses. Truly beautiful stuff.

At times, the vocals sound overly prominent in the mix, and dominated the rest of the instruments, perhaps most so in the verses. Having more of that driving guitar sound would have given the song more teeth and angst, which, when matched with the powerful drum-line, could become even more potent.

The observational lyrics appear to portray the depressive mood one may set into some days, when the drive to do anything at all is at zero. The deeply minor key, matched with uncomfortable descriptions of mundane trivialities and an unwillingness to move forward is perfect, even if the writing wasn’t set out to be intentionally “emo”, as genres will have it.

A sense of dreariness looms during the verses, but the energising choruses breaks through like brief glimpses of sunlight on an overcast day.

Then, as though snapping out of a daydream, the song concludes with light vocals and a single guitar chord, leaving all instruments out and sighing into a deftly abrupt ending.

This is fantastic work. Whether you’re into pop-rock, indie or emo, Hide covers a lot of bases with its relatable lyrics, moody songwriting, and fist-pumping energies.

Get some Crying Club in your ears by way of Spotify, YouTube or Bandcamp.

Rating: ( 4 / 5 )
 

About Crying Club

Emo music from Poneke.
High energy music compared to artists such as The Used, Thursday, and Billy Talent.



Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Crying Club

Releases

Big Water Bottle EP
Year: 2023
Type: EP
Chonus EP
Year: 2022
Type: EP

Other Reviews By Steve Shyu

Zuke - Album Review: Come Closer
16 Dec 2024 // by Steve Shyu
Ed Zuccollo, stage name Zuke, is a renowned producer and master of synthesisers based in Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. He’s also known for his work with the likes of Trinity Roots, is also a member of KITA, and has made marks in his solo DJing career, performing at festivals such as Northern Bass, Splore, KiwiBurn, AUM and loads more.
Read More...
Jacob Blair Tait - EP Review: Our Great Nation
24 Nov 2024 // by Steve Shyu
You wouldn't be able to guess what sort of music you’re in for just by looking at the cover artwork. Hues of aquamarine and purple dominate, and in the centre, an artistic rendering of a million marching soldiers bearing flags, albeit created using AI.
Read More...
Gig Review: Dougfest 2 - Night 2 @ Last Place, Hamilton - 26/10/2024
28 Oct 2024 // by Steve Shyu
DougFest is back. Bigger, bolder, and heftier than the first.
Read More...
Muriwai - Album Review: Muriwai
02 Oct 2024 // by Steve Shyu
Muriwai is the latest undertaking by Bob Bickerton and Ariana Tikao, a new and greatly anticipated collaboration in Aotearoa’s world of traditional music. Bob is a highly influential sound engineer, performer, educator, a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music, and composer who has worked in the New Zealand music industry for almost 50 years.
Read More...
Fan Club - EP Review: Towards The Sun
09 Jul 2024 // by Steve Shyu
2024 is set to be another monumental year for Tamaki Makaurau’s Fan Club. Just last year they claimed a multitude of awards, including the top prize at Raise Up’s New Found Sound, and placing first in the Auckland Central Final of the SmokeFree RockQuest.
Read More...
Havening - Double Album Review: Wavelengths of Light
26 May 2024 // by Steve Shyu
Big things are happening for Bonnie O'Donnell. Under her alias of Havening, she’s been eagerly crafting bucketloads of electronic music, releasing them all as not one, but two albums.
Read More...
Gig Review: Homegrown 2024 @ Wellington Waterfront - 16/03/2024 Part 2
18 Mar 2024 // by Steve Shyu
With nothing of last night's rainstorm in sight except puddles in the asphalt, the sun warmed the air to counter the day's cold breeze. There was plenty of talk of a cold snap on the way, but I was confident my tee and hoodie combo would suffice.
Read More...
EP Review: PHNX
11 Mar 2024 // by Steve Shyu
Aotearoa, look out for a rising star on the horizon.Under his stage name PHNX, 18-year-old singer-songwriter and producer Phoenix Simpson has released his self-titled debut EP and it’s a gem.
Read More...
View All Articles By Steve Shyu

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem