Mother Mother have just recently released their 9th album ‘Grief Chapter’ and have just gone on a lengthy tour in support of the album.
Here at Mc Gig Music Aoife Meagher has given the album a spin and read her review below.
Canadian Alt-Pop Rockers Mother Mother return with their ninth studio album Grief Chapter.
Following a surge in growth after their 2008 song Hayloft went viral during the pandemic (Over 7 billion streams/4 billion YouTube views), Canadian alt-pop rockers Mother Mother return with their ninth studio album Grief Chapter, an album of fever dream esque music, dealing with themes such as life, death and mourning.
Beginning with the genre mashing, symphonic brilliance of Nobody Escapes, frontman Ryan Guldemond doesn’t shy from the inevitable death we all face- “nobody escapes”. Despite the heavy themes of this album, the band retains their twangy guitars and unusual vocal arrangements while blending influences such as The Pixies and Mitski.
Ably assisted by his sister Molly and Jasmin Parkin, Ryan Guldemond delivers a master class in vocal arranging, weaving lead and backing vocals and sometimes taking a backseat as on the albums shortest track Goddamn Staying, with Jasmin taking over lead vocals and proclaiming to be “never happy without my sadness”.
The standout track (for me) would have to be The Matrix, an anthem dealing with the stresses of modern life and rejecting the norms that come with. A defiant “Fuck No” to living in a basement and to living the “nine to five suicide” accompanied by the powerful guitar and backing vocals that run throughout this album.
Overall Grief Chapter is an enjoyable listen and one sure excite existing Mother Mother fans and add to their growing fan base (evident from extra tour dates!). Mother Mother play the 3Olympia Theatre in Dublin on February 22nd and 23rd.
Track list:
Nobody Escapes
To My Heart
Explode
Head Shrink
Days
Forever
Normalize
Goddamn Staying Power
The Matrix
End of Me
God’s Plan
Grief Chapter
Star Rating below
Connect with Mother Mother: Official Site | Facebook | X-Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify
Reviewer – Aoife Meagher