Album Review: Cooler Returns
- Andersen Beck
- May 4
- 5 min read
I am not above gatekeeping, I must admit. I have some closely guarded artists that shall indeed be taken with me to my grave; but sometimes it feels good to be the opposite of a gatekeeper. There's a U.S. border joke floating somewhere in there.
Kiwi jr. is one of those bands you just want everybody you know to love. Spotify reports their monthly listeners as appallingly low as 13,819. Compared to Alvvays (a comparable titan of quality indie rock), who pulls in 1.7 million monthly listeners, I can't think of a more tragic case of recognition deficit than that of Kiwi jr.
Also like Alvvays, Kiwi jr. hails from the Toronto music scene. This city seems to be a secret capital of great music, like the Nashville of indie sound. I hope to one day see the scene in my Cain-esque rambling of this earth.
Returning to the matter at hand, Kiwi jr.'s 2021 LP Cooler Returns stands out as a stark yet humble 10/10 album. When I say 10/10, I say it with all the gravity I can. This is a desert-island album for me, and is 1 member of the holy trinity of Indie albums; previously-covered Alvvays's self-titled is another member. Cooler Returns is the son, Alvvays is the spirit, and in the near future I shall reveal the father. While Television's Marquee Moon is arguably the literal father of Indie rock, my interpretation is different. Wait and see.
Enough of my blasphemous tongue – let's get into Cooler Returns.
Listen along track by track – as usual, these are my just measly interpretations/opinions.
Tyler: Sharp neck-pickup guitar arpeggiation and Jeremy Gaudet's unique (and yes, I'll say it) nerdy voice hooks the listener immediately as you can tell something is building. The use of classic standing piano works incredibly well, right off the bat creating a Bob Dylan Highway 61 sound. All the musical elements of this track just work, and it sets the tone for the whole album. A textbook intro track.
Undecided Voters: Hammering in the band's sardonic wit, Undecided Voters is an energetic and fun track with a loose, unserious vibe. Perhaps it's just the way my taste has come out over the years, but I'm a sucker for aloof lyrics on a good rock melody. Jeremy Gaudet has proved he has a seat at the table with the likes of Stephen Malkmus, Elvis Costello, and Blonde on Blonde-era Dylan.
Maid Marian's Toast: "Ye own the beehive, thus ye own all the honey." Some of my favorite lyrics of all time and an incredible opening line. This track might just be my favorite on the album. A creative jam with a killer little guitar solo accompanied by a harmonica. The bridge leading to the end is another noteworthy feature in this treat of a song.
Highlights of 100: Picking up rhythm like a speeding train, this track unleashes a barrage of surreal disjointed imagery at a rapid pace. Even through its jarring speed, it's not disorienting; each bar comes out clearly and gladly so, as they read like a verbal "I Spy" book. The jangle groove is tight and strong, like a the engine of high-performance racing motorbike.
Only Here for a Haircut: Significantly slowing the tempo, this catchy head-bobbing makes great use of a Ween-like guitar tone. The bridges are really satisfying and the chorus will sit in your head for at least a day or two. Expectedly, the lyrics are classic. Each song usually has one line in particular that's just amazing in its own right; I consider this song's to be "What can we do when the hometown crew are obviously undercover cops?"
Cooler Returns: This jerky eponymous track harkens a little to Gang of Four's Natural's Not In It. It's a lot more reserved than any other song on the album. Not the best, but an even-tempered, necessary addition to the album. The guitar solo(s) at the end are pretty solid however, sick tones.
Guilty Party: A bouncy, laid-back slacker tune, Guilty Party is a standout subdued track. It's noticeably less lush in production than most of the album, but in a way that work's better than Cooler Returns. Memorable lyrics, good mid-point.
Domino: This song has both a great melody and great chorus. Its composition is masterfully crafted, and it's production is wonderfully layered. Chorus has a classic feel like something from an earlier age of rock 'n roll.
Nashville Wedding: A confident return to humor and sarcasm, this song is filled with change-ups and creative production decisions that make it a super fun listening experience. Sounds a little like another mysteriously obscure rock band, Turf War, which I hope to write about in the future.
Dodger: Listening to it now, I guess I never really gave it enough consideration. This track is probably the hidden gem of the LP. Chorus structure is really cool and the building layers keep you drawn in for the length of it. Also, the use of xylophone (or perhaps marimba?) is such a great asset for it's musical value.
Norma Jean's Jacket: Another great track in the album's waning minutes. I keep saying "great" and I know it's tiresome and annoying to read, but so is trying to put into words how good this music is. You just wanna shut up and listen to it. This kind of music isn't made to be dissected and gushed all over by intellectuals; it's just great indie rock and you should take it as it is. Enough with the tangent, this scathing track is packaged in a deceivingly tender sound. I'm realizing now how much Kiwi jr. has always been a master of choruses.
Waiting in Line: Capping off the album, this summery good-mood rock track is a little bittersweet. "Waiting in line, queuing up for the very last time" hits a little harder when you've been listening to this album over and over for 3 days like I've been doing while writing this. Using the old standing piano one last time, this is a fun little send-off to a fun and silly project.
A year and a half later, Kiwi jr would release their third album Chopper, and that's the last thing they've put out in going on 3 years, with the exception of a really good cover of Guided by Voices's "Gold Star For Robot Boy" in 2024. As of this March, they've talked about a new album in the works, but no mention of a release date. This journalist patiently but longingly awaits their new work, as he is a glutton for Canadian Indie rock.
Thanks for reading, but PLEASE just show Kiwi jr some love (╥﹏╥). Do it for me.
-Andersen Beck Founder, Reporter
Comments