A quick sip of coffee and then it hit me, “help me run away, help me away.” These powerful lyrics and many more look to inspire, reflect and explore the spirit of youthfulness in St. Lucia’s second full album “Matter,” which dropped Jan. 29.
After a successful first album that produced magical hits like “All Eyes on You” and “Elevate,” the alternative/indie band comes back with their synthesizer-infused, 80s pop, looking to reinvigorate the alternative field with a unique and inspirational sound.
Lead singer, Jean Philip Grobler, never lost the groove for creating uplifting melodies that challenge the listeners to reflect, enjoy and move forward. One of the biggest differences between the albums is the to synth usage. Grobler noted on the St. Lucia website that “Matter” takes a huge dip in the amount of audio tracks and background sounds. “When the Night,” St. Lucia’s debut album, has several songs that use over 200 audio tracks to create the “tropical” sound with a really airy feel. In “Matter,” a lot of those sounds are pulled out to create a more simple sound, while experiencing a diverse use of instruments like woodwinds, horns and bass guitar.
While the album conveys feel-good, nostalgic and generally happy vibe, it’s hard to pinpoint what puts this album over the top. Many of the tracks have potential to explode on the alternative circuit, yet not one of the songs stick out and really grabs the listener. “Dancing on Glass” has the catchiness of a radio hit, yet the repetition doesn’t exactly scream listen. In “All Eyes on You,” the song breaks down into a beautiful saxophone solo which gave the listener a break from the chorus. Other tunes like “Help Me Run Away” and “Physical” have heavy overtones but fail to take the next step. What this album lacks in hits, the overall sound echoes satisfactory. It would be hard to find a person who was completely unsatisfied with all of the upbeat, nostalgic messages, but St. Lucia only made a good album, nothing more or less.
3/5 Stars
@BeierHere’s Favs: Game 4 U, Love Somebody, Physical, Dancing on Glass.
