Psychic Dance Routine is a 2023 extended play by American hardcore punk band Scowl.
| Psychic Dance Routine | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | April 7, 2023 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 10:22 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Flatspot Records | |||
| Producer | Will Yip | |||
| Scowl chronology | ||||
| ||||
“I’m really excited about these songs. They’re catchier than anything we’ve ever written before, and I tried a lot of different new stuff. I’m so excited to write music with different influences, and to get even more weird with it. I’m just like, ‘OK, let’s turn it up a notch, let’s get crazier.”
—Vocalist Kat Moss on genre experimentation writing songs for Psychic Dance Routine[3]
Reception edit
Writing for Kerrang!, Emma Wilkes scored this album a 4 out of 5, noting there is experimentation in the band's hardcore punk style that allows them to "find thrilling ways to stand apart from their peers" and the result is that "these newer turns in their sound that prove most successful on the EP as well as the most enticing".[4] In a 9 out of 10 review from Steven Loftin at The Line of Best Fit, the critic states that this release is "a stepping stone towards total domination" that displays Scowl's "ability to change shapes with a chameleonic expertise that few can pull off", which he deems "astounding".[2] NME's Sophie Williams wrote that this is "a more polished, widescreen sound" than previous Scowl albums that shows the band "commit themselves to their big, subversive vision with total dedication".[1]
On June 23, Alternative Press published an unranked list of the top 25 albums of the year to date and included this release, calling it "an undeniably fun and well-produced record—a delectable blend of hardcore punk and alt-rock that fans could devour whether they were head-banging in a basement or crowd surfing at Coachella".[5] At Stereogum, James Rettig included this among the best EPs of 2023.[6] Editors at Revolver ranked this the second best hardcore album of 2023.[7] Editors at BrooklynVegan included this on their list of the 55 best albums of 2023.[8] A piece by Nina Corcoran for Pitchfork Media chose this album to spotlight how American hardcore punk music embraced experimentation and cross-genre elements in 2023.[9]
Track listing edit
- "Shot Down" – 1:49
- "Psychic Dance Routine" – 2:49
- "Wired" – 2:04
- "Opening Night" – 2:07
- "Sold Out" – 1:32
Personnel edit
Scowl
- Mikey Bifolco – guitar
- Cole Gilbert – drums
- Malachi Greene – guitar
- Bailey Lupo – bass guitar
- Kat Moss – vocals
Additional personnel
- Justin Bartlett – additional engineering
- Alice Baxley – photography
- Annelids Parenti – additional engineering
- Vince Ratti – co-mixing
- True Colors USA – layout, art direction
- Victoria Singh Warnken – artwork
- Will Yip – percussion, engineering, mixing, production, mastering
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Williams, Sophie (April 5, 2023). "Scowl – 'Psychic Dance Routine' EP review: a triumphant explosion of energy". Reviews > Album Reviews. NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ a b Loftin, Steven (April 15, 2023). "Scowl: Psychic Dance Routine EP Review – ambitions glow amongst hardcore roots". Album Reviews. The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ Hughes, Mia (November 28, 2022). "Scowl: hardcore's hottest breakout band reflect on their whirlwind year". Features > Music Interviews. NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ Wilkes, Emma (April 6, 2023). "EP review: Scowl – Psychic Dance Routine". Reviews. Kerrang!. ISSN 0262-6624. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ "25 best albums of 2023 so far". Alternative Press. June 23, 2023. ISSN 1065-1667. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
- ^ Rettig, James (December 6, 2023). "Best EPs Of 2023". 2023 in Review. Stereogum. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "10 best hardcore albums of 2023". Music. Revolver. December 11, 2023. ISSN 1527-408X. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ "BrooklynVegan's Top 55 Albums of 2023". BrooklynVegan. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ Corcoran, Nina (December 20, 2023). "Hardcore Expanded Its Boundaries in 2023—and the Scene Embraced It". The Pitch. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
External links edit
- Psychic Dance Routine at Discogs (list of releases)
- Psychic Dance Routine at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
