I Was Totally Destroying It has long penned instantly accessible songs with an edge of raw emotion that set the band apart. But on Vexations, bold becomes mediocre and pop with a rock soul becomes rock with no soul.
The album’s heavy-handed production whitewashes the band’s formerly kinetic sound. On top of that, the band eschews its previously candid lyrics to create a concept album based on Stephen King’s epic Dark Tower series.
At its best, Vexations delivers songs like “The Prisoner,” with relatable lyricism and catchy melodies accented by, rather than saddled with, the band’s new aesthetic. At its worst it delivers “My Internal Din,” which uses every gaudy trick in the Top 40 handbook, from its inflated chorus to its repetitive, vacuous lyrics.
Actually, at its worst, Vexations isn’t memorable at all. Songs like “Seasonal Low” and “Save Your Life” go on for several minutes to become nothing at all.
The loftiness of a concept album could be tempered by the band’s touted accessibility, and the glossed sound could be salvaged by great songwriting and inspired performance — but neither happens here.
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