Ducks Ltd. – ‘Harm’s Way’ album review: harmless but bland indie pop
THE SKINNY: The indie pop genre is not exactly starved of bands. Thus, to succeed in the genre, you really need to do something different. Ducks Ltd have played it overwhelmingly safe with their new album, Harm’s Way, although those who consider themselves big fans of sun-drenched indie will certainly find something to enjoy here.
The songs that comprise Harm’s Way are essentially harmless, with the nostalgic guitars and upbeat tempo of each track evoking a specific atmosphere of summer – something we definitely all long for at the moment. Ducks Ltd conjure up images of California (despite the band hailing from Toronto), hanging out with friends and watching the sun set over a restless city.
There’s a certain charm to this, inviting listeners to revel in memories of youth or those who are teenagers to use their songs as the soundtrack for their coming-of-age. However, there is nothing particularly new about the sound Ducks Ltd have crafted. I’ve heard countless songs – which I have subsequently forgotten – like the ones on Harm’s Way.
That’s not to say that the record is all bad. There are some fun melodies at work, playful guitars and fast-paced drums which propel the record forward. Moreover, the band manage to balance lyrics about “the strain of living in the world when it feels like it’s ready to collapse” with instrumental optimism, making the record more multi-dimensional. Despite everything, they encourage us to dance.
As a whole, though, the record lacks variety, which makes it a rather repetitive listen. Moreover, lead vocalist Tom McGreevy struggles to sound like he’s genuinely pleased to be on singing duties.
For fans of: Wishing you were young again, those who struggle to convey emotion in their voices, and people who think summer is better than winter.
A concluding comment: “This makes me wish I grew up somewhere that got more sun than a dreary suburban town in England.”
Harm’s Way track-by-track:
Release date: 9th February | Label: Carpark
‘Hollowed Out’: If I’m being totally honest, I refuse to take a song seriously that begins with the lyrics “All we ever do is need, eat, fuck and sleep/ and then repeat/ forever.” These are lyrics coming from grown adult men. The song is still a decently catchy tune, though. [2/5]
‘Cathedral City’: There’s a slight country twang to the guitars, which is quite fun, but the lyrics are, again, rather lacklustre. [3/5]
‘The Main Thing’: A bit of a faster pace can be found here, and the quick rolls of the drums make for an interesting addition to the track. [3/5]
‘Train Full of Gasoline’: The lyrics “Here’s me thinking that this might have been/ An all time low/ But you’re right to point out that I’ve always been a dumb ass,” made me laugh. But not in a positive way. [2.5/5]
‘Deleted Scenes’: Cliche words about someone who “used to look like an actor,” and a very boring vocal performance. [2/5]
‘On Our Way To The Rave’: Christ. Just the name of this one made me roll my eyes. The song is energetic and charged with a youthful energy that will (probably) get your feet tapping, but that doesn’t save this one, unfortunately. [2.5/5]
‘A Girl, Running’: At times, some of the guitars remind me of early Vampire Weekend, which is quite a nice nostalgia trip. ‘A Girl, Running’ is enjoyable on first listen but rather forgettable after a few more plays, blending into the rest of the album. [2.5/5]
‘Harm’s Way’: This track harnesses more of the classic 1980s indie pop sound that Ducks Ltd are clearly heavily inspired by. The instrumentation is quite cheery despite the contrasting lyrical themes. [3/5]
‘Heavy Bag’: Ducks Ltd finally switch up their slightly monotonous sound by ending their record with a more downtempo and bittersweet track that is actually really nice. A strong closer to a mediocre album. [3.5/5]
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