The Howl and the Hum – ‘Same Mistake Twice’ album review: let down by endless clichés
THE SKINNY: In a musical landscape that is oversaturated with countless artists, do we really need any more albums about men lamenting their breakups, pitying themselves, and confessing to acting less than admirably? On The Howl and The Hum’s second album, Same Mistake Twice, Sam Griffiths demonstrates a real knack for writing clichéd lyrics, recycling images that you’ve heard before – and don’t need to hear again.
Although his honesty is admirable, it’s hard to get invested in any of Griffith’s confessions when they all paint him as a rather inconsiderate and selfish human. His words are constantly self-pitying, as demonstrated best on ‘All Your Friends Hate Me’. After admitting that he is “burning in a flame I lit,” he proceeds to sing, “If all your friends hate me/ And all my friends hate me/ Then I think I might just join the club/ I hate me too.”
It is clear that Griffiths is trying to work through complex feelings of regret and longing, but the idea that admitting your flaws makes them more forgivable doesn’t work here. When Bob Dylan did it in 1963, he was reinventing the post-modernist rule book. This sadly seems to miss that point. Between clunky metaphors and references to “deleting nudes” and finding “Jesus” on “Tinder,” Griffiths’ attempts to tap into the current zeitgeist don’t land.
Instead, they stumble awkwardly across gorgeous strings and folky guitars, which are wasted on words like “no gluten inside MDMA” and “The only affection I get is through phone screens/ Or adverts on PornHub/ Do you think they want to meet me at all?”
The album has many nice instrumentals, like the tenderness of ‘Pale Blue Dot’ to the moodiness of ‘The Wheel’, where Griffiths’ voice feels close and intimate, creating a haunting soundscape. There is real potential; the production is great, and there are many nicely considered arrangements which make for a really strong base for Griffiths to sing upon. Sadly, he squanders this with some genuinely terrible lyrics—a faux transgressive declaration of: ‘I’m dysfunctional’, that is trying too hard to be just that.
For fans of: Boring your friends with details on that person you dated for two months three years ago.
A concluding comment from my boyfriend: “Some things should be kept inside your diary.”
Same Mistakes Twice track-by-track:
Release Date: September 6th | Label: Miserable Disco | Producer: Joseph Futak
‘Same Mistake Twice’: Griffiths name checks Thelonious Monk, slags off Yorkshire as a place where you can avoid success (not true), and admits to forgetting his friend’s jobs. It’s a weird mash-up of lines that don’t fully fit, building into an explosion of saxophone and guitars that are the song’s only redeeming qualities. [2.5/5]
‘Dirt’: Griffiths continues with the buzzword-y lyrics, “Fuck you and I’m thriving,” he sings before launching into a sing-along chorus. He also assures us he is a good person who will delete his ex’s nudes “out of a sign of respect.” [2/5]
‘All Your Friends Hate Me’: This is easily the worst song, at least lyrically, on the album. “Your green green eyes turned blood blood red / When they found out what I did to you,” he sings. However, the worst line is arguably “I hope you find someone who loves you like you should be loved/ Like I should have done.” [1.5/5]
‘No One Has To Know’: This one is more intimate, both vocally and lyrically, transgressing into slightly sexy territory at times. The song uses that classic theme of forbidden love, using words that blend passion and danger, and it’s actually quite good. [3/5]
‘No Calories In Cocaine’: We’re back to terrible, eye-roll lyrics again. With references to meditation apps, Instagram, and lots of drugs, not even the instrumentals can save this one. The synth evokes the distant sound of children laughing. [1/5]
‘Everybody Loves A Crime Scene’: A mellow track which continues the album’s car theme. It conveys longing pretty well; after all, who can’t relate to having liked someone more than they liked you at some point? [3/5]
‘The Wheel’: Again, Griffiths is thinking about driving and the dangers of being inside a car, where you’re never truly secure, even if you think you are. Using this as a metaphor for relationships, the song is one of the more emotional moments on the album. [3/5]
‘I Loved A Boy’: A forgettable track, resorting to clichés yet again. “Oh I was young /You were drunk/ We were endless.” [2/5]
‘Back In Time’: This track is much more fleshed out, coming to an end with saxophones that wrap the whole thing together. It feels like a good set closer. [3/5]
‘Echo’: Griffiths’ slows things down now, remembering an old love through nostalgic imagery, considering the differences between their current lives. [2.5/5]
‘Pale Blue Dot’: Simple and honest, it’s a melodically gorgeous song, but Griffiths can’t help but shove in some cringey lyrics about the current climate, such as only getting affection from phone screens and Pornhub adverts. [2.5/5]
‘Everything Is Not On Fire’: This is a lovely, mellow track led by violins, which are the standout elements of the song. After everything, Griffiths finally offers a moment of hope and optimism that is actually quite cathartic. [3.5/5]
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