Accident - Accident

Accident

Accident
self-released; 2015

3.5 out of 5

By Andrew Westberry

Initially, the opening instrumental section of “Murky Bottom Feeder” on Accident’s self-titled album Accident is as confusing as the song’s title. However, as the seemingly un-navigable rhythms and incoherent sounds continue to repeat for over a minute into the song, listeners begin to pick up on the hidden patterns within the maze of notes, and the apparently hazy soundscape clears into a catchy, unforgettable motif that is enjoyable to hear. The song’s style shifts about halfway through the track, and reverb-heavy vocals sing along to the slightly more traditional instrumentation.

This model of originally weird, even unsavory sounds transitioning to entertaining, uniquely enjoyable tracks persists throughout the entire album. “Pizza @ The DMV” blends elements from beach rock & roll, garage punk and experimental rock into an aggressive, yet agreeable tune. “General Beaversworth” amps up the energy of the album, employing more hard-hitting, fast-paced techniques while maintaining the band’s signature style.

“Too Many Options” is arguably the best and most interesting song on the record. It exhibits emotive chanting that eventually degenerates into a melodic, fuzzy lo-fi instrumental segment held together with tight percussion and background bass riffs. Although the single repeated phrase -  “Too many options” - does make the song a bit tedious, the remainder of the song makes for a really engaging song.

“Sushi in Reno”, by far the most harmonious, tuneful piece on the album, makes use of gypsy-like chords and melodies harkening to what is traditionally thought of when Egyptian music is mentioned. “I Wish; They Said” is an ultra-short, mostly atonal, pounding anthem that leads right into “Robot Chemical Slaves,” a tune led by fantastic, futuristic lyrics painting a dystopian picture.

The eclectic album ends with the aptly named “Groove City,” an excellent, upbeat tune full of jazzy blues riffs, assertive lyrics, solid beats and fully distorted guitar chords that drive the record home. While the first listen might cause some questioning looks and even some grimaces due to unconventional sounds, repeated listens will inevitably cause an appreciation of the talent and creativity present in Accident.

Tweet