Cooler Returns
Kiwi Jr. · 2021
36 min · 13 tracks
Jangling guitars and quick-footed rhythms carry droll observations through a tightly wound rush of indie rock.
Top tracks — play these first
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Undecided Voters — A brisk early track that pairs political language with the band's restless guitar attack, setting up the album's sharp-eyed approach to everyday absurdity.
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Only Here for a Haircut — Its mundane premise becomes an evasive comic refrain, propelled by the clipped rhythms and jangling guitars that define much of the record.
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Cooler Returns — The title track gives the band's wordplay more room to roam than many of the shorter songs, balancing an easygoing melody with an undercurrent of unease.
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Waiting in Line — The closing track stretches the album's everyday observations into a more patient final scene, letting its melodic pull linger after the quicker songs.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features engaging melodies and relatable lyrics but lacks strong cohesion in its running order.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied rhythms and dynamics.
- Several tracks feature layered guitar melodies that intertwine with vocal harmonies, creating a rich sonic texture.
- The lyrics often employ a conversational tone, with recurring themes of everyday life and social commentary.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Only Here for a Haircut
The refrain keeps returning to a haircut as the stated reason for being there.
That ordinary explanation functions as a comic deflection, leaving the surrounding details to suggest a less straightforward situation.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Tyler 2:05
- 2 Undecided Voters 2:29
- 3 Maid Marian's Toast 2:23
- 4 Highlights of 100 2:38
- 5 Only Here for a Haircut 3:08
- 6 Cooler Returns 3:53
- 7 Guilty Party 2:17
- 8 Omaha 2:34
- 9 Domino 2:11
- 10 Nashville Wedding 3:14
- 11 Dodger 2:36
- 12 Norma Jean's Jacket 3:10
- 13 Waiting in Line 3:30
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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