Cults are a bit like a softer, 60s alternative to Sleigh Bells and while their self titled album starts really well, it has a few too many same sounding songs without the drive of the initial tracks. This makes it a bit top loaded, but as debuts go, it’s pretty good on the whole. However, having seen Cults live they’re definitely a band that sound even better on stage than they do on tape.
Opening track Abducted is the perfect song to introduce Cults with reverb dripped everything on a catchy beat, rhythm and melody. The volume level variation throughout the song works really well, as does the his n hers vocals combination of Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion. The sample snatches add a more modern twist to the 60s girl band pop sounds.
It’s the same story on Go Outside, except without the varying volume levels. This leads into You Know What I Mean, which is a slowed down finger clicking track with a building reverberating courus. It’s got quasi-doo-wop feel to it, but with some really well crafted lyrics making Cults a whole lot more than just the sound.
Most Wanted is probably the end of anything massively new on the album though, as everything beyond this is a little similar to the first four tracks. It doesn’t detract too much to the overall appreciation of the album, but it does make you feel like they might have missed a trick with the song placement or dedication to a single overarching sound. Although there are still songs later on to look forward to, like Oh My God, the duet Bumper and the big chorus and VU freak out guitar on Rave On.
Cults is a great debut album, with some class songs, put together as a complete unit that works well. There are lots that I would love to hear on the radio, which is sometimes a rarity on albums.
Cults album review: 4/5
