by Spirit of the Beehive
Released April 9, 2021 via Saddle Creek Records
Reviewed April 20, 2021
Top tracks (based on community voting)
THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN’T DO (49%), RAPID & COMPLETE RECOVERY (46%), ENTERTAINMENT (39%)
The fourth album from one of Philadelphia’s premier acts, ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH, is quite possibly Spirit of the Beehive’s most ambitious effort yet. While still rooted in the same dream pop/noise pop territory their previous works are, the trio push the boundaries further than they ever have. Dense, hypnotic, and brilliantly mixed, sounds and styles shift in and out both seamlessly and erratically. The band frequently transitions from sputtering noise rock to drowned out indie pop—frequently juxtaposing a dark, somber atmosphere with a more shimmery and colorful one—at a moment's notice. ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH showcases all of the band’s eccentricities on full display, creating a surrealist nightmare that is as haunting and unsettling as it is irresistible. – Dominick (8.5/10)
Adding to the ever-growing allure and popularization of the still niche genre of noise pop, ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH is both a great starting point and worthy future revisit for newcomers. Spirit of the Beehive keeps their audience on the edge of the seat, never letting them get too comfortable, lest they be catapulted into a sonic detonation of glitchy tones and frenetic percussion. The listener ultimately appreciates the pockets of serenity nestled in the largely chaotic landscape, yet the group clearly imparts a masterful touch when creating such disarray. A new fan such as myself can easily get entranced by ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH, due to the album’s ever-shifting waves of peaceful indie and spirited noise-pop—only to be snapped back to reality by its relatively short run time, making for a very relistenable experience. – Pax (8.5/10)
Like a bad trip through an amazing dream—surreal, serene and stupendously potent— ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH molds a misshapen mindset for the listener to indulge in. Walking around your town on warped limbs, melting upon the sidewalks. Falling out of life's destined path, a straight swap for the seedier side of things. Vision tinted with kaleidoscopic swells. ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH is an invite to the psychedelic side of life. Lay back, look up at the vast infinite, and let the qualms of being leave you. For fans of Spirit of the Beehive, this is a sonic treat. It builds on previous albums and pushes ideas through further afield thought patterns. Spirit of the Beehive have curated an album with a dense sense of man's more mischievous side. The only downsides being that it can be hit or miss and a little inconsistent at times. – Peter (7/10)
Dominick: 8.5/10 | Pax: 8.5/10 | Alan: 8.2/10 | Cam: 8/10
DeVán: 7.2/10 | Hadley: 7/10 | Jared: 7/10 | Peter: 7/10
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