Parade! Parade!

the take

About two months ago, I put up a link on my Instagram story, asking people which albums I should check out before the year is up. One such nomination was Aren't We Amphibians' "Parade! Parade!". I didn't know who recommended me said album, I didn't know what to expect, and I didn't do any research before going into it headfirst. If you would've told me this had the feels of that early-2000's emo-punk aesthetic, you best believe I'd be on board with this. This is such an incredible album to me. Just the backing production on here was enough to grab my attention, especially when "Dunce Hat" comes on, as it incredibly captures the sound from said time period. Unlike what's expected of the emo sound, the songwriting on this album provides more spiritually uplifting and motivational lyrics to help listeners overcome the negativity in their lives. For me, this album hits a bit close to home on the nostalgic side of things because while I wasn't into the emo scene back when it was popular, I knew of it and its mainstream appeal at the time, which is why this album hits closer to home, sonically speaking. "Forgiving Jeff" is another favorite of mine, and considered my favorite one on here. I don't really know what else to say about "Parade! Parade!". As a whole, this is a fun, wild, angsty, motivational album that tapped into the 2000's emo sound quite nicely. Not only does it bring good vibes for my ears, but it brings a sense of longing for my youth again, which may make me a bit more biased in the long run. So glad I was recommended this, though.