My Honest Review of Weston Estate's EP SuperBloom.
This is not first time I've had the pleasure of listening to an album made by Weston Estate. They have been a band I've been following since my sophomore year of college, and I can definitely say they have some of the vibiest set of songs I've ever listened to.
From insane percussion tracks to beautiful acoustic and vocals they truly give the everyday listener a reason to venture out into their discover weeklies and Spotify curated playlists. Their newest release "Superbloom" is the latest addition to an already amazing discography, consisting of 7 songs, 2 of them being singles. Those being "I Saw Something", and "Go!" Both of which are some of my favorite songs of theirs.
In this review I will be diving into what I think makes each one stick out to me, becuase each song truly deserves so mcuh praise, with that being said…
Let’s get into it.
Track 1: I Saw Something
I Saw Something being one of the two singles on this ep was already insanely popular. With currently over 2 million streams, and it is deserved. Starting it the song with a stripped acoustic vibe, was a perfect way to start the album. Using the absence of sound to give the listener a sneak peak of the message of the song. This is done multiple times throughout the song, giving and taking away the beat to make us want more, keeping the listener on their toes. Confusing them even, similar to the emotional turmoil that is talked about in this song, (“I took everything with eyes wide open, I wish I just kept them closed”).
Overall, I Saw Something is a track of euphoric harmonies and great story telling. Sometimes with the just momentary subtraction of percussion. Rating: 8/10
Track 2: Camouflage
The first new song on the ep comes in the form of Camouflage. This track while not a well-known as the song that proceeds packs a powerful punch with its lyrics and hard-hitting imagery, talking through the complicated nature of emotional relationships. In the third verse, they mention a crowded room underlines the loneliness one can feel when relationships communication starts to falter.
Overall, good song just unfortunate it’s slotted in between two hit singles. Rating: 6/10
Track 3: Go!
One of my favorite songs of this ep and so close to being the top. Go! utilizes one of Weston Estate’s strengths which is their killer harmonies, and who doesn’t love an acoustic guitar start from MARCO LUKA. (I’m a sucker for acoustic guitar, idk if you can tell). The chorus is well done and filled with a melodic harmony that just sucks you into the rest of the track. My favorite part comes from the back end of the 2nd verse leading into the bridge. At around 1:11 into the song appears this beautiful falling sub harmony pops in to simulate a falling effect. GENIUS!
Anyways, Go! is the epitome of a Weston Estate song, one the perfectly encapsulates the emotional reflection of the ending of relationship that just didn’t work out no matter how hard you try. Rating: 9/10
Track 4: Pressure
Remember when I said that GO! was one of my favorite tracks on the album.
Well, here we are, and there is one major reason.
This song just slaps. With bumping bass drum for day Pressure has been constantly getting played EVERYWHERE. At the gym, at work, at home, on runs. This song slowly but surely made its way to my repeats for good reason. Along this beat that you feel in your chest this song just grooves, the chorus is just short and sweet with a guitar line to match.
The chorus I’m referring to goes: “Let go (Let go) Did it go, did it go” and it being short actually adds to why this song being my favorite. It’s sung in this whispy, high-pitched tone, and reason it resonates so well with me is you can actually feel the pressure of song message. The anxieties, the confusion, and the wondering of ending the relationship to save yourself more pain.
This song to me is about how hard it is to keep a relationship going, especially when you don’t know what your partner is thinking and confusing process of trying to figure it out. It’s about the pressure of not always being perfect and maybe not being the best on a single given day. Relationships are far from easy, and song perfectly encapsulates that emotion. Rating: 10/10
Weston Estate
Track 5: Thinking Out Loud
Definitely the most interesting track on the ep with this almost hypnotic guitar sound. Which becomes an essential part of the chorus. Every time i hear it, it feels like a release and opens me to the emotion of the song. Everyone can relate to the need, or the want to say our feelings out loud. Especially in relationship or situationship setting when everything is confusing. The actions of your partner, not knowing what they are thinking. Sometimes even when you know that they don’t feel that same way. Leaving you wondering Why and sometimes that leads to literally “think out loud.”
Thinking Out Loud is a very powerful song along with a super relatable message, which led for Thinking Out Loud to initially being one my favorite tracks. It’s super relatable and literal that I can’t help but continue to replay it over and over again. Rating: 8/10
Track 6: Temerity
Temerity is a good track, definitely not on the level how the tracks before it. It just doesn’t hit for me. Like don’t get me wrong i really enjoy a song with a nice little phone interlude before it, but after that the song kind of falls flat. Very strong rap in the second verse, love the abrasive percussion to pair with. Which is also very on brand for the songs title, Temerity, meaning boldness or excessive confidence. Which is wierd because this song lyrics come off as the opposite. The chorus states:
“ I wish I could tell you that I love you, If you wanna tell me, you can leave me If you wanna stay, then you can lie.”
To me that doesn’t really give me confidence, it comes off more like being content in a situation that you arent certain of, inevitably destroying you from the inside. A lot of people find themselves in a situation described in this song, another thing this song has going for it. A relatable song is a successful song. Rating 6.5/10
Track 7: Stop Me
To finish off the album, Weston Estate’s Stop Me.
The final track of “Superbloom” is a great synopsis of the album and the story it’s trying to tell. Which is even though the effort and attraction is their from one side, sometimes things aren’t meant to be. Especially when you can’t get your heart and mind on the same page. Knowing someone is bad for you but still being attracted to them causes so much confusion, and ultimately heartbreak.
This track is lyrically well written, from beginning to end with, metaphors to match. But I’d like to share the lyrics that stuck out the most to me. This set of lyrics is from the third verse:
And in the nighttime, baby, would you call me?
Know it's unlikely
And I know that I could be your everything
But it's not looking to be that way
Give me time and give me space
I'll find a way, I'll find a way
This verse hit so hard, just the pure emotion from Manas. It’s hard when there’s a disconnect between partners. It’s even worse when you continually try to make it work. The delivery for this set of lyrics was so spot on, the way each line was spoken to give it an extra emotion charge was phenomenally tear jerking. Rating 7.8/10
Summary:
Weston Estate’s Superbloom, has been a pleasure to listen to. With tons of highs and lows, this emotional rollercoaster of an EP has all you could ever ask for. With great lyrics and production for days and multiple very talented vocalists. This new age boy band is not afraid to take risks and it shows, and more imporantly it’s paying off. No doubt that they will continue to make amazing music and surge in popularity. This is defeintely one of my favorite music projects, I’ve listened to this year. It not only made me feel but also made me thiknk which i dont think a lot of music these days does. I’m truly looking forward to what they release next.