REVIEW: KING LOBSTER KREW – MOLT
The idea of genre in modern music is becoming less and less useful over time. As music becomes easily accessible we see more artists drawing influence from a larger range of styles – describing an artist’s style can quickly turn into a paragraph-long explanation. Montreal locals King Lobster Krew, whose second album Molt was released on March 21, are a prime example of this; the bandleader/drummer/lead vocalist Vitta Morales draws from a musical palette that pulls from surf rock, jazz, punk, and a range of Latin American styles.
The album kicks off very strongly with one of its more definable songs, the mellow surf rock ballad ‘Tanker’. The song flows well in a subtle 5/4 groove, with the lyrics telling a cryptic tale of climate change from the perspective of fish. The narrative is supported well by a strong melody and well written harmony, and is one of the best songs on the album. Another early highlight is the arrangement of ‘My Favorite Things’ which listeners are likely to recognize from either The Sound of Music, or John Coltrane’s famous version from his 1961 album of the same name. In King Lobster Krew’s case neither version is drawn upon too closely, as they reimagine the tune as a surf rock instrumental. This track blends the styles of surf rock and jazz comfortably, with whispers of punk and latin influences in the drumming.
Leaning more into the world of Calypso, another high point on the album is ‘Every Single Beach’, a joyous ode to, well, beaches, with lyrics switching between French and English. The track starts off with a strong rhythmic ostinato in the bass, which grows as more of the band join. The arrangement in the verses is busy without feeling crowded, and flows naturally into a chorus well suited for a singalong.
Other highlights include “Theresa”, a moody samba with a haunting melody that tells a story of lost love, and “Danza Lagosta”, a mellow cumbia instrumental that closes the album nicely, serving a similar purpose that end credits might for a film.
Where the album leaves some room for improvement is arguably its flow; after the first track, “Tanker”, we hear three consecutive tracks that are purely instrumental. Spacing these out throughout the album could have made for a more cohesive listening experience, given the number of different styles the band explores in the album’s 32 minute runtime. Separately, on
songs that veer more towards a punk rock sound, like ‘The Tannery’ and ‘Rock Band’, I found myself wanting to hear a bigger sound from the drums and heavier, possibly more layered guitars. Despite both being well written songs, they could have been made more energetic with some more deliberate production choices.
On the whole Molt sees King Lobster Krew improving on their 2021 self-titled debut and continuing to grow into their own unique blend of sounds, while also expanding their palette further than before. This project, as well as whatever they come up with next, are sure to be fun and interesting listening experiences.
Review by: Harry S.
