ALBUM REVIEW: Baku’s Revenge – Magnolia Park
After appearances at the likes of Slam Dunk Festival, Floridian outfit MAGNOLIA PARK have already established themselves as major players in the new school of pop-punk acts – even before the release of their debut album. Now, fans can finally sink their teeth into a full-length project from the Orlando six-piece with Baku’s Revenge.
MAGNOLIA PARK certainly fall more on the pop side of pop-punk, mixing hip-hop-style programmed beats with power chords and sing-along choruses. Comparisons to MACHINE GUN KELLY are apt, as are comparisons to contemporaries and tourmates LIL LOTUS. But are MAGNOLIA PARK a standout band or just another one of the crowd?
Let’s start with the positives. As with other bands of their ilk, MAGNOLIA PARK do a great job of capturing teenage angst in their lyrics, offering a more modern take on the themes that bands like BLINK-182 and NEW FOUND GLORY played with in the early 2000s. Heartbreak, lust, drugs, mental health, and even racism are touched on across the 11 tracks, offering a novel perspective on familiar topics.
Less impressive are the songs themselves, most of which feel formulaic, almost to the point of parody. The majority of the tracks consist of low-key verses featuring the aforementioned programmed beats, paired with keyboard leads or palm-muted guitars, before breaking into anthemic choruses, most of which are constructed to lend themselves to huge sing-alongs in the live setting.
Radio Reject is, ironically, the best radio hit on the record featuring the kind of descending guitar melodies that PARAMORE perfected on their early records. Joshua Roberts’ vocals shine on this track as well, leading the rebellious lyric “Pretty rich kid with your cigarette / I wanna be a radio reject.” Ghost 2 U is another highlight, delving deep into heartsick angst as the lyrics play with gothic imagery, no doubt inspired by the likes of MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE. The gang vocals on the chorus work surprisingly well, and we’re even treated to something of a guitar solo in the bridge.
Elsewhere, MAGNOLIA PARK indulge in a trend recently used by JACK HARLOW, by naming a song after an attractive female celebrity of the moment. Addison Rae is unashamedly cheesy, describing a schoolyard crush that will ring true to Gen Z fans but will probably fall on deaf ears for the more mature listeners.
Drugs is perhaps the band’s biggest misstep, saying nothing of substance (no pun intended) about the subject matter but relishing in imagery of drug abuse and overdoses with multiple allusions to joining the ‘27 Club’. The lyrics on the chorus are by far the most repetitive and insipid on the album, “We’re getting high / We’re getting high / We’re getting high from these fucking drugs / Are you ready to die? / Are you ready to die? / Are you ready to die from these fucking drugs?” No thanks.
The tunes are perfectly serviceable, and plenty of guest spots add some variety, but there’s little in the way of originality to be found here. Even within their niche, MAGNOLIA PARK are outshined by superior performers like KENNY HOOPLA and MEET ME @ THE ALTAR. Pop-punk die-hards may find a lot to enjoy here, but more general rock fans would do well to steer clear.
Rating: 6/10
Baku’s Revenge is out now via Epitaph Records.
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