ALBUM REVIEW: Clowned Out – Pommer
Emo meets shoegaze on Pommer’s newest record, Clowned Out. Heavily inspired by the likes of MINI TREES, OSO OSO, and DINOSAUR JR., the Chicago native wanted to use this album as a way to tell a personal story relating to themes of identity, social anxiety, and resilience, topics that the majority of us are likely all too familiar with, as told through moody instrumentals and pop-rock sounds that are somehow both nostalgic and modern.
Opening the record, we have 1/15/2024, an instrumental piece that relies heavily on acoustic guitar strumming, maintaining a soft sound that offers some ambiguity in whether things will shift into something melancholic or something more high energy. A perfect way to open things up if you ask us. Things then kick off when we get to Calamity that is the opposite of the first track with classic pop-punk meets emo riffs and vocal style that still manages to hold onto the dreamlike quality introduce earlier. In short, it’s a lowkey version of angst and frustration.
As mentioned, the record brings in a lot of shoegaze influence that elevates the album in multiple ways. One moment you can be enjoying tracks like Set Free that blends dream pop with some psychedelic guitars that leaves you in a state of wanting to close your eyes and let your mind calm down, the next you find yourself sat in awe at the true beautiful nature of songs like Miss that is moody emo in all it’s purest forms, and even as the full band gradually comes in a gentle quality is present.
And if you want a track that is just pure moody reflection on life, then you can enjoy Regret, a song that is meant to be played during moments where you lie awake at 3am, staring up at your ceiling. It feels somewhat powerful, although some impact is lost due to the track being perhaps a little too long by a minute.
It’s not all moody though. While there is emo influence on each song, there are moments of happiness as heard on Today, an indie pop-rock track that draws comparison to bands like THE 1975 thanks to the synths and melodies, Nothing To Do that has fun beats to bop along to whilst also bringing shoegaze riffs into the mix, and More Than, a track that juxtaposes melancholic vocals and guitar riffs with pop synth drumbeats that, frankly, are just pure fun despite it being a combination that sounds like it shouldn’t work on paper.
And then everything concludes with Reckless, a track that doubles as a callout song and one of self-deprecation when it comes to a past relationship. How very true to life. Clowned Out is a decent emo record that goes from fun to moody to dreamy, it has a little bit of everything.
Rating: 7/10
Clowned Out is out now via self-release.
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