ALBUM REVIEW: Dancer – Born Without Bones
Since indie-punk band BORN WITHOUT BONES signed to Pure Noise Records in 2021, the interest in their music has increased dramatically. Their album Baby, which originally came out in 2013, was re-released, and the band gained a huge number of fans. While singer Scott Ayotte was starting to lose confidence in his music career, this turnaround rejuvenated this completely, inspiring their fourth studio album Dancer. While their previous albums have all varied in genres and styles, experimenting with punk, alt-rock, indie and everything in between, Dancer attempts to combine them all into a distinctive sound.
On first listen, Dancer is a mixed bag. Some songs immediately stand out as incredible, and Fistful Of Bees is one of them. With a more upbeat, punk sound and an extremely catchy chorus, it’s an addictive track that you’ll keep going back to. As the third track on the album, it has the first really intense drop, and it’s more than needed. XO Skeleton is another highlight, and as the first single, it successfully draws listeners in. It changes the tempo from some of the more relaxed songs to a heavier sound, and it blends more rock-style instrumentals with indie-inspired vocals to create something really unique.
Also changing the tempo is Bother You, a beautiful love song that captures the perfect but mundane elements of a relationship. This track allows Ayotte’s lyricism to really have its moment, and although it’s quite late in the album, the payoff is worth it. The lyrics perfectly demonstrate the tender normality of feeling safe around somebody, and the instrumentals reflect this, with the end feeling like a little burst of joy. Closing the album is another powerful song, Bar Harbour. The lyrics are hard-hitting and real, with a really memorable chorus. The intense guitar makes this song sound really fun, ending the album on a more positive note, and although the track is five minutes long, it deserves this time.
Although it might be a personal preference, the more alt-rock style songs seem to land a bit better, and at times the more indie-pop tracks can sound a bit repetitive. While the opening track Dancer fits into the more laidback side of the album, its distinctive bass gives it an edge, and is a good example of Ayotte’s vocal range. On the other hand, once this style has been introduced, many of the other songs fit this same mould, and it starts to become a bit predictable. When the album does vary in its style, this can sometimes seem a bit random, and although Heart At Home is a really interesting song, with a beautiful combination of piano and acoustic guitar, the transition into it feels awkward. Towards the second half of the album, there are a few songs that while enjoyable, are slightly forgettable.
Attempting to include so many different styles in one album is a huge feat, and although it can come across disjointed at times, Dancer proves that BORN WITHOUT BONES can nail every genre they try. The upside of this is also that there is at least one song for everyone, and that’s an achievement in itself. With so many basically perfect songs, it’s safe to say the hard work BORN WITHOUT BONES have put into this album has paid off.
Rating: 8/10
Dancer is out now via Pure Noise Records.
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