ALBUM REVIEW: Supergiant – Valley Queen

Indie rock will always be an interesting genre. It can be both one to jump around with crazy riffs and pounding beats or one to relax whilst the vinyl plays on the record player. A good album within the indie rock genre has a good blend of both, so there’s a lot to expect when LA band, VALLEY QUEEN, decide to try with their album, Supergiant. So, how does this album fair in the balance of the two indie rock sounds?

One thing to note about VALLEY QUEEN is their sound; it’s definitely a blend of THE CRANBERRIES and METRIC, but also definitely their own sound, with the fuzz in the guitar and strong rhythms. Each of the songs on the album contains chord sequences that are very unique to each theme and does work with each theme that’s sung about. For example, in Bedroom, the infectious atmospheric sound the band creates within the music makes it impossible not to dance to. Additional touches like the drum roll in Two Of Cups add to the intricate sounds and skill on display within the band. Something like Ride shows how well balanced the album is in terms of sounds as it examples a chill but lush instrumentation. It’s one that the listener can easily relax to and the chords within it do well to match the differing drum rhythms played in the song. 

The lyrical content is also done well, matched with the gorgeous vocals, adds together to make a really good album here. In songs like Chasing The Muse, Silver Tongue, and Gems and Rubies, the lyrics blend well with the vocals to deliver a gorgeous sound that is able to transcend the listener to another place as they listen deeper into the album. Despite only being 10 tracks long, the album has a great blend of all the elements needed. From Silver Tongue to Highway Pearls, the music remains consistently great, with a harsh fuzzy sound, but also can be comforting to hear. Matched with the vocals that know what inflexion to give for each song, and the lyrics that embody the emotions the band wants to deliver, and it creates a musical experience that is always interesting to listen to time and time again.

The only downside to the album is with the song, Carolina. Whilst it’s still a good song on the album, it does lean towards more into THE CRANBERRIES sound a little too much. It isn’t bad, but the rest of the material on the album is better because its sound is more original to the band.

Overall, Supergiant is an impressive accomplishment from VALLEY QUEEN and a great addition to the indie rock genre. The music does balance well with the jammy blasting songs and the chilled songs, and the lyrics really help to bring the different musical layers to life. From beginning to end, it is truly a joy to listen to, and only great things are to be expected from this band in the future. Supergiant is an album that people will go back to time and time again because it does contain that timeless nature; something that would fit easily within the 1990s/2000s music scene, but also sounding so fresh and alive today. Not one to miss out on.

Rating: 9/10

Supergiant is set for release June 28th via Bread & Butter Records. 

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