ALBUM REVIEW: What Still Gets Me – Shit Present
SHIT PRESENT‘s debut album has been a long time coming. It follows on from two EPs, 2015’s self-titled and 2016’s Misery + Disaster, which both earned critical acclaim. However, whilst EPs are great introductions to a band, debut albums do serve a better purpose by giving more time for a band to properly show what they’ve got. Ever since they formed in 2015, the trio from the West Country have not been afraid to open up about mental health. However, on What Still Gets Me, the band are reborn.
Across 13 songs, the emo-pop trio tackle everything from bipolar disorder to dangerous men who claim to be harmless. However, despite the serious subject matter, the band prove that making music can be a joyful experience. Vocalist Iona Cairns is a powerhouse, and her voice is easily one of the best in the scene. From the moment she starts singing on opener Cram The Page, you know there’s something special about her.
In the snarling punk energy of Fuck It, the band turn things up to 11. Whilst they do work well on the sombre songs, guitarist/bassist Thom Weeks and drummer Ben Cottam really shine on the harsher songs, where they show just how much energy they have. However, even on the quieter songs, there are moments of high energy. Furthermore, the different styles show that the band suit both the quiet and more poppy side of music, and the emo, high-energy side of music.
More To Lose is a bass-heavy song that is a highlight of the album. The energy is infectious and we can see this one having a brilliant live performance. Whilst the verses are mid-tempo and the choruses are more energetic, they compliment each other well thanks to the fantastic production. In fact, the production helps keeps the pacing on the straight and narrow. Whether it is the hardcore punk of Unravelling and the title track, or the mid-tempo emo of Beyond Tonight and closing song Talking About The Rain, the album is a cohesive one, and it is a joy to listen to.
Another thing that is fantastic about this album is its lyrical content. The band are candid about living with mental health issues, hope, and starting over. The highlight, however, is What Still Gets Me, which earns the very well-deserved honour of being a title track. Featuring Georgia McDonald from CAMP COPE as a guest vocalist, the song is a masterpiece in showing the issues that women face on a daily basis. Whilst the saying ‘not all men’ has been circulating the internet recently, this song shows why women are mostly wary around men, as it tells the story about a so-called harmless man who turns out to be dangerous. It’s an easy standout on the album.
Overall, SHIT PRESENT might just have one of the most engaging, cohesive and fun debut albums that we’ve heard this year. What Still Gets Me shows the best of what the band have to offer, and it is a joy to listen to. With brilliant and candid lyrics, fantastic production and pacing, and a band who clearly know what they want to do, this is an album that will please fans both old and new. If you haven’t heard of SHIT PRESENT before, then check out What Still Gets Me; they might just be your new favourite band.
Rating: 9/10
What Still Gets Me is out now via Specialist Subject Records.
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