The Mysterines ~ Reeling Album Review 30Mar22

Well we do have tickets to the late spring Mysterines concert at Lost Lk in Denver. I am really looking forward to their first tour of the US (9 stops so far) as their show skills are notable. They will hopefully play their entire catalog of original material that's published (20 songs), and maybe some covers, but the show will focus on stuff from their recently released debut album, Reeling. Their first 4 songs were on an EP called Take Control, which was fantastic, and the pandemic EP was Love's Not Enough with 3, also very good. I actually bought the CD for Reeling and ripped it to .flac of course ~ I could not find high def stuff. There are songs on there that I had not heard from YouTube dives, but not many. The Mysterines have been decent at rolling out stuff from live studio visits or club appearances where I've been able to get the house feed - so the album is not all new to me. Just as for the EPs linked above, here's the full audio of Reeling on YouTube, just click though...

The Mysterines Reeling is getting strong grades by reviewers (81 metacritic) but here's what I think... since the beginning, their material has been consistently very good. With the 2nd EP and Reeling, they had a full time lead guitarist, and part time backup vocalist, and while that was vital, Lia's writing has been stellar forever. Reeling was produced by Catherine Marks (Wolf Alice & PJ Harvey), so yeah, very strong. This stuff is often gut thumping post-grunge, modern alt indie rock, with lead Lia Metcalfe's words sometimes dark. She's got the sultry growling lead voice and serves up her words earnestly. Sure, I focus on female leads these days, no question, and she is one who is out there. Mysterines stage presence is confident and the band's skills are sharp... this comes across clearly on the album too. Let's approach this track by track; as I've done before I'll add a recent live recordings when possible - but now I'm going to provide running critique & commentary too ~ for whomever cares.

1. Life Is  A Bitch And I Like It So Much (HERE) - This is an official vid but includes plenty of live pieces. Very apparent right off is Lia's killer presence on cam/stage ~ this is a fully committed and confident performer. The song - I love when Mysterines use this speed and energy, it is much like prior work from the EPs. There is a clean (?) version Life Is A Fix, but I dunno about that - still can't be a single, but I like it. IMO about "life."
   
2. Hung Up (HERE) - Another official vid but cool. Lyrics are great and kindof obvious unrequited feelings and revenge... very fine power & angst.
3. Reeling (HERE) - Great rendition from Marshall studios. Dark coming of age from religion to otherworlds. This track is really a title track in the sense is that the pace and seriousness presented sets a new tone... slow burn.
4. Old Friends / Die Hard (HERE) - She wrote it and Mysterines played it in 2020... awesome friendship/murder sitch unveiled.
5. Dangerous (HERE) - A single cut in the Reeling realm for sure. Tight.
6. On The Run (HERE) - Could not find a live version ('cause they haven't played to 100K crowds in standiums, yet) but this is a crowd pleaser, feel happy music, whatever the lyric. Sounds like country rock almost - Eagles?
   
7. Under Your Skin (HERE) - Not a great live recording but good enough for you guys... an old song from Lia that made the album. Hangs fine with Reeling pace and vibe - The Doors?
8. The Bad Thing (HERE) - Darkeness, diggin' up a grave and asking the same. Maybe it's campy like Warren Zevon, maybe not. Good stuff either way.
9. In My Head (HERE) - Again I have to drop to an official video. Serious heavy rock lives on...sounds like a love song but Lia admits this a 2nd voice in her own head.
10. Means To Bleed (HERE) - Late in the disc - back to upspeed Mysterines. Old Lia poem with a modern Callum riff. Yesss.
11. All These Things (HERE) - Again no live versions. Perhaps another stadium hit as it's almost a happy track? Ownership of stuff and feelings.
    
12. Still Call You Home (HERE) - OMG - she's played this acoustic "forever." Written @ 17. It's awesome. Amazing it made to Reeling - glad it did though.
13. Confession Song (HERE) - "Blood in Babylon." Slick, slow closer song.