Album Review: Money For Rope – Picture Us
Best Tracks: Hold, O’Chelles, Earl Grey, Look
FCC Violations: Actually
Melbourne, Australia’s Money For Rope has found its niche by crafting their art outside of the traditional context of rock n’ roll and have successfully done so. The band features two drummers and while one would think that would be an overbearing undertaking, they do it quite well, without oversaturating tracks with meaningless noise. Blending various styles, including surf, soul, and psych rock, Money For Rope’s forthcoming album Picture Us is a mix of slow and heavy grooves, 60s nostalgia, and fervent vocals in a contemporary mold.
The track ‘Hold’ kicks off the record with building intensity as it starts with just the guitar, vocals and melodic chanting, gearing to a more dirty but uplifting sound midway through. They also manage to mix walkie talkie parts with the melodies effortlessly, making a complimentary and subtle addition to the track.
‘Stretched My Neck’ is a fun one that stays in the upbeat blues rock realm, taking the listener on a rampage of self-sabotage through the singer’s lyrics boasting “She stretched my neck in two different places and I don’t mind/Yeah I don’t mind.” The bridge comes in with a roar of controlled aggression as the guitar settles in the pocket with pure riffage, incorporating hammer-ons and pull-offs while riding the octave.
In the spirit of The Doors, ‘O’ Chelles’ kicks off with Ray Manzarak-style keys and vocals that speak more like poetry reminiscing the sounds of Jim Morrison. The 50s sounding backing vocals add more to the nostalgic feel of the track, making the listener forget it is a song of this century.
‘Remember My Name’ is an intriguing song with a delayed rhythm guitar track filled with washy, slightly distorted chord fills, eventually leading to an epic chorus led by a higher and more intense vocal range. This song definitely has some Pink Floyd influence, stemming from the sounds of The Wall, even incorporating the white noise underneath a few guitar bends that was used frequently on the album. Money For Rope seems to effortlessly refer to past talents while consistently making it sound like something different.
Picture Us definitely surprised me and surpassed any expectations. Whenever my gut told me ‘Oh, this is going to be a bland one,’ melodies seemed to come out of nowhere and were blended with perfection and clarity. Every part and every section serves a purpose with its highs and lows. You can tell there is a huge emphasis on storytelling in showcasing the album. There really isn’t a sore spot on the record and as such, I will be adding this to my library and you should too!
– Justin Capoccia