At: "MADRA" by NewDad
By popular demand (and it's intriguing, stunning visuals), I am ready to be exposed to NewDad. Brief, but loving.
Album covers can be extremely important, especially since I wrote an entire review about this record because the cover is so stunning to me. Without any previous exposure to NewDad, I dive into this album without expectations, and
I like it,
WHY I LIKE IT
It is very different from what I listen to on a daily basis. Not quite dark enough, but weirdly in the middle of being indie, or alternative, with pop hints at times. It was easy and fun to listen to, and there are a couple of songs I could save to my playlists. I must admit, the visuals might be one of my favorite parts of the record. However, it is insanely consistent to be their debut album, which it is a great quality to carry.
TOP THREE
“Angel” has a sick bass line, so good I can not get enough of it. As the opener, it sets the tone immediately, keeping it upbeat with somber undertones. The way all the layers are blended, not only makes the vocals sound heavenly, but the guitar is stunning. I fell immediately in love with the closing of the song though. The way it builds, the drums, the layered guitars, they all end up taking you so far into the song, you can’t stop listening. It is so stunning, it deserves to be NewDad’s most streamed song on Spotify. “You can swim around / But I don’t / Want you to drown inside me / It’s not fair to be your responsibility” is a sick chorus to have too.
It is nice how heavy “Where I Go” is without feeling draining. It is engaging and more introspective than its predecessors. “They take and take / But I’m the one whos made mistakes.” The song itself feels familiar and nostalgic, but I wouldn’t wanna compare it to any of its influences, as it is strong enough to stand on its own. I can see myself playing this on loop while walking, as it is easy to listen to without feeling overwhelming in its heaviness. Once again, I truly appreciate the closing section of the song. The instrumentals in the record are very strong and consistent, which could be seen as repetitive, but the melodies are distinctive enough for each song to distinguish itself from the record.
“Nosebleed” is one of the slower tracks on the album, but it builds seamlessly to a peaceful atmosphere. Not only are the lyrics accusatory but it also sounds more desperate than other songs. In the chorus, “Youre always talking down to me / And when you bandage my knees / Never knew quite how you’d be” and then blending into “You’re careless like a father / Cruel like a mother” for the bridge. Lyrically, it might be one of my favorites in the record, while sonically it is definitely top three. Introspective, reflective, and brutally honest. It works too well.
FOR THE NOT INDIE BUT ALTERNATIVE
Honorable mention, as it could have made it into my top three. “Let Go” is less angry and much more forgiving (lyrically) with “I see all the hurt in you / Why dont you give it to me?” Not to be repetitive, but the bass line is once again too good, and then outperformed by the guitars in the chorus. They blend into each other, while remaining playful and engaging. They also timed the build up with the silence a little too well, it made me smile. The type of song it would be fun to dance to, blasting, on loop, keeping the closing section full. We still find them lyrically stuck, but instrumentally advanced, and it makes me love the song.
“White Ribbons” will slow down the pace of the album, making it stand out. It is much more angelic and heavenly as the vocals float over the track. “And the rain feels like waves crashing in” matches its peaceful atmosphere while talking directly to a fixing lover. Unexpectadly, it will dive into outer space by the end of the track, making it even more stunning.
The closing and title track “Madra” is strong. We go back to guitars while keeping some leftovers of “White Ribbons” and “Angel,” almost coming full circle. “I know these feelings aren’t real / But all these things / They help my mind stand still.” It stays self-critical, honest, and introspective, which explains the album’s title, as this song might sum up the lyrical themes perfectly. They still can’t fix her, she can’t fix herself, but seems to be having fun while being hurt. We can see these conflicting feelings even through the instrumentals in the record, as the moods can swing from one track to another. “And I’m low” being the closing line might be the underlying message in all the tracks, summing up the record flawlessly.
FOR THE INDIE ENTHUSIASTS
“Sickly Sweet” is catchier, fun, and more adorable. It has some 2010s undertones to it, specifically with the melodic structure, but in a good way. It feels more pop than “Angel,” but maintains a good bass line with timed strings that grab and hold your attention. “Am I deluded? Could I really be that stupid? ‘Cause I’m plagued by the memories.” Pretty cool, pretty playful, but it reminds me of something & I can not figure out what it is.
“Change My Mind” starts much differently from all the other songs in the record, hauntingly beautiful and somehow upbeat. “Your eyes, they look like mine / So, I can see you feel confined” is pretty clever and will showcase the themes in the song. I appreciate the catchiness and more indie-influenced sounds of the song. The change of pace shows diversity in NewDad’s sound while remaining angelic yet grounded. Its dream-like qualities make it cute, adorable.
“In My Head” explores rhythm more than the other songs in the record. “It’s easy for you to forget '/ Because you’re not in my head” will keep the theme of the record consistent as the ideas of being stuck and reminiscent continue haunting the angelic vocals. This song in particular is much more upbeat than its peers as it can be more indie, showcased through the details of the instrumentals (even the tone of the guitars is much different than what we heard in the first trio of the record). Definitely one of the most pop tracks, which is a different pace.
The 2010s sound comes back with “Dream of Me,” specially with the guitar melodies, catchy chorus, and song structure that is very reminiscent to the pop structure. They leave behind the heavier sounds and guitars to explore a dreamy sound that can lean on pop as a cousin. “I know you don’t dream of me / While I’m dreaming of you / And I know I didn’t get in your hair / But I’m still combing mine through.” Clever and vulnerable lyrics with upbeat melodies and a pop structure. If I had to guess, this was probably a single for the record.
“Nightmares” will stay unexpectedly upbeat and pop-leaning, with the signature layered vocals with hints of heavier guitars. The keys on the song might be grounding it into its place in the record, as it fits well in the second half of the record, while it would be too different from the first half. As a band, stylistically, they might have a signature structure with interesting instrumentals and closing sections. This closer leans more into a Grimes-like sound than the other songs, while remaining fun.
WHO IS THE ALBUM FOR
Definitely indie fans. I can not speak for their past releases but this album feels much more indie than I expected it to be. If you like the catchiness of pop, with the heavier instrumentals of some indie artists, angelic vocals, and some sad lyrics, then this might be the record for you. Not necessarily groundbreaking, but good and consistent, which make it approachable and attractive. For a debut album, this is a good step forward, and I would actually check out their future releases after listening to “MADRA.”
IS IT A GROWER
It might be. After revisiting the songs a second time, I felt much clearer on my perspective on the album, which could be a good thing or a bad thing. Either way, the album works, and might grow on people after understanding what you’re getting from it. Definitely good, but maybe give it a second chance to fully appreciate it.
EXTRA
so, what is Madra:
Madra means dog in Irish. lol (they are Irish).
Do not listen to Google as “madra” is not “mother” in Spanish, its “madre.”MADRA is a visual album, so the tracks have visualisers on YouTube. Here is my personal favorite:
“Let Go” has a full on music video though, pretty cool.