The first time Argonaut appeared on my stereo was in 2015 with a glittery slice of poppy goodness and their 2nd album “Try”.
It’s hard to believe they also released the single “Not Rich” almost 2 years ago to the day of this review. I still find myself periodically singing the chorus to myself, which shows how catchy their songs can be.
Argonaut – “The New Argonaut EP”
Ok, so I have to admit I’ve been sat on this one for 6 months already. As such it’s no longer “the New Argonaut EP”, except for in name only.
That said, it’s still worthy of a mention. It’s the stepping stone onto the full-length album, an EP made up of 4 very 90’s indie-influence tracks. Those old enough to remember, think Veruca Salt, Belly, Whale and such like. As for the Argonaut tunes on offer, lead track “You Are” is great, while “March!” would benefit from the vocals being re-recorded.
Argonaut “Forever” Review
It feels like Argonaut should re-brand themselves these days as Juggernaut, as they seem to just keep on rolling. The new full-length album “Forever” is already due out next month, with Argonaut having recorded it in just 2 days.
Given the hasty recording process, there is a slightly rushed feeling to the album. Although, that in itself adds to the live studio feel. Something that would certainly have been lost if it was polished-up, beyond recognition.
Argonaut Forever
The album kicks off with “Zero Said” a sort of punky/grunge mixture, which is what Argonaut have seemingly morphed into. It’s clear this release is already sounding a lot stronger than the EP. There’s a lot of bands you can stick “Forever” alongside, L7, the Breeders, in fact overall it’s heading straight back to the 90’s again.
Even the poppy side of Argonaut makes me think of Shampoo – the female duo responsible for the 1994 hit single “Trouble”. In fact, it’s when Argonaut are going down the slightly kitsch route they’re at their finest. “Everybody Crash” is another track that’s far from perfect, but you can guarantee it’s the one you’ll be bopping along to in your head.
Then there are noisier tunes such as “Tough Electric”, with the flange pedals and distortion effects high in the mix. However, it’s the chaotic-ness that somehow pulls the album together. Elsewhere on “Forever” the aforementioned “Not Rich” crops up again, along with “March”. Soon enough, things have come full circle. Although not quite, so I guess you’ll just have to “Try” out Argonaut’s back catalogue for yourself…
