Volcano- Jungle
Jungle returned this year for their 4th studio album, Volcano. Their latest album is full of high energy, soulful tracks that make you wanna drop the top and cruise down PCH. But also has a repetitive nature and many skippable songs. This album took the approach of a feel-good summer album with non stop energy. Their production has that old 70’s classic feel but blends in modern electronic elements that just make you want to dance. If you have ever had the pleasure of seeing Jungle live, you will be non-stop grooving.
As much as this album has tracks that make you want to shake your rumpus, it can also sound a bit repetitive and songs can seem to all blend together. It lacks some of the juxtaposition of tempos and emotions featured in previous Jungle albums.
The album opens “Us Against The World”. An upbeat, fiery track that repeats the mantra “It’s Us Against the World”. Lydia Kitto, also known as the Queen of the Jungle, takes the lead on this track and the majority of the album. Her voice is heavily distorted in a beautifully analog way. But when the next song “Holding On” comes on, it is hard to distinguish from the last. “Candle Flame” was the lead single for the album. As a stand alone track it is great! But, it can also get lost in the repetitive nature of the album. Erik the Architect voice is a welcome change up from the high pitch vocals that start the album.
The next 3 track run of “Dominoes”, “I’ve Been In Love ft. Channel Tres”, “Back on 74” is by far the best on the album. This is the run where the sound that they are cultivating on this album really shines. “Dominoes” is a mostly instrumental track that gets the head-bobbing and the Queen of the Jungle repeating some fairly simple lyrics. The lyrics are for sure not the highlight of this album. Channel Tres is one of the favorite new artists and I was very excited for their collaboration on “I’ve Been In Love”. The song somewhat lived up to my hype. Channel Tres deep, sultry voice is another welcome break from the high-pitch vocals that dominate the album. The song is easy and fun to listen and sing along too. “Back on 74” is my favorite and also their most listened to song on this album. This is due in part to a semi-viral Tik Tok dance but also cus it just makes you want to move.
To be honest the rest of the songs are skips to me, with the exception of “Problemz”. There are the tracks that I talked about that I have added to my playlists and still get me grooving when they come on. But, as a whole complete album, I am not. the biggest fan. I really want to see Jungle again live cus I know these tracks will go off especially blended with their older classics.
One more thing, the two core members of Jungle, Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland, only provide the production and some backing vocals on this album. As much as I love Kitto, I really hope the Jungle Bros get back to providing the harmonizing lead vocals that are so infectious on their previous albums. The choreographed music videos that accompanied the singles are still as fire as ever.
Most Played Track: Back on 74
My Favorite Track: Back on 74
Worst Track: You Ain’t No Celebrity
I feel this! I definitely like the new sound Lydia is bringing. Definitely feel like a few tracks were fillers.