badsoma is the six-piece band from Los Angeles in California, bringing a potent fusion of indie pop music, combined with their magnetic lyricism and innovative production techniques on their latest project, “kicking and screaming” — keep reading for my thoughts!
Right off the bat of the 5-track EP, we’re shown the versatility and the diverse kinds of punches that badsoma carry in their arsenal — with the curtain riser, “when no one’s around”, they bring an almost Radiohead-esque sound to the stage, combining clean, beautiful lyricism with cinematic, emotive pianos. The synths in the background loom just right as they provide the atmosphere to this track, and as the song progresses, you’re drawn closer and closer into the abyss. A solid first track, I must say.
As we journey on over to the second track on “kicking and screaming”, “the stranger” is what’s next — retaining the intense indie pop sound of the band, they switch up the energy a good bit this time around, with a slightly faster flow, and the entry of the crunchy electric guitars into the foray — and the emotive impact on this album really starts to come into its own; as the band find their element on this track, they leave us with an earworm-worthy listen from start to finish.
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“burn out” brings in the female voice and all the glory in the singing makes for a catchy, sing-able number. With the synths creating very interesting textures in the background, there’s much to appreciate about the flow of this track, as it sways to a gentle six-eight signature. There’s clean electric guitars, rhythm sections, and enough organic sound design to keep the song constantly evolving — which is a thing that can be said about the rest of “kicking and screaming”, too.
As we journey on over to the production of this album, I’d say one thing: the production styles on this album vary wildly from soft ballad pop, to higher energy realms like on the track “burn out” and “talk about me” — as they gently ramp the energy up, they take the listener with them — making for an ethereal, almost otherworldly listening experience. The sound textures evolve beautifully over the course of the album, and the styles showcase the distinct flair of “badsoma”, as they paint picture over picture on their canvas, each more beautiful than the last.
The mixing and mastering on this album is also par excellence, playing excellent support to the ensemble at every step — all while creating a warm, saturated and welcoming atmosphere that will have your feet tapping and your head grooving in song before you know it. The energy is delightfully controlled, with the chiming from the synths lending their own charm and flair to the album.
All in all, “kicking and screaming”, by badsoma — a stellar listen that we’re optimistic you will love! Take a listen to the track here:
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