The Thousands

!!!‘s new full-length Strange Weather, Isn’t It? is a reflection on the band’s glary decade together. The lyrics point towards a serious life stock-take; “You’ll never hear the same song again/nothing in the rear view mirror/except a trunk full of reasons” or “I felt strangely free as I caught the last bus from the place I’m supposed to be/and it’s a good thing I like being alone I made a promise to the mirror long ago.” Hell, that’s from the first two songs on the record!

However, !!! have not forgotten the funk. The beauty of this album lies within a dichotomy of heavy words versus rhythmic musical deeds. The drums are heavy on the bottom end with a barrage of swirling electronics, guitars, and hypnotic bass. Standouts on the album include ‘Jamie, My Intentions are Bass’ and ‘Steady As the Sidewalk Cracks’. The closest touchstone for this recording would be Stone Roses (at their peak) or Happy Mondays minus the drug addled antics of Shaun Ryder.

Strange Weather, Isn’t It? is a mirror upon the full gamut of human life experience; funky, happy, mad, bad, and sad!