Sharks - Selfhood Album Review
Returning with their second offering, Sharks appear to be on the cusp of making something of themselves. After high profile support slots with bands such as Blink 182, Selfhood is their biggest moment to shine and to show what they are capable of. Sadly for them, however, the album is somewhat lacking. To make a band name related pun, Sharks seem almost completely toothless on Selfhood.
The album begins with Selfhood, the title track. This song demonstrates that Sharks know their way around a huge, summery chorus and the sort of chords you might find Britpop bands playing. Next up is the break neck pop punk punch of Your Bloody Wings, which calls to mind bands like Ash or even The Vaccines in places.
Whether it is in adding cooing vocals as in Portland or aping The Strokes on 22, the glaring problem with Selfhood is that the band seem content on sticking painfully, rigidly to formula. This is, at worst, an inoffensive pop punk album stuck to one dynamic, deathly afraid of daring to go quieter, louder, faster or slower. As such, the second half of the album becomes a congealed, indistinguishable collection of tracks. You may as well buy the single and put it on repeat eleven times.
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