By, Georgie Flemming
TV Girl’s discography is impressive, creating its own sound in an oversaturated indie pop market; earning them major cred within the alternative scene and even striking a chord with TikTok teenagers. Three years after the release of The Night in Question: French Exit Outtakes, TV Girl gave us their fifth album over the summer, Grapes Upon the Vine, and after three months of ruminating – here are my thoughts.
The thing is I really tried to like this album. Their typical blend of dreamy, hypnotic neo-psychedelia paired with Brad Petering’s lethargic vocals which gave us all of French Exit’s hits are certainly there; but there’s a major miss with the production on this album. Petering sounds like he’s struggling to follow along with melody and the messy mixing doesn’t do him any favors. My main problem is the drowning of Petering’s vocals in the background as the overpowering gospel samples blare in the foreground. I’m a fan of the sampling, especially in “One of These Mornings,” which samples from a ‘60s gospel tune, but I think the execution of integrating samples in with the band’s electronic style clashes too much, creating a disruptive sound which is hard to listen to. The lyrical content is heavy, contemplating life, death, with some injected religiosity; but there’s not much to them. Petering’s vocals lack their typical dynamic energy and enticing rhythm, making the album all-together – sleepy and forgettable.
The only tracks I relatively like from this record are “I’ll Be Faithful” and “Shame;” rare instances where the mellow vocals and funk samples work cohesively. Don’t worry, you can still expect TV Girl to be traumatized by their past relationships and excessive drug use, but this time, they haven’t even managed to make it likable. If TV Girl wanted to stop going TikTok viral, they have certainly succeeded.
