There’s something mysterious about the cover of Quorum’s ‘The Death of Intellectual Success’. I mean, the album title alone has me intrigued but the very classic and simple yet somehow theatrical cover has me excited to dig into what this band is all about. So why waste any more time? Let’s jump right on in!
This album starts with “Prologue” which, as titled, really welcomes you into the world of Quorum. It’s a beautiful and dreamy track that instantly whisks you away from wherever you are and puts in the palm of Quorum’s hand in the best way possible. Still, with very little idea as to what this seven-song album would bring me, I felt my anticipation build alongside the layers that come in on this intro song until there was a slight break and “Could We Be Different” took over.
The first “real” track on the album, “Could We Be Different” has a very infectious beat about it and a very crisp and clean indie-pop song. I’ll be honest, there was something about the name of this band and the overall style of the album cover that had me leaning towards this being a heavier band but I was more than happy as soft and sweet, yet energetic, vocals came over and catapulted me even further into Quorum’s world. Even though this is definitely a super dancey and infectious track, there’s a sense of heartbreak that comes across in the vocals that I instantly fell in love with. To say it had me excited to see what else this band will give me on the other five songs would be an understatement.
The title track of this album kicks off with a little hint of “Prologue” before jumping back into an infectiously happy beat that instantly put a smile on my face. Again I found myself completely captivated by the vocals of this band. As mentioned, they are crisp and clear and, although so perfect, contain this understated amount of emotion and heartbreak. Although some of the word choices feel a bit young for a thirty-something like me, there’s something relatable about every line if you take it past face value and that’s something that made this track an instant favorite of mine.
“Still Can’t See” brings a little bit more of a bitter vocal edge to the table which I instantly fell head over heels for. Don’t get me wrong, this track is still absolutely fun and very much Quorum’s but there’s just a little bit more of a rush in the bassline and a little bit more darkness in the vocals which had this song feeling just a bit more powerful than the previous ones in all of the right ways. Sadly, things move very fast on this album and, before I knew it, the mysterious palate refresher that is “Somnolent” was taking over my house for just under a minute. Much like “Prologue”, there’s a mysterious ambiance about this track but the way it follows “Still Can’t See” and leads into “You Said” has it being a perfect fit on this album.
“You Said” kicks off with a brilliant, albeit simple sounding, bassline before the whole band kicks in and brings a bit more in-your-face energy to the album which made this another instant favorite track of mine. With a super ear-wormy chorus and hooky guitar parts that are sure to be stuck in my head long after I’m done reviewing this album, this track really shows the power of this band and how, although accessible and easy to listen to, there’s so much more to Quorum than your every day indie-pop-punk-rock band.
All good things must come to an end and this album ends beautifully with “Sea Breeze”. There’s something fun and flirtatious about this track that ends this album on a super high note and left me wanting so much more from this four-piece band from the UK. I know it’s a fat chance (especially right now) but I would seriously give almost anything to catch these guys live. As I was left in silence after “Sea Breeze” ended, I couldn’t help but picture what a show from these guys would be like. A little Jonas Brothers pop-boy-band vibe with a little more of a Fall Out Boy pop-punk edge and a little All Time Low attitude– yeah, a girl can dream and I will be dreaming about the day I get to see this band live for the foreseeable future.
My Favorite Track(s): “The Death Of Intellectual Success”; “You Said”
For Fans Of: Indie Pop-Punk Vibes; Fun and Dancey Music
Mosh-ability: 4 out of 10
What My Cats Thought Of It: Artie slept on the kitchen floor; Autumn looked out the open door since it’s finally nice enough to have it open (don’t worry- there’s a screen– she’s not going anywhere)
How Badly I Want To See This Performed Live: 10 out of 10
My Overall Rating: 9 out of 10
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