Australian rock band Pacific Avenue have released their highly anticipated debut album, Flowers.
The group, hailing from Gerringong, NSW, described the album as ‘nothing that hasn’t already been done before’, but as ‘something we’ve wanted to be a part of for a long time’, with elements of trademark rock-and-roll rhythms threaded throughout the project. To accompany the album, the band have announced a national tour in their home country, with their first show scheduled for July 28th in Perth.
The record starts strong with the crisp, polished Spin Me Like Your Records, which injects an instant hit of nostalgia from the first guitar riff. Despite feeling quite generic, the track isn’t unwelcome – it’s comforting, and blends a wide range of rock artists and their distinctive sounds, giving them a new life.
The next tune on the album, Strawberry Daydream starts with bright, peppy guitar instrumentals and would perhaps be best listened to at a coastal festival – indeed, this is one of those tracks that needs to be heard live to appreciate it properly.
The strong use of guitar hooks and melodies is a theme throughout the project, with Easy Love combining slick harmonies with sun-soaked, self-assured riffs, and the provocative Leaving For London lacing a plucky, gutsy guitar instrumental with more melancholic lyricism.
A more anthemic feel is present on the quirky Give It Up For Yourself, the electrifying, rowdy City Lights, and the powerful Get You Off. Despite being strong standalone tracks, when listening to the album in one sitting, they do start to feel a little repetitive, and it would have been interesting to see the band experiment with their sound and push their boundaries a little further.
The softer, slower tracks on the record, Wake Me Up and Someone’s Asking, provide some respite from the controlled chaos of the livelier numbers. Wake Me Up, in particular, is a standout, with the wistful, yearning ballad intertwining a sustained drum beat with dreamy vocals and a gentle piano melody – it would be nice to see more of this on future releases.
Nonetheless, some of the strongest songs on the album come towards the end – the sanguine Modern Lovers laces layered, energetic harmonies into a summery soundscape, and the moody, brooding Devotion adds a sultry, seductive vibe to the record.
The project ends with the languid Lay Me Down, a slow, silky-soft groove which features intricate, skilful guitar riffs. Credit must also be given on this track, as with the others, for the production quality, with the entire album sounding glossy and cohesive.
Flowers, for a debut album, is a very impressive piece of work. It is repetitive at times, and it is evident that Pacific Avenue are still discovering their own sound, but that is to be expected – and they definitely have a promising future ahead of them.
