To: Dave
Love: Adam
Date Sent: 10/16/2020
Glass Animals – Dreamland
Release Date: August 7th, 2020
Keeping with the trend of albums on repeat for months, this work of art has maintained a stranglehold on my “recent plays/heavy rotation” on Spotify. I believe we have shared a song or two of theirs on ADAMANIACS, but in all honesty, I am uncertain of your interest in this group. They are known for unflattering song titles/lyrics, i.e., Pork Soda or “my girl eats mayonnaise from a jar while she’s getting blazed;” which right there seems like enough to pull a hard pass. Nonetheless, in time, this album will deliver, much like their previous projects.
Dave Bayley, the lead singer of Glass Animals, has recently appeared on Youtube and late night performances, especially with his British mate James Corden. Please, please do not jump right into the 2020 “live” versions of this album’s tracks. They are incredibly different without the band and beats that it is almost painful to listen. While some of these performances do showcase Bayley’s and the group’s talents, they are stripped fragments of what truly is and what has made me return time and time again to this album.
Maintaining their unique approach to dominating top 100 charts and mainstream music, the music on this album speaks for itself. I cannot find more than one song (Melon and the Coconut) that flat out deserves to be put to rest faster than Kyle Wright in Game 3. With each and every listen, it has grown apparent that this album is a comprehensive story that really illuminates Dave Bayley’s creative genius and ability to crash the music scene in the most nontraditional regard. It is not until the very end of the album where my appreciation finally takes form, with back-to-back hits wrapping up the listening experience: Domestic Bliss & Heat Waves.
One song that really caught my ear early on was Tokyo Drifting, due to its feature of Denzel Curry and its integration of Street Fighter sound effects. Denzel Curry is a rising rapper who was brought to my attention by one of my AP students last spring. While the verdict is still out on him, this collaboration again highlights the versatility and distinctiveness of Glass Animals. With each listen, please appreciate the time and back-and-forth it must have required to produce such a song in the middle of the album.
Other notable jams include Tangerine, Your Love, and Helium as a sneaky close to the project. Give it a listen during a workout or Astros/Rays Game 6 and let me know your thoughts!