The Growlers Mature on their 'Natural Affair' Stepping Stone
by Simone Tranfaglia
Natural Affairs, the latest album from Dana Point band The Growlers, is their most poised release yet. Listening through their sixth album imminently conjures an image of sitting in the ‘70s style drab living room, sipping a cocktail in full drag makeup. At a glance, the “Saturday Night Fever”-esque sparkling header screams ‘80s nostalgia. Mixed with the LA suburb living room setting and children, it perfectly exemplifies the bands’ current sound, along with the intent of this album.
Right off the bat, “Natural Affairs” releases distorted guitars and wailing synths, combined with lead singer Brook Nielsen's signature soulful-yet gritty vocals. Making it known that the Growlers can always add a refreshing layer to their late-night dance vamp persona. The tuneful, hip-swaying twang carries out through the entirety of the album, leading to many of the songs running into one another. However, this doesn’t take away from the album’s overall sound, which displays a more professional production than any previous albums. Needless to say, the album doesn’t take itself too seriously with its playful disco-rock sound keeping it fresh by adding a pinch of funk to the mix.
“Try Hard Fool” is a notably tender moment. Nielson takes listeners on a walk through his mind, saying “oh! I’m raising a child.” He reveals a consistent self-reminder to remain grounded in his family. Exposing the raw and unanticipated feelings behind parenthood. We bear this when he sings, “It’s just a game though you ain’t no child/you gotta laugh every once in a while/We’re only growing old.” Nielsen dedicates many of the songs to his wife and family. This album is his response to watching his children grow up as he reflects on growing older, and you can hear it. The whole project is written from the perspective of a person who grew up in the ‘80s, feeling nostalgic while watching parallels within his child. A paradox in time with the ‘80s dance essence mixed with their indie-rock ambiance. Perhaps, Natural Affairs is the product of what happens when rock-n-roll moves to the suburbs.
This album is a stepping stone for the band’s progression; setting the tone for what to expect in the future. It presents a much needed cleanse and refreshing take on the merge of pop and garage rock, compared to their previous attempt in their 2016 album City Club. Where they fell victim to sonics that overshadowed the lyrics when trying to add disco-pop to their already gnarled sound. However, this album is well balanced between poppy funk and their old-school twang they keep consistent throughout their music. This album in its entirety is all about maturity, from the musical composition to settling down in the suburbs and becoming parents; it’s all Natural Affairs.