A strong start with room for self-reflective improvement.
The new album Ageless, by Blue Monkey, is a deep dive into nostalgia, change and emotional growing pains. With lush, cinematic arrangements and descriptive lyrics, the album invites listeners to revisit their own coming-of-age moments in both longing and personal reflection.
The album begins with the title track “Ageless,” opening with layered electric guitars and the anxieties of growing up. The refrain, “We could be ageless / And figure out a way to be unconscious,” becomes the thesis statement of the project, setting the tone for the vulnerability and reflection that takes place in the following tracks.
Blue Monkey crafts a guitar-driven indie folk sound, occasionally accented by banjo. The instrumentation is rich and well-produced, especially in tracks like “Memories on the Bleachers,” a sparse acoustic nod to high school memories and “The Earthquake That Shook California,” which leans into old-school country elements to explore the fallout of painful honesty.
Beyond its sonic beauty, Ageless struggles lyrically. Many of the songs on the record read like journal entries instead of composed lyrics, with phrasing that disregards traditional rhyme, rhythm or song form altogether. On songs like “Everything You Do Is Meant for You,” what’s meant as earnest advice falls flat and gets lost in the overuse of similes. Even promising concepts like “Dive Bar Christmas,” which explores the concept of chosen family, get dragged down by repetitive loops and extended outros.
Despite these issues, there are sparks of a bold personality that cut through. “Young in Hollywood,” has playful lyrics like “I just wanna wear bright colors and create shit at my leisure / I wanna wear scarves on my head.” It’s a refreshing closing track that reflects on the lead singer’s younger years in the big city and reminds the listener that she isn’t taking herself too seriously.
This is a record with heart – a clear artistic voice that feels authentic and unapologetic. The stream-of-consciousness writing style is compelling in small doses and does break for hooks but it ultimately starts to obscure the song form. While the project feels slightly long and self-indulgent, the vulnerability shared through storytelling brings it full circle. Ageless is just the beginning for Blue Monkey and with their expertise in production and arranging alongside personal lyrics, they will only continue to evolve as an artist.
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