The perfect soundtrack for a coming-of-age Indie Movie

Modern Hut has released their sophomore album I Don’t Want To Get Adjusted To This World, taking inventory of life from a calm yet aloof lens. Founder of Don Giovanni Records Joe Steinhardt collaborated with Screaming Females’ Marissa Paternoster to create the short yet dynamic eight-track album. The two placed heavy emphasis on the songwriting aspect of the album, resulting in a thought-provoking tracklist reminiscent of spoken-word poetry.

The most distinguishing feature of the album is certainly Steinhardt and Paternoster’s distinct vocal delivery. Reminiscent of the Front Bottoms, Steinhardt’s voice accesses a captivating depth, reaching so low at times it can be difficult to hear his voice at all, showcased in the first track “In Amongst The Millions.” Paternoster’s lofty wails act as acid cutting through Steinhardt’s heavier vocal delivery, and in “Broken Teeth,” the imperfect harmonies the two create add an enigmatic undertone to the relatively tranquil album.

Though the lyricism present on the album is certainly the star of the show, Modern Hut’s vocal presence allows that star to truly shine. For instance, “Proof And Prime” solely features Steinhardt’s vocals and an acoustic guitar, yet still ensnare the listener’s interest as he sings “Some people grow apart and some people die/ And some people retreat to the backs of their minds/ Just to survive ’til the day they can diе/ ‘Cause surely they’ll diе.” Steinhardt’s gentle vocal delivery is quite masterful, as the morbid lyrics become more poetic and digestible, shrouded in a calm voice. This is significant as the majority of the album explores more depressing avenues of thought, staying true to the title I Don’t Want To Get Adjusted To This World. In the final track on the album, the title track, Paternoster and Steinhardt sing “I’ve got a home that’s so much better/ I’m gonna go there sooner or later/ And I don’t want to get adjusted to this world,” encapsulating the dominant sentiment the album explores.

The instrumentation on the album seemingly reflects the sentimentality behind its creation, with only a few elements present in each song. The minimal use of instruments pulls focus to the lyrics of the album, yet the tracklist still remains fresh with its creative implementation. For instance, the soft strum of the acoustic guitar combined with the soft clash of a cymbal in “Ask The Dust” creates a whispered sultry feeling, inviting more mystery into the album. “The Battle Cry Of Freedom” features the acoustic guitar alone, allowing space for more intricate technical skill to be showcased. The most energetic of all is likely “Silly And Self-Destructive,” which features an electric guitar interspersed through the typical mellow acoustic guitar, allowing for more ebb and flow of excitement within the listener.

Overall, Modern Hut’s I Don’t Want To Get Adjusted To This World is clearly crafted with purpose and artistry. Seemingly, the band subscribed to the “less is more” philosophy, which certainly worked in their favor as it ensured the lyrical craft wasn’t overshadowed. Although the tracklist may be short, it allowed for an album free of repetition, culminating in the stellar quality of I Don’t Want To Get Adjusted To This World.