Cloud Nothings – Turning On
Cloud Nothings - Turning On
Turning On is the first full-length album from the Cleveland- based lo-fi band Cloud Nothings. The band is a project of 18-year-old Dylan Baldi, and obtained a lot of blog buzz even though they just played their first live show in December. The music on the album is disorganized and off beat, nonetheless it’s very catchy. The singing is stifled in the majority of the songs but it works for the album due to the substandard production.
On the opening track “Can’t Stay Awake” the guitars are high-speed and chaotic, yet there is a charm to the lyrics that gives you a sentiment that beneath the pounding drums and squealing guitars there is a great pop song; Baldi seems to be longing for recognition from a girl, when he sings “I need my picture in a magazine/so I know that you will talk to me”. “Old Street” is infectious with a more noticeable bass line that creates a very danceable beat. Cloud Nothings exudes indifference on Turning on, however the songs are not dark, they are animated lo-fi guitar rock tunes that makes me think of fun summer days and hanging out with friends. Upon listening to the first two tracks, it might appear that the youngsters don’t know how to play their instruments due to the inadequacy on the songs, but I feel is a result of eagerness to rock out and have fun on their part that is the cause for the slip-ups, thus making the band more appealing and sincere.
“You are Opening” starts out with a steady drum and bass beat that then leads to a funky guitar riff that is remarkable. The titled track “Turning On” is poppy and the vocals on this song sound much more lucid than the other tracks on the album, the song flows very nicely ending with high-spirited singing that indicates how much fun the boys were having while recording. “Hey Cool Kid” instantly catches your attention with its hooks, the lyrics are amusing and a bit sarcastic “oh you’re such a cool kid, turn your head around” maybe the song is an accusation against “cool kids”? Maybe it’s not; at any rate the song is undeniably brilliant. “Water Turns Back” is a bit more subdued than the rest of the album generating sort of an interlude before it picks up again with “Whaddya Wanna Know” a song that is exceptionally bubbly and stays embedded in your head after listening to it. “Real Thing” is extremely fuzzy, possibly making it the worst quality song on the album. The Album ends with “Strummin” a bonus track that is fitting to end the record. the guitars are passive and so is the singing, midway through the song the music stops hastily and Baldi sings “my baby is been gone for fourteen years/the last time I saw her, she was wearing only tears” giving the song a more melancholic feel .
Turning on is not a ground-breaking album, but it’s certainly a lot of fun. I could compare the album to caffeine, it’s addictive, and it gives you a jolt of energy when you’re perhaps feeling drained. Cloud Nothings are a band to watch; Baldi and company deserve credit for creating such light-hearted and enjoyable music.
