Lookers Deeper LP
Sounding like if PJ HARVEY smoothed out all her edges, LOOKERS offer up ten tracks of self-described “dark pop” that don’t seem to firmly plant roots in the listener’s brain. The words “pleasant enough” come to mind over and over as the album moves along, but these tracks feel like they want to feel more confrontational—again, the sleekness unfortunately dampens the fervor. This isn’t to say this album is a total drag, but it just feels like there is a discrepancy between what is trying to be conveyed and what the end result becomes. The vocals can be interesting when they go unexpectedly minor-key or intentionally flatter than you were expecting, which keeps the interest piqued a bit, but they can also do the opposite, like when certain words are just repeated too many times that don’t really have any gravitas, which happens more than a few times throughout (including right from the jump with the words “TV dinner” repeated seemingly ad nauseum). Needed more raucousness, less innocuousness.