The Daily Spin, March 15
Totorro | Home Alone
Welcome back to the Daily Spin, the series in which I review 365 albums during 2023.
Each album will be given a rating on a scale from 0 to 10. You can look at the entire set here. Additionally, you can check out a list of my favorite song from each album right here.
If you want to suggest an album, good news! You can do so right here!
Album: Home Alone (2014)
Artist: Totorro
Link:
With Home Alone, Totorro braves the unknown and comes back with a math rock album full of deceptively happy instrumentals that build into thumping, spiraling, bombastic tunes. It’s weird, but the good sort of weird. If this were an 80s movie, this would be the girl that gets the makeover and becomes the bombshell she always was under [insert negative stereotype of choice].
It doesn’t always hit. Some of the guitarwork definitely feels almost like a chore, ceaselessly noisy without much reason to be that way - but other times, it feels artisanal. The middle of the album, particularly, has the seasoned feel of a veteran band around it, guitars worked to perfection without being overbearing.
Much of this is personal preference, but the band shines at its best when they aren’t afraid to pare things down - and unfortunately, that doesn’t happen often enough on this record. When it does, this album transforms into something incredible, a shining example of what math rock should be.
Rating: 7.6/10
Best Tracks: Motte-Rock; Osao San
Worst Tracks: Chevalier Bulltoe