Antarctigo Vespucci - Soulmate Stuff (ALBUM REVIEW)

* 8.2 *

       Antarctigo Vespucci is a band that plays their music with genuine authenticity. The fuzzy pop band is fronted by Fake Problems singer vocalist Chris Farren with most of the instrumentals done by New York native Jeff Rosenstock. The two (shown in this picture) are best friends who decided to make music together. And judging by this record they had a lot of fun making it with such bro-bonding songs like 'Sometimes'. 'Sometimes' proves to be a more mature way of approaching pop music with a changing musical backdrops which cascades with lush synth sounds one moments only to be beaten down in a wall of fuzz moments later. Jeff Rosenstock creates the instrumentals in a sort of way where nothing seems to be repeating itself adding dynamic components to a most of the songs on this album.
       The duo have a sort of slacker attitude when it comes to this album, the mixes aren't very good and having a lo-fi vibe isn't always necessary, but it's just comes with such sincerity. The vocals don't need to be fine tuned in a studio for you to believe the authenticity Chris Farren has while he bawls on the chorus of 'Don't Die in Yr Hometown.' The album opener '100 Years' is a fragile song with Chris proclaiming his admiration (at this point I wouldn't be surprised it if is Jeff) to some unknown lover. The song is revisited in the sequel: '100 Years Part 2: 200 Years' which features the same melody as the prequel but only to be distorted only the way a shitty laptop microphone with too much gain can.
       The only single (was it even that?) from this album is a fuzzed out power pop song called 'I'm Giving Up On U2. Both this song and 'Don't Die in Yr Hometown' use and abuse the quiet to loud dynamic trick with 'I'm Giving Up on U2's chorus being filled with guitar feedback. All the fuzz is brought back in the album closer 'Bang!' which builds to a slow paced chugging of power chords with Chris's pliable voice lying overtop. The song gives off a content vibe to the band's whole aesthetic, two friends playing loud, catchy, fuzz pop.