MAGNOLIA PARK - HALLOWEEN MIXTAPE II
Magnolia Park, a beloved band hailing from the sunny state of Florida, has captivated audiences with their refreshing sound and heartfelt lyrics. Formed in 2017, the band showcases a unique blend of indie rock and pop, drawing inspiration from their coastal surroundings. Composed of lead vocalist Joshua Roberts, guitarists Tristian Torres and Freddie Criales, keyboardist Vincent Ernst and drummer Joe Horsham, Magnolia Park has quickly gained a loyal following with their infectious melodies and dynamic stage presence. Their debut album, Sunset Serenade, released in 2019, garnered widespread acclaim and solidified their place in Florida's vibrant music scene. With their honest storytelling and undeniable chemistry, Magnolia Park continues to shine, leaving a lasting impact on listeners.
The album opens with ‘The End: Emo Nite Rhapsody’ which begins with a soft tune speaking of feeling lost and giving up, not caring anymore. This continues for a moment until the track switches up and we are met with high energy providing somewhat of a welcome for the album that’s soon to come. The track does have somewhat of a nostalgic feel to it, feeling the tracks of our earlier years within the notes.
‘Antidote’ touches on feeling like falling in an endless cycle, needing something to pull you out. The feeling of constant drowning can become overbearing, and this track does a perfect job at encapsulating that, sharing high energy with the softer tones of the verses to help show reflection on how the things happening are affecting the writer.
Featuring Nothing,Nowhere, ‘Breathing’ touches on feeling alone in the things life throws. Feeling like things keep coming and coming and the world is crashing and ending around you. It touches on reaching out for help but feeling nobody there, disconnected from the rest of the world. The choice of Nothing,Nowhere being on this track helps push the theme even further, allowing their vocals to perfectly work together.
‘Candles’ shows more of a spooky side with the instrumentals while showing the feeling of rising up above the things troubling you in the past and breaking free from it. The track shows that while it can be hard, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and to keep on fighting to reach the end, using candles as a metaphor saying “don’t let the candles go out” seeing candles can be a metaphor for the persistence one feels.
‘Life in the USA’ features rocker TX2 and shares the struggles of the current country we live in where people would rather protect their guns than their children. The track shows how the “American Dream” has turned into just working until you’re dead while before we were born, people were able to actually lead a life, own a home, have healthcare, etc. while our generation can’t afford basic needs and told we’re “lazy”.
In all, this album shares amazing themes of feeling stuck and wanting to get out, then finally finding an out. The feeling of being stuck in a constant loop where things just seem to fall back can be one people all over can resonate, and it seems Magnolia Park explains this feeling perfectly while sharing lyrics that are easily stuck in listeners heads and instrumentals that are easy to move to.
Niki Davidson
★★★★☆