SUNDARA KARMA - BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME
Sundara Karma made a welcome return after a 4-year hiatus, bringing us their latest album, Better Luck Next Time. Get your Dr Martens and denim jackets out, 2015 is well and truly back. Although short, the album is undeniably sweet, featuring nine tracks and clocking in at a total of 31 minutes. With years in the music scene, the band has crafted their distinct sound, and this album perfectly captures it.
Better Luck Next Time features a mix of indie bops, energetic beats, impressive guitars, and amazing vocals. While some people see a recurring theme of youth and love in the album, it feels like the band are aiming to capture the vibe of their earlier EPs, I and II, more; the lack of a cohesive thread between the songs is what adds to its beauty, leaving space for interpretation and a sense of nostalgia.
Not every album needs a meaningful message, although those are great too. Sometimes, an album is just about having a good time with friends and dancing, and that's exactly the feeling to take away from this one.
'Baby Blue' and 'Friends of Mine' kick off the album, and what a way to introduce the album. These tracks bring an undeniable and incredible energy, perfectly echoing the band's earlier tunes. Despite delving into themes of unexpected love and friendship, the upbeat guitars and energetic vibe almost make you overlook the surprisingly deep lyrics as you sing along. This is a serious talent to have as a musician, so hats off to them.
After this track, 'Miss Again,' which is one of the album's singles, finds the band aiming to appeal to a more contemporary indie scene while still resonating with their loyal, longtime fans. This song was written in collaboration with Fred Macpherson, a member of the indie rock band Spector. The combined talent in the room is evident, making it a fantastic track. You can even catch a hint of that distinctive Spector style in the song. Bloody fantastic.
Personally, ‘Violence to the Spirit' stood out the most lyrically in this album. A standout verse being: “Keep ’em round but never let them know / Just how deep the trouble and your worries go / And I know that it’s depressing / Too far gone, too sickening to explain / Took a while just to realise / That there’s a thousand other reasons why / One of these days it’s really gonna be goodbye.” This verse not only showcases the band's songwriting talent, it also shows how they appeal to the masses as many can relate to the lyrics, even if they're too caught up in dancing to realise it.
Ending the album, the titular track ‘Better Luck Next Time’ really brings the album together. It almost sounds like a movie soundtrack, either a drama or action where the main protagonist is running away from someone, or something. Some may think that’s reaching/digging too deep but, either way it’s great, and is perfectly suited to be the last track of the album.
Emily Fletcher
★★★★☆