SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TIGERCUB – NETS TO CATCH THE WIND

TIGERCUB
NETS TO CATCH THE WIND
LOOSEGROOVE RECORDS

Alternative rock is a genre that has tons of history. Emerging from underground shoegaze and the uprising of grunge, alternative rock became mainstream around the 90s. Since then, the category has been a staple, and many bands are trying to use the sound of this genre to make it their own. One of these bands is Tigercub, a three-piece alternative rock band from Brighton, UK.

Tigercub’s newest album, Nets to Catch the Wind, opens with “Silver Smile,” a catchy yet melancholic tune that then leads into the first single track, “Fall In Fall Out.” This number in particular features a melody that pushes the performance of Jamie Stephen Hall’s vocal and guitar skills right to the front and centre, with the other instruments being somewhat featured as supporting characters in a way. Later in the tracklist, “My Paper Heart” shines as a highlight of the album, bringing powerful and distinct drumbeats from James Allix to pair beautifully with the riffs and vocals from Hall. This song showcases the band’s three-piece combination as it should be, with the bassline from Jimi Wheelwright also having its own moments to shine.

The song “Stuck In The Melancholy” feels like the black sheep of the album. The rhythm, while being unique in its own right, feels misplaced amongst the other songs on the tracklist. Another such track is “Cut the Eyes out of the Photographs,” which is noticeably bland and unoriginal in comparison to the remainder of the album. This song is also quieter than the other songs, and not in a way that sounds intentional.

Overall, this album leaves the listener with mixed feelings. The highlights of the album definitely come from Hall’s performances, however, this sometimes leaves the rest of the band in the background. While that may not be inherently a problem, it can feel like the drums and bass from Allix and Wheelwright respectively don’t get enough playtime to really shine. The middle of this album is definitely where the strongest of the songs lie, and the album itself is still something that would definitely be enjoyable to those that listen to alternative rock.

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