“Hole IN MY HEAD” BY LAURA JANE GRACE: ABLUM REVIEW
Laura Jane Grace is back with her highly anticipated album, Hole In My Head. Along with her solo music, Laura is the front person for rock band Against Me!, which she founded in 1997. Hole In My Head is an 11-track album, with a warm sound, and 50’s infused tones.
The album starts with the title track, “Hole In My Head”, which is a punchy, energetic kick off to this project. It’s a short song, coming in at under two minutes, but the energy that is packed into this one minute provides just what the song needs. As someone who is typically partial to the title track of an album, this one is no exception. Track two is titled “I’m Not A Cop”, and I was only three seconds in upon realizing it was going to be hard to narrow down a favorite song on this project. The opening guitar riff is what caught my ear initially, and I love how it is carried throughout the entire track. There is a chit-chatty portion that Grace does a great job at infusing seamlessly into the song. The raw, echoey sound of her voice adds another layer of angst that is just what this song needed.
Next, “Dysphoria Hoodie” is a song that is an acoustic piece, tapping into a singer-songwriter feel. I love how this song follows “I’m Not A Cop”, displaying not only a bigger story when considering the storytelling aspect of an album, but genre-wise, this showcases Laura Jane Grace’s versatility as an artist. Track four, “Birds Talk Too”, taps into a nostalgic feeling I can only describe as the opening scene of a coming-of-age movie. Again, we’re switching to more of a rock-infusion here, with heavier instrumentals and vocals overall. This is another track that is on the shorter side, but it just works. Up next, “Punk Rock In Basements” begins with another catchy riff, and playful vocals and great harmonies that I really enjoy. This song is a recollection of something that once was, and the tone and melodies reflect that feeling of nostalgia exceptionally. Lyric-wise, this song is definitely a stand out for me.
Track six is titled “Cuffing Season”, and the acoustic feel combined with a strong, raw vocal balance each other out so well. My first thought upon hearing the guitar riff at the start was that it felt like classic Sixpence None The Richer— which is a personal favorite, and when the vocals came in I was blown away at how the song just transformed. The next song, “Tacos & Toast” slows down the album a bit, and has a very poetic feel to it. The lyrics are simple, yet metaphoric, and create a story in itself. I love that the title “Tacos & Toast” seems personal, and gives us a small tidbit into Jane, but can also be related to as a listener, which I think is something that is important to take into account when making music.
“Mercenary” is the eighth track on Hole In My Head, and this song stuck out to me production wise. There are great harmonies in here, and the mixing of these in tandem with the melody just could not work better. Along with production, her vocals in this song are on another level. It’s emotional, and that can be felt just by listening to it once-over. After my second or third listen, I felt the anger, sadness, and elation all in one. Track nine, “Keep Your Wheels Straight”, is the longest song on the album at two minutes and 38 seconds. This is definitely in my top three on the album. There is something almost folky about it, with a consistent guitar riff that has a melancholic feel to it. The chorus is my favorite part, it has a simple message, and the vocal delivery here transcends it.
The penultimate track, “Hard Feelings” has a quicker tempo, but a very raw and real feel to it. I particularly like how it is a song about things that everyone feels and experiences throughout life, and is being sung to her mother in a way. There is something comforting and assuring about that sentiment. Last but not least, “Give Up The Ghost” is our final closing track. We’re slowing down here in a way that feels like a goodbye, but also the notion that lets us know she will be back and this is just the beginning. It is, in my opinion, the perfect way to finish this album.
Hole In My Head by Laura Jane Grace is available for streaming on all platforms now!
