Album Review: This Is Our Vice

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You may or may not be aware of it – but ever since the phenomenon that is Lorde took over the world, overseas eyes have been on New Zealand and Australia waiting for the next of her ilk to arise. 

Now, I’m not one to attempt to name ‘the next big thing’, but if the Pop revolution is finally on the way and Brisbane-based Cub Sport is not leading the charge, someone has messed up.

This Is Our Vice opens with the brooding synth and collective vocals of Sun, an interesting opener that steps up in tempo, but maintains brevity through the contrast of the almost off-handily dark lyrics and easily sets the pace for the rest of the album. I Can’t Save You follows on with one of the catchiest intro riffs I’ve heard in a while (Reminiscent of The 1975), before breaking into a super catchy, killer chorus.

Next up, It Kills Me was written by lead singer, Tim Nelson, for a friend who started working in the sex industry. The bass line is amazing by itself, funky and driving, but there is a sort of gritty aspect brought by the under layered synth and whispered vocals, making this one of my favourite songs of the collection.

The album’s first single Come On Mess Me Up is in good company – there is no loose end to this collection and in fact, an almost tedious kind of care is obvious in the construction of each piece (reflective of both HAIM and The Naked and Famous’ first albums).

Each song is so meticulously pieced together, like someone fine-tooth combed out any unnecessaries and carefully managed to keep both the tone and encompassing feeling free of that over-commercialised, too-slick vibe (a feat in itself).

This Is Our Vice is what Pop music should be.