Preoccupations
by Preoccupations

Preoccupations is a callback to the post-punk era of the late 70's. The album does a decent job keeping itself from being a Joy Division copy by adding in some tempo changes and more industrial sounds, though you can still tell who their influences are. "Degraded" is easily the best song with its eerie into and drum dash into madness. The lyrics are a bit to doom and gloom, they come off as dark without any real emotional connection.

Of all the things that have been labeled "post-punk revival" since the turn of the century, this is the one that sounds the most like the original post-punk movement. Dark, slow, brooding and missing a lot of the dance element that's become commonplace in the revival movement, this album wouldn't sound out of place at CBGB. That being said, they don't sound like a particularly remarkable band of that era, more like a Josef K or something. Cool to hear that people are still making music with that sound, but because it's missing a unique identity or innovative element, it has more alike with the first movement in sound than it does in spirit.

The continuing adventures of Viet Cont, newly christened as Preoccupations. I thought their last album was tough and polarizing. I can see how many wouldn't get it, but I really fell for it. This follow-up seems more dreary and a little less focused, but still enjoyable. Recommended.

From SaulCortes1992 09/21/2016 02:51 | #175463

what a dissapointed :c

From johnner 09/17/2016 22:23 | #175245

After the relatively straightforward sound of Viet Cong Preoccupations is a return to the labyrinthine post-punk of their Cassette mini-album. On most tracks the band refuse to settle on one style before swiftly moving on without making much of an impression.
It's also an atypical sophomore album displaying a newly hardened attitude that is unique to the band which can tend to be more claustrophobic and gothic than previous releases. It's interesting but sadly the band are simply trying too hard.

From Komorebi-D 09/16/2016 06:01 | #175085

Now I had mixed feeling's about 2015's Viet Cong, so walking into this one I wasn't entirely that excited. However I actually enjoyed this a little more. I don't whether they've matured their process but there are more elements in this one (as opposed to the former) that they are more upfront about with less effects. And then of course, there's the other tracks that play to the opposite, being more drenched in effects. First half is probably better but don't be too quick to degrade the second half.

Oh and did any one pick up on a more stadium-rock vibe toward the middle?

From Mattdup279 09/11/2016 17:12 | #174765

Viet Cong was a great yet flawed album, so I was pretty excited and hopeful for this one. While I loved Anxiety, for the most part this album is just too boring for me.

From HoldenM 09/02/2016 21:28 | #174133

Wouldn't it be great if the band just kept changing their name, releasing a new self-titled album every time? That'd be neat.