Unwed Sailor Cruel Entertainment Neon Pink Vinyl Edition

Neon Pink Vinyl. For their tenth LP in a career spanning more than two decades,Tulsa's Unwed Sailor deliver their heaviest riffs, loudestsqualls, and most deeply textured arrangements yet. CruelEntertainment is a catalogue of contrasts - dissonance andharmony, hardcore crunch and post-rock grandeur, complexityand catchiness - that adds a vibrant new dimension to thesecond phase of their discography, spanning thus far from2019's landmark Heavy Age up to the "vivid, starry-eyedpsychedelia" (AllMusic) of 2024's Underwater Over There.Opener and lead single, "Rock Candy", roars in with a gale offeedback, pounding drums, and nimble bass, until a latticeworkof howling guitars ushers us into a more goth-tinged space. It'sa characteristically intricate, energetic composition that flowswith remarkable ease between its parts, and wastes not amoment of its three minutes. "Monster Collecting" brings a rarecombination of melancholic and driving energy, reminiscent ofavowed heroes New Order, but ups the ante with a tight, fastpacedrhythm section and litany of guitar lines, until opening upinto a cascade of reverberating textures and tenuoussweetness.According to Ford, the title Cruel Entertainment refers to "thehardships of being an artist and musician in the crowded,imbalanced world of social media and streaming," where thecompletion of a new work demands that the creator also be apromoter, content strategist, and agent, among many otherintensifying challenges. Pointedly drawing inspiration fromnoisier, rowdier bands - including Fugazi, Quicksand, andCherubs - here they seek a much-needed catharsis in theongoing fight to keep the creative soul intact.Second side standout, "Monty Donahue", typifies this form ofrelease, as massive, mid-tempo percussion leads a fluid lowend theme - inspired by the dual bass assault of Dianogah -and Swatzell's chords burst into shimmering nebulas across alabyrinthine arrangement that's equally loud and beautiful. Titletrack...