The Yum Yum Tree explore doubt, vulnerability and responsibility on their self-reflective new album Turn Down the Noise
Channelling the spirit of ’90s college radio rock with a catchy and infectious charm and vibrant, emotional depth, The Yum Yum Tree are a band that hark back to a time where music was more straight-forward and simple in the best way, putting emotion and heart before bells and whistles and crafting immersive songs in the process. Their new album Turn Down The Noise is the latest showcase of their guitar-driven sound and their indelible appeal, and offers a lot of reasons to immerse yourself in their style.
The album opens with its title track ‘Turn Down The Noise’, a fun indie pop bop that explores the importance of tuning out all of the distraction and negativity in the world in order to focus on yourself and the things that really matter. It’s whirring synths and thoughtful melodies make for a care-free and charming listening experience that immediately demonstrates the appeal of the album as a whole.
There is a really laid-back and alluring feel to ‘Shine’, a track that sees singer and primary songwriter Andy Gish delivering some of her typically matter-of-fact observations on life, her fears, and her wish for the people around her to prosper and do well. There is an almost surfy feel to the soothing rhythms and the uplifting nature of the sound, and it makes for an easy track to just lose yourself within thanks to its rousing appeal.
The more propulsive ‘Follow You Anywhere’ follows, a track that centres around themes like ambition and carving out your own destiny with a vibrant and energetic sound to match. The riffs here feel sharp and dynamic while the sound as a whole has the kind of sense of urgency that feels sure to kick you out of the hazy lull brought along the track that came before it.
‘Weak At The Knees’ is an atmospheric slow-burn of a track that does a masterful job of creating a sense of tension and intrigue as it builds towards a dramatic conclusion, allowing Andy to show off her formidable vocal talents as the vulnerable track reaches its cathartic climax, while ‘My Corner’ has a more straight-forward approach to its punky and catchy appeal that makes for an engrossing and gripping listen.
‘Pretty Dress’ is a rousing track that again builds and develops gradually over time to make for an ambitious sonic journey that has some really memorable moments and instrumentation, and the nostalgic ‘Porchlight’ is a track full of sparkling alternative rock riffs that are packed full of life and set a steady pace for a head-bobbing and catchy good time that is characerised by its memorable choruses and singalong appeal.
An inviting bass hook sets the tone for the weary ‘Operator’, a track that sees the trio leaning into more vulnerable territory using the metaphor of a heart that is spilling out and making messes everywhere to represent the wide range of overwhelming emotions that they are feeling, again punctuated by a chorus that still feels catchy and inviting despite its more brooding and melancholy subject matter.
This sense of moodiness follows its way through into ‘Lion’s Heart’, a track that has moves at a deliberate pace and has a quietly anthemic and powerful feel to it, its pounding drums doing a great job of setting the tone and making for a listening experience that builds to a chorus that feels like a real outpouring emotion, with or without lyrics.
The album closes with ‘What We Don’t Talk About’, a track that feels like a really fitting and powerful way to end the album, addressing a lot of its themes and the journey of the album in the candid and matter-of-fact fashion that the band do so well. The album does a great job of reminding us how important it is to embrace all facets of our life, not just the good, and not allow any external sources from distract us from how we really feel and how we need to process it. The final track feels like a really great way to solidify that point, and it makes for a reflective and poignant way to end an album that is packed full of so many introspective and resonating ideas.
