When Glass animals appeared on the scene in 2012, they adopted a small, niche rock audience. Throughout the next two years, fans became familiar with the strange stylings of vocalist Dave Bayley, drummer Joe Seaward, guitarist Drew MacFarlane, and bassist Edmund Irwin-Singer. The foursome became notable for their genre defying sound and jungle inspired theme. With the pressure to create a masterpiece follow up living up to the standards of their debut Zaba, the band did a complete 180 and flipped their sound on its head. The result is their best work to date, How to Be a Human Being. As a longtime fan, I felt it was quite necessary to do a track by track review.
Life Itself
Opening track “Life Itself” was released in May as the lead single off the record. From the moment that sound floods in, it is clear that Glass Animals had become masters of their craft over the course of the last two years. This first song has a heavy bollywood style background, mixed with a jam-worthy rock chorus and fast paced instrumentals. The lyrics are of cheeky nature, telling the story of a man who just doesn’t quite fit in as an adult in society. Energetic and exciting, this song is the perfect representation of the refreshing new style of the band.
Youth
“Youth” is yet another single released off the album, a good choice for a follow up track as it is drastically different from its predecessor. Taking on a more serious theme of a mother forced to give up her son, this song is powerful and strong, but never depressing, as it uses a unique blend of stadium rock and the usual Glass Animals mystique. The rich, harmonic chorus is chilling, and is a stunning image of the capability of the band to work together in such a unified way. Lead singer Dave Bayley’s voice proves to be versatile, taking on a softer, sweeter tone to match the lyrics. Another key element to this song is the riff throughout it, which, according to the band, is actually an owl that Bayley turned into a synth, another look at the attention to detail put on the album.
Season 2 Episode 3
Surrealistic third track, aptly titled “Season 2 Episode 3” begins with dreamy doo-wop style harmonies, before a series of nintendo video game style synth effects kick in. Another smooth performance by Bayley, the strange and goofy lyrics are taken in stride. Glass Animals perfectly depicts that person we ALL know that rarely leaves their couch, binge watching the next season of their favorite show on Netflix. Be on the lookout for lyrics such as “My girl eats mayonnaise from a jar.” The pure optimism shows a great side of the band that has not been completely touched upon in earlier songs. This poppy, intriguing tune is one for the books.
Pork Soda
“Pork Soda” opens with a red herring background intro and then launches into a wild dance beat. Bayley’s vocals are notably deeper and harsher, reflecting a hip hop style that was originally teased at on earlier tracks (see “Hazey” off Zaba.) The long awaited sound is astoundingly fitting. Another fun chorus, Bayley delivers the line “pineapples are in my head” with a catchy falsetto. This is a standout track, notable for its deviance from typical rock bands.
Mama’s Gun
The intro to this darker tune is much more mysterious, quieter and more restrained than the previous tracks. Of all the songs on the album, this one most reflects the moodier, whispered vibe and sound of the first album. The low harmonies speak of a much more serious topic than the last few songs, touching on mental health. The buildup leads to a chilling chorus that is all but comforting. Looking closely, one will notice a sample of The Carpenters “Mr. Guder.” The depth of this song deserves attention, and demands a listen. The ability of the band to use their talent for sparking discussion is yet another reason that they are important in alt culture.
Cane Shuga
This strange song has the most experimental elements on the album. It introduces a character that is likely a successful business man with an unfortunate cocaine problem. The distorted, nonsensical chorus is a personal highlight, showcasing an element of EDM style sound mixing. Glass Animals uses every possible resource they have to make each song a unique experience, and this track will be especially interesting in how it will translate live.
[Premade Sandwiches]
Listeners are immediately thrown into a foreboding spoken word track, titled ‘[Premade Sandwiches].” This 35 second interlude is nothing to be looked over, as it is an effective critique of modern lifestyles, delivered quickly with a punch. I found this to be an exciting addition, as it further proves the intellectual strength of the band. Probably one of the riskiest moves taken, for those who give it a listen it is no doubt a standout. Glass Animals continues to be more than just rock music. I liken this track up to a 1997 “Fitter Happier” off of Radiohead’s OK Computer.
The Other Side of Paradise
Loud and relentless, “The Other Side of Paradise” comes in with a bang. This is by far one of the most exciting tracks on the album, full of odd harmonies and creative production that is overwhelming in the best way. Bayley’s vocals on the chorus are among the strongest on the album. The song gets wilder by the second, representing the madness that fame can drive someone to. The structural diversity of this track is pure genius, energetic and surprising, making it a fantastic listen.
Take a Slice
This song contains a strange opening interlude about sausages that is mostly unexplained, before catapulting into a rare electric guitar riff that is an overtly different style from the band’s usual instrumentation and production. This unexpected jam is another lyrically cheeky tune, and is unlike anything currently on alt radio. It is sultry and lusty, a performance by the band that is almost theatrical. The song eventually bursts into a release of energy, before vanishing.
Poplar St.
Penultimate song “Poplar St.” contains more of the guitar rock style of the previous track. Glass Animals tackles a sexy, classic sound that builds into the more characteristic madness. The guitar begins to change and distort into something much stranger than the opening riff, and the lyrics begin to darken. Bayley delivers the line “free fallin love addict” with his slickest, smoothest performance to date. The song’s final chorus is the climax of the album, leading to a faded exit into the album’s lightest song.
Agnes
This may be the most surprising track on the album. After an entire 40 minutes of strange (sometimes funny, sometimes serious) characters, this final song deals with the most emotionally moving one yet. The very poppy production feels non-characteristic, yet makes perfect sense. The lyrics are raw and real, mostly about depression and addiction. The vulnerability of this track is rare. In terms of sound, think current Maroon 5-ish. The punch that this finale packs is very disarming. Glass Animals ends their best work with the end all proof that they may be the most versatile rock band out there.
This band has always been about risks and strangeness and genre defiance, which is why this sudden sound change is so important. For those who had become familiar with the murky, darker sounds of their earlier work, this album is a shocker. Despite this, How to Be a Human Being is the culmination of a band becoming what they were always meant to be. This journey is unique, riddled with surprises- it is exactly what Glass Animals is all about, and there is no one who does it better.
