Painted Palms - Forever

(2014) Polyvinyl

Rating: 3

Review Summery: Elevator music for the soulless.




Let us start with the positives, shall we? It is a generally consistent album, and, erm, that's about it. The problem here is that, although consistent, it is consistently rather forgettable. The tone of the album is very much a constant trudging drone that is reminiscent of elevator music. While not necessarily offensive, the continuation of it turns it into a musical onslaught. Never exciting enough to draw one's attention, never varied enough to peak an interest. 'Forever' is an apt title, as an album of relatively short songs, it certainly does not seem that way. It is an album that seems lacking of a spark, a lack of emotion. Even melancholia comes from the heart. 'Forever' seems void of human involvement. A production line of songs destined to divert one's attention elsewhere. One waits for something, anything, to happen but it simply does not. I waited. I pushed on through. My soul wanted it to take a step up and finally achieve something, but sadly no; the album ended and the elevator door opened.