Spookyland’s Beauty Already Beautiful has a really great title, really rhythmic guitar, and jangly patterns. Plus it has an interesting approach to alternative rock, and amazing social commentary. Additionally Beauty Already Beautiful is approachable and rocks as much as any live show that one goes to.
Beauty rollicks the way alt-folk does, but with much louder guitars and a lot of serenade emphasis. In “Can’t Own You”, “God’s Eyes”, and “Big Head”, Spookyland goes all out and plays some very nice alt-rock with some degree of wild singing and an almost Japan rock feel. While, on the other hand, “Bulimic” is differently a din of both metal and soft rock. “Rebellion”, “Prophet“, “Turn”, and “Discipline” all play some piano melodic drama out. “Nowhereland” perhaps is the pick of the bunch, in that it is really, really, emotional.
Very much like Pavement’s Slanted and Enchanted or Built to Spill, and almost equally good. With the studio polish and alt-rock suburban rebellious attitude in Beauty Already Beautiful, this is a good addition and maybe a breakout release for a relatively unknown band. This record is a worthwhile listen for anyone interested in alt-rock and anyone in need of decent music from a band who are probably a new listen.
