Broke Royals – Campr
Returning for buffaBLOG to review are Washington D.C.’s Broke Royals – click here to see Nick Sessanna’s take on their single, “The Weather.” Campr, the album containing said single, is Broke Royals latest release. The album is stunningly calculated, referencing themes of restraint, emotional intelligibility, turbulent friendships, and self-empowerment.
Album opener “Better Off” is a lovely introduction to BR. Clean and airy guitars, breathy vocals, and tight drums power this one forward, culminating in a mid-song crescendo that makes use of crunchy guitars. They perfectly segue into title track, “Campr,” in a way that blasts in seamlessly from the opener. The singer laments, “I choose my words carefully / Look where that’s gotten me.” The music itself is tinged with yearning guitar licks that touch ever-so-slightly into Midwest emo territory, alongside wild, impressive percussion. “Campr” achieves depth within the mix with its soothing, string-like synth pads. Halfway through, the band completely lets loose, emitting a refreshing heaviness.
“Carriage” coos with a delightful acoustic guitar. The drums and bass are perfectly locked in, with huge toms aiding in the surefire groove. The combined simplicity of the instrumentals and lyrics like, “Don’t wait for me…” demonstrates the band’s songwriting talent, as the lack of noise actually buttresses the song’s poignancy. What’s more, across Campr, it feels like the bandmembers are on a whole other level of “connection,” working with each other to create something so immersive. The shared singing duties here are a palpable strength, keeping the album feeling fresh and showing off a true, undeniable camaraderie.
The song “Home” is slow, meaningful, and spacious. The song contains a certain crispness that Broke Royals seem to have mastered. The bassline is creative and interesting, something that is true across the entire album. “Home” sees Broke Royals successfully attempt a quiet versus loud soundscape. Distance from the self and a safe space are lyrically apparent. There is so much here to dive into, but make sure you make it to album closer “Waited So Long,” too. The ultra-intimate vibes here are immaculate, and it sums up this otherwise lush and inviting album perfectly.
Broke Royals’ release, Campr, is a wonderful listen with potent and respectable highs and lows. This smart, well-rounded album, FFO Slowdive, Silversun Pickups, and Cocteau Twins, can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.
Categorised in: Album Reviews
This post was written by Jake Sessanna