"Mercurial World - Magdalena Bay" Best Pop Album of the Last 5 Years?

 

       While I do exaggerate about everything, I must admit, Mercurial World by Magdalena might be peak music. It quite literally almost never misses, and there are so many hits it's almost like a new song connects with your brain each week. As an avid listener of pop music, and a big fan of synth pop, I had high expectations for this album, and it practically hit every single criterion I threw at it. Uber catchy and replayable? I'm literally going to see the in concert soon it's that good. An actual cohesive album? It most definitely does not sound like a bunch of songs just slapped together on a tracklist. Great variety? you have it too. When I say this album might be one of the best pop albums I've listened to, I'm not exaggerating, it's even better than Future Nostalgia which is one of my personal favourite pop projects of the past couple years. So without further ado, my track-by-track review of Mercurial World by Magdalena Bay.

Mercurial World - Magdalena Bay

The End - N/A Sadly not my favourite song named The End, that still goes to The End by My Chemical Romance, also this song really isn't that long it's all spoken word.

Mercurial World - 75/100 While certainly not the best song off of the album, I feel as if this track is a good table setter for what's to come, it begins to lather you in synths as the transitions between the chorus and verse sound like something that you'd hear in a movie after entering hyperspace.

Dawning of the Season - 85/100 This song is so seriously groovy I just love the chorus it feels so sensual like hips moving side to side I can't resist singing it every time it shows up. Once again the production and melodies remain elite on this song not to mention the wonderful transitions that are present on like every song on the album. While the concepts in this album are loose I do like the air of mystery they give to this album, they're not so nonsensical that they take you out of it but they're just match the vibe the songs give. Also the key change in this song is well done and not jarring, something that is a big problem when songs try and go higher.

Secrets (Your Fire) - 98/100 Kind of easily one of the best songs off of the album, the way the line "Secrets I don't wanna tell you everything" just hits all of the right notes I love the way it's delivered. When I say I dance to practically every single song on this album I really do mean it man this song is 4 minutes long but it hardly feels like it. It has so many passages and is so ridiculously catchy it's like an ear worm whenever my ear catches even a whiff of it. Also while the saxophone solo at the end is needed it is still very much appreciated.

You Lose! - 100/100 This track feels surprisingly simple to the rest of the album but it might be my favourite track on this album it's infectious and noisy and I feel like I could listen to it for hours on end. It's so noisy and I'm like 90% confident you could pretty easily turn this into a pop-punk song and it'd translate incredibly well. The song's so loud but also lush I just want to scream the chorus at the top of my lungs everything from the verse to the pre-chorus is perfect the song is also optimal pop song length. What's not to like?

Something for 2 - 78/100 Probably my only complaint with this album is that the second half feels a decent bit weaker than the first half and it is in general much more lowkey compared to the loud, bright, danceable tracks. It does indeed stay solid and some of these tracks still make me smile though, don't get it twisted.

Chaeri - 80/100 I'd definitely say this is one of the songs on this album that took some time to grow on me. I think the lyrics to the song really are what cinched it for me though. I'd like to once again reiterate that the transitions in this album remain elite.

Halfway - 65/100 Cool instrumental but the truth is I never revisit this song unless I'm listening to the album. Otherwise I don't really see much of a point to it other than being sort of a cleanser for what's to come.

Hysterical Us - 82/100 I love the piano in this song another example of how even though the second half of this album is generally much more lowkey it's still pretty solid. Would I say it has more danceable tracks than an album like Future Nostalgia? Probably not, but overall I do think this is a stronger record than that.

Prophecy - 75/100 One of the slower tracks on this album honestly it's pretty simple but unlike You Lose! it doesn't have that it factor that really makes it stick within my mind, still a nice track but definitely one of the weaker ones in my eyes/

Follow The Leader - 60/100 One of the only songs on the album I really don't care about. While I don't mind vocal effects the 8bit chiptune effect really isn't doing any favours to the song, especially when it already feels pretty barebones in general. Like all you have to do is examine the lyrics and ask yourself if it's really saying much or is it just repeating the same thing over and over. The second verse is kind of nice though it's pretty much the only saving grace.

Domino - 60/100 Once again I feel as if this song suffers from the same issue as the last song in the sense that it really isn't that fleshed out. Like the first half had songs that really popped off and had multiple sections and these slick transitions that made you feel like you were in the future, and now there are just a couple of songs that you wish just did a little bit more. It's not the worst just underwhelming.

Dreamcatching - 80/100 A return to form. I actually really enjoy this song I think it's the chorus that makes me enjoy it so much. Not to mention the build up at the very end I think it's quite a nice song, I too wish to go catch dreams with my loved ones. It's a decent lowkey song and helps build up to the exceptional closer which really makes sure this album doesn't end on a sour note.

The Beginning - 100/100 From the piano that sets off this song to the chorus everything about this song just makes you want to jump up and start dancing. Way too groovy and an excellent way to make sure people remember that Magdalena Bay know how to kick up a great dance tune when they need to. At first the spoken chorus kind of annoyed me but now I feel like it's impressing me. "Everybody needs a little help from time to time" is just a blessed ear worm if you hate this song do you really enjoy life?

Final Score: 85/100

    I'm not kidding when I say that this album instantly made me a huge fan of Magdalena Bay. While they only have one album, and a couple of EP's/Mini Mixes they've released I wait with bated breath for the next piece of synth pop this dynamic duo might release. When I first listened to this album I distinctly remember listening to it over and over, I simply couldn't get over it, even if I still felt as if it was front loaded by a decent bit. Even the deluxe tracks to this album bang so hard, I absolutely adore Unconditional; Magdalena Bay rarely miss it's kind of amazing how quickly they've climbed up in my rankings of artists whose careers I'm excited to see blossom.