To say The Mommyheads have been prolific over the past few years would be an understatement. The experimental rockers has made a name for themselves by never sticking to one formula, rather fans gravitate to their LPs for the fun of a guessing game. Trying to decipher a Mommyheads release is futile, rather the excitement comes from hearing what direction the band is going in this time around. Such is the case for Coney Island Kid, The Mommyheads’ latest offering and fourth album in three years. Their vivid imagery is set to sun-drenched arrangements for a stunning concept album that plays like a mystical carnival ride through the inner workings of a proven band.
Coney Island Kid pays homage to the band’s sonic journey while allowing them to explore new territories. Their 15th studio album marks the first time the band crafted a conceptual narrative, putting their songwriting prowess to the test. Creating a sonic world with its own emotions outside of your own is never easy and the creativity needed to have every nuanced detail of a narrative fall into place within melody is awe-inspiring. Suffice it to say that a good concept album is hard to come by, and Coney Island Kid might be the most colorful and cohesive one to come out this year. The Mommyheads spin a tail of introspection and self-discovery while following the concept of the sights and sounds of Coney Island. The band takes their New York roots and injects them into whimsical melodies and wisping vocals that feed the band’s unquenchable thirst for new sonic territories to conquer.
The album kicks off like any great Mommyheads release would, through psychedelic synths and prog-rock perfection. The gigantic title track welcomes you to the world of Coney Island Kid, an album that promises to provide the same feeling a child might get when they see the flashing lights and laughter of a carnival. The album takes sonic notes from scenes like this, always relying on mind-altering arrangements that lean toward eccentric textures to help guide the LP. The album goes from intimate moments of acoustic poetry like “Suburban Office Park” to sporadic funk like the lead single “Why Aren’t You Smiling”. A moment like “Learning to Live” features a grandiose arrangement with breathtaking harmonies that juxtapose the brutally beautiful drum patterns for a jaw-dropping ballad. This track also feels like a turning point in the narrative of Coney Island Kid where our character finally comes into their own as the lyrics take a noticeable turn.
Throughout Coney Island Kid, The Mommyheads craft a novel of a narrative that seemingly takes the listener through the trials and tribulations of trying to find your way out of an aimless period in life. Their storytelling is widely imaginative and provides even the most nuanced detail without wasting a single breath, providing just enough detail to paint a picture without being so direct and blunt. The fact the band was able to find a balance between the story they were trying to tell and pure artistry is enough to separate Coney Island Kid from other albums you may listen to this week.
The Mommyheads’ first exploration into a concept album could not have gone better. The band used their wealth of experience and challenged their own creativity only to emerge with Coney Island Kid, an LP that is colored with emotional stories and imaginative arrangements. The band crafted a cohesive album that has them crafting gorgeous arrangements only to use these sonic twists and turns as a canvas for some of their most ambitious songwriting to date. The Mommyheads took a lot of risks with Coney Island Kid and every one of them paid off tremendously to show a band with veteran status continuing to show new sides of their artistry.
