Gomez is a band that has maintained a certain easy-flowing, innovative approach to their music. Since their 1998 debut, Bring It On, Gomez has since paved a creative, musical road, filled with songs that showcase their ability to write catchy, melodic tracks, while adding sprinkles of blues, psychedelia and krautrock into the mix. Their latest album, Whatever’s on Your Mind, shows the band still working with an anything-goes ethic, and it definitely works in their favor.
“I Will Take You There,” is a funky, feel-good track, that grooves all over the place with its luscious vocal harmonies, and horn parts from Antibalas member, Stuart Bogie. “Just As Lost As You,” is absolutely poppy, with its thumping bass, and melodic piano playing above everything else.
“Options,” has the swagger of a hard rock, blues song; the driving drums support explosive acoustic guitars, crescendoing sax lines and beautiful vocal harmonies. “Our Goodbye,” flows like something of a Smashing Pumpkins song, circa Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Melancholic strings, provide the base for Ben Ottewell’s flawless vocal delivery.
“Song in My Heart,” starts off with electronic sounds, before exploding into a chorus that will immediately have you hooked. The syncopated guitar parts only add to this quirky, out-of-the-box track. “That Wolf,” is a great combination of electronic experimentation, and alternative rock energy. Bouncy synths loom behind drum rolls, before being overpowered by heavy guitars.
“X-Rays,” is a great album ender; soothing guitars over flowy synths, and a melodic xylophone flying above, the song moves like that of a movie, as it starts off happy and bouncy, before transitioning to this ghostly, eerie atmosphere, and returning back to its upbeat comfort zone.
Whatever’s on Your Mind is kind of all over the place, but in a good way. No song sounds the same, and just when you think you have figured out the puzzle that is Whatever’s on Your Mind, Gomez throws another curveball into the mix, allowing their definitive sound to be accompanied by strings, saxophones and anything else they may seem fit. Overall, the album is a great listen, and it shows that Gomez can still experiment with some of the present sounds of today, and not lose themselves in it.
