REVIEW: Corella’s ‘A Beautiful World to Lose’ Unveils the Hidden Internal Reality of an Artist
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY CHRISTINE BITONTI ☆
THEY SAY THE BEST ART IS FOUND IN THE TABOO—a daring feat recently taken on by indie rock band Corella.
In their second studio album, A Beautiful World to Lose, the Manchester-based quartet explores unfiltered emotions and existential questions certainly not suitable for everyday conversation, but perfect for a musical endeavor.
A Beautiful World to Lose is the album to turn on when feeling nostalgic for early ‘90s grunge. With confessional lyrics and passionately-belted high notes, Corella is holding nothing back the second time around. For fans of unapologetic expression, the record is certainly worth the listen.
The heavy punk and classic grunge influences are unmistakable. A bit of late‘70s hook-heavy rock unexpectedly becomes a standout feature of the record as well, with the group displaying a natural talent for creating infectious earworms. See “Simple Life” for melodies that stay lodged in your brain for days. Ultimately, Corella is bringing their own twist on 21st century indie rock to the music scene.
While a great guitar riff is always appreciated, the real hook of A Beautiful World to Lose is its abundance of bitter grit and brash rebelliousness; the lyrics and sonic layering are saturated with both. Grunge and punk are known for textured electric guitar and expressive vocals, but a vital trademark of these genres is rebellious, anti-systemic messaging. Corella delivers on all fronts.
Album opener “Rewire” is a classic “stick-it-to-the-man” anthem that holds a significantly different meaning to today’s youth culture than similar predecessors may have. The lyrics carry a weight that seems too on-the-nose to be unintentional. Tracks like “What’s the Use” and “Lost a Friend” slowly reveal a bold vulnerability in the record, describing the complicated world from which the album gets its name. Dedicated fans of indie rock may deeply resonate with A Beautiful World to Lose because of the raw nerve alone.
A Beautiful World to Lose is comparable to an audiobook of short stories. All songs may be tied together by a common theme, but each serves as a single snapshot of a larger story that comes together by the end of track 10. The record effectively illuminates the inner world of songwriters who have dared to let it be seen.
Corella seems to have found their shared musical identity, taking their artistry in a direction that just makes sense for the quartet. This newfound confidence adds an additional level of excitement to the band’s upcoming performances this fall, and will likely keep fans eagerly waiting to see what they do next.
