By ANN ESCAMILLA, Staff Reporter.
“A Flourish and A Spoil” is the newest album from the ever so talented band The Districts. This four person band from Pennsylvania, all between the ages of 18 and 20, has been creating a name for themselves due to the release of their new album. Indie-rock, american soul and blues-infected folk (if that’s even a thing) is what oozes out of “A Flourish and A Spoil.”
The album starts off with the first track “4th and Roebling” that sets the whole mood for the rest of “A Flourish and A Spoil” with intense soulful playing of the guitar, drums and lead singer Rob Grote partly screaming/soulfully singing his heart out. Grote sings with such passion that he can totally pull it off.
The album then goes on to demonstrate a theme that many young people can relate to: leaving their crappy town to move on to bigger and better things. With “Suburban Smell” Grote states, “which ones mine I can’t tell I’m sick of this suburban smell.”
Now I don’t want to be like, “oh if you like this band then you’ll totally like The Districts.” That being said when track four “Hounds” started playing it reminded me a lot of Black Keys and Jack White. It could just be because of how The Districts play their instruments or the echoing voices, I’m not sure. Anyway, if you totally like The Black Keys and Jack White totally check out The Districts. Just kidding… but really.
The last two tracks “Youngblood” and “6 a.m.” seem to be the the two stand outs and the most memorable with piercingly intense lyrics. At eight minutes and 40 seconds “Youngblood” may be the longest album, but it’s totally worth it. Halfway through the song the whole band bursts out into an insanely magical instrumental piece until Grote repeats the same line, “It’s a long way down from the top to the bottom. It’s a long way back to a high from where I am,” and then again into a crazy instrumental masterpiece that leaves you breathless.
Now “6 a.m” gives you a whole feel as it’s more mellow and calming. The strumming of a guitar and Grote’s soothing voice takes you away. The lyrics “all we are is all we are and still I will become, all I am” hits you and stays in the back of your mind.
The Districts put so much energy and passion into their playing that even if they didn’t sing well they would still be able to pull it off, however that is not the case, the case is that they can perform tracks off this album live almost as good as the album itself. I shouldn’t really be able to say that because I haven’t heard them in person, only through live YouTube videos but if a YouTube video can blow my socks off I think in person they will be even better. I recommend this album to any music lover and person in general.
