Labels: self released
Review by: MH
Imagine my excitement on hearing that Genius/GZA was coming to play in Brisbane recently and would be my first time seeing the GZA since the Astoria in London in about 1993. I didn’t go though – would’ve required far too much energy. This here Genius, though, is not to be confused with GZA. The album came our way following the Say Sue Me review recently, and Genius, like Say Sue Me, come from South Korea and are also involved in indie rock of sorts (although the press release tells me they used to have a punkier edge). The album is book-ended by two lengthy tracks – the last one being a building 11-minute instrumental. In fact, it’s the more drawn-out instrumental parts in some of the longer tracks that bring this up a notch. It’s a solid listen if you like your indie rock melodic and with a 90s tinge – drifts in and out of quieter and louder moments and the mainly deadpan vocals are sometimes in English, sometimes in their native language. The rawness of acoustic track “It’s Great” is the highlight for me.