Their first so-called track is 'A Moment Of Silence' which as a first listener, I don't understand why they thought this 'track' would be a good idea. 'A Moment Of Silence' is exactly what it says on the tin, nothing more than just an album filler. However their second track is a lot more interesting...'Prey' has a very eery and mysterious introduction, which soon gets accompanied by an indie/groove overlay.
"If you don't ask, I won't tell."
This line in the first verse gives me the impression that Rutherford is perhaps hiding something from a specific person in particular?
"So, so, I'll probably take you aside and tell you what's on my mind. But you, you'll just keep it inside, probably tell me that you're alright."
My first impression has soon changed. Perhaps the reason he doesn't tell her the things on his mind is because if she 'asks' him what is on his mind, it shows that she cares about him. Whereas she will just bottle up all of her issues and keep them to herself, so he doesn't want to tell her about his issues as that will be putting a heavier weight on her shoulders and he wouldn't want that because he cares about her.
Their third track 'Cry Baby' had me wondering as to why they are categorised as alternative/indie rock band, however they sound a lot more hip-hop/RnB - especially within this track.
"Please don't say that you know, when you know. I can't take it. I'm impatient, tell me baby."
He wants to know if her love is true, because he doesn't want to develop feelings. However he knows that if she does truly love him, then he would not be able to resist the urge of loving her back.
"I know I'll fall in love with you baby and that's not what I wanna do."
Their fourth song is the the title track - 'Wiped Out'. This song has a funky kind of rhythm, with a smooth and slick hip-hop feel throughout. On the other hand, I am not a big fan of this track in particular as it has a rather confusing & indescribable send out...
Their fifth track is one of my more favourable tracks on the album, and it is called 'The Beach'. This reminded me of their old track - 'Sweater Weather' which I am very fond of and it has a very relaxed RnB vibe to it. The sixth track is called 'Daddy Issues' and I am not sure whether it is a sexualised song or whether it is about family issues. Mixed messages throughout the whole song, wasn't very well structured.
"Take you like a drug, taste you on my tongue."
However later on it goes on to say;
"But now that you're dead it hurts. This time I gotta know, where did my daddy go?"
The following track to this song is called 'Baby Came Home 2/Valentines'. This track is very controversial, as it is about heartbreak from a long-term on/off relationship which cleverly links back into their previous songs as he doesn't ever want to get feelings until he knows that theirs are true;
"She was five foot four, getting money on tour - but her socks were at the end of my bed."
It goes from a bit of messing around into him wanting to get matching tattoos so that sense of ownership is there as she took his virginity. However he soon turns sour once she cheats on him.
"Who's the one you're sleeping with? Don't you sit in front of me,and wait for me to talk."
The eighth track is called 'Greetings From California' and it's sort of a mess. He starts off by saying once you come to California you won't want to look back, then goes on to talk about how he despises the people running his country and then goes on about his personal issues - the song as a whole doesn't make sense. Following that odd track, is a short 3 minutes long song called 'Ferrari'. Yet again this song exploits his insecurities of somebody leaving him or turning out to be the opposite of the person they once seemed;
"I met her at church, but she could be Satan."
Their second to last song on the album is called 'Single' and this is about not wanting to be single and to be able to be with his soulmate, no matter what boundaries he may have to break.
"I'm sorry Dave, I never meant to hurt your baby girl. She's your little baby, she's my soulmate. I don't want you to worry, she'll be so safe right here."
Then throughout the song it repeatedly echo's;
"Can you let your baby be my girl"
Which is where Rutherford is constantly trying to get her dad to forgive him and let him have her back again and he is trying to regain his trust with her father. Finally, the last track to close off the album is called 'R.I.P 2 My Youth' I thought that it might be called that as he has grown out of his young adult and heartbroken stage and has finally become an adult. However his dad has been mentioned again, and Rutherford gives off the impression that he wants to die young.
"I'm in paradise with Dad, close my eyes and then cross my arms. Put me in the dirt, let me dream with the stars. Throw me in a box with the oxygen off."
In conclusion, the album as a whole was a bit of a mess. I think that they are all super talented musicians, but they need to stick to one story line within their songs as it just gets the listeners confused when listening to their lyrics. However the one thing that I do like about The Neighbourhood is their distinctive sound, they have created their own music genre; combining pop, funk, RnB and alternative rock all together. The main songs that positively stood out to me were; 'Prey', 'The Beach', 'Cry Baby', 'Ferrari', 'Single' and 'R.I.P 2 My Youth'. I rate the band, but unfortunately not this album. Rutherford just vocalises his traumatic loss with the death of his father and his tragic past relationships and he basically just dawns on them two themes throughout every single track, with the odd mixed message in it.
6/10
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