THE BLUE STONES SECOND ALBUM IS A "HIDDEN GEM"
March is usually a bland month, like a Thursday. You’re waiting for it to be over so the sun can shine and we can party! (Well maybe a patio party with only up to 6 people in these circumstances) Thankfully to pass the time this month with more fun, you can enjoy The Blue Stones’ second full length EP Hidden Gems which dropped today via Entertainment One Canada. This is their next album after their 2018 full length record Black Holes which was met with critical acclaim in the alternative/rock scene, earning them a nomination for Breakthrough Group of the Year at the 2020 Juno Awards.
Luckily for most fans, a good chunk of the album has already been released as singles (with wicked awesome artwork). “Shakin Off The Rust”, “Grim”, “Let It Ride”, and most recently “Spirit”, continue to be strong bangers on this record, sticking to their gritty blues rock that they’ve crafted for themselves. “Careless” that came out earlier in 2020, gives us the snippet of change that this record will bring to fans. The band has decided to modernize themselves with help from Paul Meany from the band Mutemath (who helped to produce Twenty One Pilots’ fifth record). They’ve incorporated some soft drum pad beats in songs like “Careless”, and “Oceans”, and vocal/guitar reverb in “Make This Easy”. This sonic move adds a really groovy and layered feel to their catalog.
The album’s lyrical tone is much more confident and sexy, but also has its moments of vulnerability. The bangers of the record have that “Yeah, I’m here, hear me now, this is who the fuck I am” vibe. The sexy songs like “Careless” and “Make This Easy” are all about the thrill of someone so intoxicating and quitting the games. Then, “One By One” and “Oceans” are introspective and nostalgic; longing for that one person. These lyrics really let us know much more about The Blue Stones and their stories.
This album is another fantastic addition to their discography, sticking true to themselves with some modern accents. This album is catchy to sing along with, and a soothing, but also simultaneously rocking listening experience. They’re also super dope live, so when everything is back to normal, definitely check them out!