BLACK WATER COUNTY PRAISED AS ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS OF THE YEAR

ALBUM REVIEW | THE ONLY LIFE WORTH LIVING | BLACK WATER COUNTY

WORDS BY MORGAN HERMISTON

In their third studio album, and their first album since 2020, Black Water County combine their musical talents to produce one of the best albums I’ve heard this year. This ten-song collection has a similar sound and feel to that of albums from bands like Paramore and Green Day. This sound is thanks to their guitar heavy approach mixed with a list of lovely lyrical finds.

The first track, The Only Life Worth Living, acts almost as an intro to the whole studio release. At just over 2 minutes long, it has a lot to unpack, but isn’t overwhelming at all. It brings together the main aspects of what’s to come, giving listeners a sneak peek at the tracklist before they continue listening. This title track also features a catchy chorus, a theme listeners can expect to come across frequently. This concept of a catchy and memorable chorus follows into several other tracks like Cruel State of Mind and Questions.

Another theme to expect from this remarkable release is how linear and flowing it is. Every song is linked to one another. The way the album has been produced results in a format that can be listened to in any way. When listening in order from start to finish, there’s a story to follow that ventures into sub topics including relationships, wanting to escape parts of life, the questions we ask, and our past experiences. However, even if you don’t listen to it in order, it is still very easy to pick up on the overall message.

This particular linear masterpiece can be heard between Escape and Disasters. There is a dial tone at the end of Escape and, when listening to the tunes back to back, this leads directly into Disasters. Not only do they link musically, these two songs in particular act as a separate tale within the general story of the album. Where Escape talks about uncertainty, “I’m not exactly feeling like myself”, and wanting to “find a reason to escape”, Disasters does almost the opposite. The latter track leads us towards a journey of accepting these feelings but states that “you can change your mind”, as well as explaining that these “disasters do not mean the end” and wants everyone to “feel you’re not alone in this”.

The lyrics in a lot of the tracklist are thought-provoking and explore the various common aspects of each of our lives. This, in turn, is met with reassuring sentiments that create a beautiful bond between the band and their listeners. Much like in Escape and Disasters, the conversational yet beautifully constructed words bring together a sense of normality and familiarity.

This familiarity can be sensed in tracks like Second Guessing (featuring Hannah Greenwood), Questions, and Limelight. These tracks all explore the mental pressure we will all experience at some point in life. Lyrics like “I know that I tend to overthink”, “your last departure echoes”, and “what makes you insecure?” all create that safe environment that shows other people think the same way as you. When we sit in silence or feel alone, this is when our mental stability tends to be most at risk. Other phrases in these songs like “don’t take all the limelight” and “these things, they come around” really help to emphasise that these situations and feelings are temporary. We shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves, which, of course, is much easier said than done.

The subject of relationships is discussed in tunes like Archives, Before Things Get Worse, Cruel State of Mind, and Here We Are Again. The catchy choruses and purposefully penned phrases allow listeners to relate to themes like reminiscing, fluctuating feelings, and acceptance. This is seen in lyrics like “stuck on repeat again”, “archives of the things we used to do”, and “billions of other people yet I only think of one”. While these explore the various feelings of relationships or being with someone, Before Things Get Worse is a track that indicates the importance of knowing when to leave a situation behind. Through lyrics like “all these warning signs and dotted lines” and “letting go is what I crave, but easier said than done”, Black Water County reassure listeners that they understand and relate to their worries and uncertainties.

Just a glance at the overall setlist refers us back to the title of the album, and the primary song. The Only Life Worth Living is an album that serves as a foundation for general, everyday life.

Black Water County take listeners on a journey that sees them venture into discussions of accepting when things aren’t going right, asking the questions we want to ask, and reminiscing on better times. It is an incredible album that I’ll definitely return to. The five-piece have created a piece of reassuring listening that a lot of people will take comfort in, especially knowing that those questions you have, and the situation you’re in, are common and that you’re not alone.

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BY MORGAN HERMISTON