ALBUM REVIEW: Alvvays – Blue Rev

Transgressive

Released: 07.10.22

The long-awaited return of Canadian quintet Alvvays sees them in a very different place to where previous album Antisocialites left off, from the opening bars of Pharmacist there’s an immediate sense of energy and drive. Blue Rev shifts gear at will, however, with tracks like Many Mirrors and Easy On Your Own? reprising the dreamy, laid-back sound you might expect from the band.

What sets Blue Rev apart are tracks like Pressed, Tile By Tile and Pomeranian Spinster, the latter’s driving guitars compounding this urgent new sound. It’s a rollercoaster of a record, packed with intriguing gear changes and culminating with the brilliant Fourth Figure, this beautiful track providing the perfect backdrop to close out a rather impressive return to form for Alvvays.