MUNA have been an artist that I've really liked for a few years now. They're a fantastic queer pop band. Lesbians have fantastic music taste, as evidenced by the love for MUNA among so many lesbians. I especially liked their second and third studio albums, and I'm actually going to get to see them live later this year, which I am super excited for. Anyway, I'm almost certain I will enjoy this album, as they've always delivered in the past! Let's get into it!
MUNA - Dancing On The Wall:
It Gets So Hot: Synths are hot right from the start. Vocals are good as ever. The gradual buildup in the song is great, it really works well. Especially when the beat is added. Best part of the song. It's just so catchy. Some of the lines and the way they are sung - it feels like there's too many words in certain lines, and it's a bit too notably repetitive too. But it's fantastic other than that! The distortion and swearing at the end is funny too. Good stuff. 8/10
Dancing On The Wall: Grand intro. Not where I expected it to go, but sure. Boppy. The vocals are really nice, the way they are sung. The chorus feels kinda familiar but I really like it. The way this song is sung is the highlight of it to me. Another great song, anyway! The bridge wasn't my favourite part but that's fine. Also, we love transitions! 8/10
Eastside Girls: Again, another catchy song, with some really epic production. The chorus is especially catchy. It feels familiar to me but I do not know why. Regardless, it's fantastic! It really is infectious. MUNA have a really good understanding of pop hooks. The bridge especially is SO GOOD! 9/10
Wannabeher: The energy on this is really sexy! Love the...guitar? I was not feeling this one quite as much, but "I might wanna be her" is really catchy, probably the best part of the song. The chorus is the highlight for me again. Some interesting production changes in that second verse. The chorus is stunning though! 8/10
On Call: This feels like quintessential MUNA for me. The chorus is sung really well, and I really like it. I also like the verse production too, and the two have a nice contrast to them. Fantastic song! 9/10
So What: Not as good for me, but I do like it. Feels pretty quintessential MUNA again. Yeah, this is probably my least favourite so far, but it's good, and I do like the repetition and the different vocals in the chorus. It works well. Cool ending to the song. 7/10
Party's Over: It's an interlude. It's fine. [No rating].
Big Stick: Intriguing start. There's a lot of them switchups which is fine. This is different. I like it. Political song, I like it. Good stuff. It's not my favourite but I do enjoy it. This is a good example of a political song, I think I enjoy it less than other songs just because of the production and all is less to my liking. The background shouting is good. Fun transition ending too. 7/10
Mary Jane: The chorus is the best bit here, I really like how it's sung and all. The rest of the song is good, good vocals, good production and all. It's a fantastic chorus and I really like! A really nice bridge too, I can feel the emotion in it which is good! 8/10
Girl's Girl: Some really nice production here. Ohhh, is this a lesbian lesbian song? That chorus is also really sick. Love it! Some of the background laughing isn't really for me though. The production flourishes now and then are really awesome and add a lot to the song. 8/10
...Unless: Another interlude. It's fine again. Not entirely sure why it's there. At least it's quick. [No rating].
Why Do I Get A Good Feeling: Not sure I'm entirely feeling this one as much. The high vocals aren't really working for me. Probably my least favourite song on the album. The production isn't as good for me either, but it's fine. It just doesn't sound as good, especially the verses. A long ending which is fun. I do like it. May be the best part of the song for me, weirdly enough. Anyway, definitely my least favourite song overall. But it was still nice to listen to. 6/10
Buzzkiller: The final song. I like the production to start with. Abrasive-lite. The vocals are nice here too. It feels like it's maybe building to something. But I bet it doesn't (buzzkiller, get it?). Anyway, it was a good song. Vocals really highlighted here, as well as the cool production. It feels like a good album closer. The production to the end was fun. Kinda sounded a bit like Mass Effect towards the end too. And random sounds at the end? Fun. 7/10
Overall Verdict: Another banger album from MUNA, but that was a given. While there were a few tracks I enjoyed less, there were none I actively disliked. MUNA just have a knack for delivering really catchy and emotive songs. Lesbian pop is truly saving pop, everyone. The vocals in most of these sound great, there's some fantastic hooks, and I really like the production and the lyrics throughout. No cringe lyrics here! Another stunning album and I would not be surprised to see it end up in my top 10 this year.
Favourite lyric: "We give weapons to dictators and apartheid states / We give kids in Palestine PTSD / But we'll never fucking ever given them something to eat" / And if you got a problem with it, you could end up in jail / Send you to Louisiana, million-dollar bail"
These lines are so effective in what they do. They are simple, but they are also educational. I was not aware of the case of Mahmoud Kahlil, but now I am. Horrific stuff done by the US Government to Palestinians and those who are calling out Israel's genocide, in order to try to silence them. But beyond that fantastic educational moment, as said, these lyrics paint a whole picture while also being relatively simple. The message in them comes out really clear. In this case, America (but not just America) is heavily complicit in genocide, and directly funding it, but not helping with aid whatsoever. I just love these lines as well as the whole song as I feel like it's political messaging done fantastically well.
Read more from Mahmoud Kahil here: