Release Date: 14 November 2025
Song Count: 15
Rating: 5.7/10
Description:
Another instance of a relatively popular body releasing an album during autumn and me reviewing it the next day, today's album is the highly anticipated (((((ultraSOUND))))) by The Neighbourhood, a band that defined the 2010's era of music for certain corners of the internet with hits such as "Sweater Weather" and "Daddy Issues", and one that has returned after a long hiatus and a controversy regarding one of the members. With this new album, The Neighbourhood aimed to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle type energy they managed to channel with their earlier works, albeit with a more calm and down-low ambience.
The general sound of the album in terms of composition, singing and production very much keep the signature flavour that The Neighbourhood provides, strongly ressembling the group's preceding releases. The songs are generally slow and cautious in their progression, not straying away towards any experiments or groundbreaking directions, as to contain their polish and almost "professional" feel. While this ends up in the tracks having a coherent, upheld sound that is generally serviceable for playing in the background, it also contributes to their ultimate lack of a sense of identity, rather feeling like rehashes of what's already been tried and tested in the past than actual works that stand on their own.
Though there aren't any tracks of (((((ultraSOUND))))) that truly reach the absolute highs of the band's history, a small selection of songs at least partially capture some of the essence of those peaks, mainly at the opening of the album amongst the singles that were released prior - "OMG" and especially "Hula Girl" being the notable songs in question with the most amount semblance of true vitality.
Even considering the fact that the bar to clear for the band that made literal worldwide hits is naturally higher compared to most other artists and groups in the music scene, (((((ultraSOUND))))) nevertheless leaves quite a lot to be desired in the departments of inspiration and musical integrity beyond the confines of simply sounding "like oneself". With tall expectations left unmet by a large distance, all that the album ends up invoking in me during listening is the wish to return to their older albums, the likes of I Love You. or Wiped Out!, instead.