Gratuitous Platypus, If I Smile, Can I Go? - Album Review
With Gratuitous Platypus playing their farewell tour this August, I wanted to check out this band and perhaps introduce it to a few newcomers. Hailing from High River Alberta, the three piece band has been under the name of Gratuitous Platypus for 7 years. Starting 2018, they have released two EP’s, with many singles, and most recently their album If I Smile, Can I Go? Their unique lyrics, complex sound, and poetry create incredible rock and roll melodies. There is a certain hometown vibe that they bring, and I do wish I found them earlier as there are not many bands like them, if any. They are much more than an indie rock band, but a new genre all together.
The album If I Smile, Can I Go? comes in at a beautiful 15 songs, nearly reaching an hour run time. The tracks are broken down into four acts, separated by poetry and sound recordings, all tying into the songs following after. For the purposes of this review, I am only going to focus on one track from each act, as this is a longer album, but I would wholeheartedly encourage a full listen of the album.
Modern Life is Rubbish is the third song on the album and turns a perspective on the rock and roll genre. Prior to it, the album begins with a continuation of the fourth act (creating a full circle effect), along with an introduction to the act system with Act I: The Obsessive (Best Friend’s Phone Number). In my eyes, this is a super strong start to the album. I think the Act I poetry sets a great nostalgic scene and elevates the ideas of longing for the following song Modern Life is Rubbish. This track creates this super clean sound while incorporating modern grunge aspects. Modern Life is Rubbish introduces the storytelling style of the lyrics, accompanied with the amazing vocals and carries on this theme of dreaming bigger than one can create with painful self awareness.
Following Modern Life is Rubbish is two more tracks to close off the first act, Ode to Outdoor Activities 2020 and Stare at Ur Phone Till U Die, both of which relay very relatable commentary on the COVID-19 pandemic as well as just the state of technological culture in recent years. The second act begins with Act II: The Rebel, a collection of a haunted writer's thoughts, page turning, and the clacking of a typewriter. This is the introduction to a more experimental selection of tracks, including My Love. My Love is a chaotic rock and roll melody, with the repetitiveness of the lyrics it really gives the isolated guitars and drums space to create the catchy rhythm. The second half of the song dives into a more art rock take, filled with tons of solos, keeping the energy up until the very last bit of the track.
Act III: The Broken is a continuation of the themes within Act II, which contains the track
Garbage Man. Garbage Man is very unique, even among this very creative album, with a very 90’s sound and slightly more chill and ominous. The buildup throughout elevates the lyrics and vocals, and I really enjoyed the longer song type. The inserts of spoken word throughout is super cool, only adding to the more ominous vibe. The fourth and final act is introduced by the track Act IV (Thoughts and Notes of a Madman) with electronic melodies and a very strong voice. As the other introduction songs follow the blueprint of poetry and clips of sounds, whilethis track seems like the full cultivation of the prior acts. It is a great introduction to the final act,flowing very seamlessly into the two part song that follows, carrying onto the alt rockatmosphere. When I recommend Gratuitous Platypus to listeners, I would suggest this songfirst, as it is expressive and stylistic but also a full view of what to expect from the band. If I Smile, Can I Go? Is a unique love letter to music of all tastes but especially the more niche and underground sides. It gives a very nostalgic look into hometown bands, and local bands as a whole. With these types of albums you can feel the care and work that went into it and I’m super excited to see what Gratuitous Platypus will be up to in the future with their hiatus coming up
-Georgia.g1900
Writer/Journalist
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