Being from the most famous city in the world will only make it harder for bands to make a name for themselves. The list of famous musicians to have risen to fame in the years before the current generation is exhaustive; The Velvet Underground, Nas, The Strokes and Talking Heads to name just a few. When you’re from New York, only the truly talented rise to the top. That’s potentially why five-piece alternative outlet Been Stellar feels the need to scream from their home city. If there’s any justice in the world, their talent will be heard by millions.
Not many bands can say they’ve supported the likes of The 1975, Fontaines D.C and Shame all before the release of a debut album. After a string of successful singles, such as the exceptional ‘Kids 1995’, it’s clear that Been Stellar are an emerging band with a strong voice in their genre.
That voice doesn’t just emerge from the first listen of their new album, it explodes. Opener ‘Start Again’ swells in its noise; lead and rhythm guitars jangle and bounce off each other while a frustrated sounding Slocum screams in the crescendo, “New York is wasted, start again, start again”. The track succeeds in matching what Been Stellar do best – give a striking and lasting early impression. Things only kick further into gear from here, with two singles ‘Passing Judgment’ and ‘Pumpkin’ showcasing an array of musical talent, not just with a wide sonic palette but also in their storytelling. The latter, ‘Pumpkin’, is a more subdued effort than seen previously, describing the intimate moments of life viewed through a window. Slocum’s songwriting haunts the instrumental, “Did you have my other name? Or was it taken at some point?” as the song grows to a close. There’s no need for a crashing, banging finish – the atmosphere of the track speaks for itself.
‘Sweet’ is potentially the strongest of the earlier released single, possessing an excellent lead guitar riff reminiscent of both Interpol and Sonic Youth, meanwhile Slocum gives his strongest vocal performance of the album at the end of the track, bellowing from his lungs lyrics that describe a despairing feeling of disconnection: “Speaking when we don’t know what to say”.
That’s not to say that the singles are the only thing to praise here. In the latter half of the record excellent album cuts come at you thick and fast, with ‘Shimmer’ a prime example, the lead guitar glimmering amongst the grime of the bass like a slow dance between the two. ‘I Have The Answer’ also closes the album in a similar fashion to the way it opened, with its growing guitar leads bleeding through the mix in intoxicating fashion. Enough praise cannot be done for Slocum’s vocals on this track either – his ability to depict overwhelming emotion without ever seeming to get out of his comfort zone is outstanding. As the album closes, it’s impossible to not be impressed. Past the glamour of the Big Apple lies the harsh reality of everyday lives, in which communication often fails in displaying emotion. Been Stellar seeks to showcase that disparity, and they often do so with striking performances and musicianship. ‘Screams From New York, NY’ is intoxicating from its first playthrough; the band’s scope of storytelling is at a startling level for their debut and will only continue to grow.
Words by Niall McGreevy