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Carrier When New York Is Drowning Review by Gary Hill If this act landed just a little more on the post-punk, shoegaze end of the spectrum, I would have probably put them under progressive rock. I think the punk, alternative rock and emo are the dominant factors, though. Still, there are plenty of space rock and other proggy tendencies here. While I like the music on every song, the vocals sometimes don't work as well for me. Overall, though, this whole thing rocks pretty well. This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2021 Volume 6. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2021.

Track by Track Review

Bitter Child A fade up starts this cut. The track powers out from there with an energized and meaty groove. This has an alternative rock meets shoegaze texture. It earns a parental advisory for the lyrics.

Parade Coming up with a slightly more traditional rocking sound, this also works to a proggy alternative rock arrangement. This is a bit more on the punky side of things.

Someone Who Loves Me Now, this power in with more a pure emo jam. It works out in that general vein. This is hard rocking. The vocals don't work so well for me, but the song really rocks. This does work into space-rock like territory with an intriguing instrumental excursion late. I'm not sure if it is theremin or not (there is none credited), but it sure sounds like it includes theremin.

You Underwater Another that powers in with a pure punky, emo jam, this works pretty well. This doesn't stretch far beyond its origins.

Incinerator The rhythm section starts this track. The number drives out from there with a real ferocity. This is not quite an instrumental, but it's close. It gets into some killer proggy, space rock like jamming later.

Little Fish This time around we get a track that's largely an alternative rock piece. This is largely built around punk and emo overall.

When New York Is Drowning The title track is a driving slab of hard-edged punk turned alternative. Yet, it also features an excursion into shoegaze zones.

Orchard There is a bit more of a stripped back emo concept here. This isn't as effective as some of the rest are, but it has its charms. I'm not enthused with the vocals on this one, though. It all improves as it works toward space-rock informed shoegaze later.

14 stops Driving, hard-edged and so classy, this seems to bring a new vitality and effectiveness to many of the same styled numbers we've heard throughout this set.

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