CD of The Week

Sløtface - Film Buff (Propeller)

Despite the idyllic, if cold, natural landscape and their enviably high quality of life metrics, many of Norway's most notable English language musical exports have been (literally) Satanic black metal bands. While perhaps not the complete opposite musically (is there a Barry Manilow tribute performer in Oslo?), Sløtface (pronounced "slutface," but changed due to some social media censorship) offer a peppier, hookier perspective on Nordic rock. Down a few members since their last release, 2020's Sorry for the Late Reply, the band's third album, Film Buff, is a dynamic, feminist pop-punk rush that should continue to expand their audience.

As the album title suggests, cinematic call-outs and themes of media representation appear in many of the 11 tracks. The tropes explored in "Leading Man" and "Final Gørl" are clear, but references to Saw and Clueless also appear in order to further the critiques of toxic masculinity that animate frontwoman Haley Shea's singing and writing. The band possesses a natural gift for catchy hooks and killer riffs, but Sløtface also have an extra bite and punch to their songs that make them stand apart from their peers. You can hear this in the cathartic screams that close "Quiet on Set" or the explosive wall of noise that open "Ladies of the Fight."

The absolute highlight is "The Great Escape," an anthemic, youthfully exuberant tune about needing to flee a particularly uninteresting and empty party. Meanwhile, some of the more uncaffeinated, midtempo tracks such as "I Confess, I Guess" are more emotionally resonant than similar songs on their previous albums. If there is a hindrance to the album, it is that the production is too polished and the vocal effects and occasional synths can blunt the confrontational impact of the material.

Ultimately, Film Buff is an energetic, powerful rock record that pays homage to some of the Hot Topic/Warped Tour sounds of millennial nostalgia while also breaking free of generic melodies and overly angsty lyrics. Sløtface's attitude and songcraft will linger whether or not you catch every clever movie reference on the album.
Review by Sol