As soon as fall hits, the term “sweater weather” gets thrown around, alluding to wearing sweaters for the chilly season and referencing the song “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood, which gives off fall vibes.
Debuting in August of 2011, The Neighbourhood has had a large following, especially in the mid-2010s during the infamous Tumblr era. From their black-and-white concepts to the bright Chip Chrome & The Monotones album, this band offers variety for all.
Now, four years since their last release, “Fallen Star,” a single released in 2021, The Neighbourhood has made a comeback.
They went on an indefinite hiatus back in February of 2022, and for a while, fans like me were concerned about whether they would ever release music again. So, when their Instagram became active in September of this year, fans geared up for news of a comeback.
After posting some teasers, on Oct. 23rd, The Neighbourhood released three songs from their new album (((((ultraSOUND))))): “Private,” “OMG,” and “Lovebomb.”
The Neighbourhood takes a different sound on (((((ultraSOUND))))), showing their growth as a band and a variety of genres and vibes. The whole album was released on Nov. 14, with 15 songs, including the three released a couple of weeks prior.
Alongside the album, they also released a 10-year-anniversary edition of Wiped Out! on Oct. 31, featuring four never-before-heard songs. As someone who’s been a fan for seven years, I have been waiting for new music. The Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones Deluxe album is still on repeat, but we have been musically deprived of something new.
Now with a new album, new songs and a tour — which I’m counting down the days to see — it feels like the uncertainty is finally over. The question is, does the music live up to the four-year wait? Here is my honest, track-by-track review of (((((ultraSOUND))))).
- “Hula Girl“
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The first track opens up the album with a dreamy, calm mood, sort of like a song you’d hear by the beach, making it a comfort track. Their signature beat makes it their perfect comeback song after a long time. It has that mix of Wiped Out, the Chip Chrome, and the Monotones album vibes.
Rating: 8/10
- “omg“
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This song instantly puts you in a hype mood, with the guitar and beat, and the catchiness. If this song can be described with one word, it would be loud, not in a bad way, but if you do like noise music, this is up your alley. It reminds me of songs like “Wiped Out!” which I feel like a lot of songs from this album have similarities to.
Rating: 7/10
- “Lovebomb“
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Out of all the songs from this album I feel like this one was the perfect transition from their last album, Chip Chrome and the Monotones. This song definitely sounds like one from that album and for fans who really liked it’s vibe, like myself, this song has a soft sensation with great lyrics that instantly get stuck in your head. Rating: 9.5/10
- “Private“
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When I first listened to this song I wasn’t too sure how I felt about it, but after a couple of listens, it definitely grew on me. It’s more bass heavy, but offers an eerie unique sound. It totally sounds like something from their older releases, and while it isn’t the worst, there’s definitely better songs on the album.
Rating: 7/10
- “Lil Ol Me“
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I haven’t listened to this song as much as the other songs from the album, so I do think it will eventually grow on me, but the vibes of this are identical to “Private.” I do like how it provides more of an alt-rock sound though, as we don’t really see that side of The Neighbourhood often. “Lil Ol Me” definitely demonstrates the “ultrasound” perspective as it is more sonically diverse compared to the others.
Rating: 6/10
- “Planet“
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This beat? The vibes? The whole song? A masterpiece!
“Planet” uses guitars, bass, and some synths. It’s a nice indie song, which is a different vibe from the album but also ties it all together. The best part of this song is the bridge and outro. From the lyrics “Who do you trust? Who do you love? How many trips around the sun?” to the musical production, this is a song that can be a favourite for all. With a nice groove to it, this song is one of the best on the album.
Rating: 8.5/10
- “Holy Ghost“
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Since the first listen I was obsessed. This song opens with a soft vibe (if you haven’t noticed a pattern with what songs I like), which then builds up. What I love about this song is its vibe throughout, and how deep the lyricism is. I can feel the emotion and meaning of the song stand out, especially with the interlude repeating “hold me closer.”
Rating: 10/10
- “Rabbit“
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This is a more slow, ballad song compared with the rest of the album. But it’s very smooth, as it never changes tempo or beat, giving a more relaxing vibe — something I would listen to on my morning commute or when I don’t want loud music, but definitely something more dreamy.
Rating: 6/10
- “Tides“
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Drums open up this song, bringing a youthful, nostalgic feeling, with the catchy repetitive lyrics, “we set a fire inside the waves.” Like “Rabbit,” this would be something I would want to listen to when I want something more calming, but also can apply in a casual setting such as long car rides or on a plane.
Rating: 8/10
- “Daisy Chain”
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Another alt-rock song off the album. I wouldn’t say this album has any skips or songs I don’t like but this one would go dead last if I had to rank it, just because I feel like the song is like a straight line, there isn’t really any key or tempo changes, except around the two minute mark but even then it just didn’t stand out compared to other songs.Rating: 6/10
- “Zombie“
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Zombie goes straight into an upbeat tune, and its tempo — with the bass and drums — lyrics and overall vibe is great. There’s something really catchy about this song, it takes you out of this world and just has a great rhythm, that will make you want to have this song on repeat. Especially these lyrics “Lucid dreams, insomniac/I’m losing sleep would you call me back?/ I’m glued to the screen like a zombie” are very catchy and I feel like a lot of people, including myself, can relate.
Rating: 9/10
- “Mama Drama“
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This is a cozy song, with a beachy element, like some of the other songs on this album. The lyrics are nice, and the song itself is very soothing. The outro is definitely my favourite part, with it’s by the beach vibe. It sounds like something off their Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones album with the summer energy and happy tune, along with the mystic sound.
Rating: 7/10
- “Crushed“
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I love this whole song, but especially the chorus. The song puts me into an instant mood. My favourite lyrics are “crushed by an angel,” and the way lead vocalist Jesse Rutherford sings this song is very calming.
Rating: 7/10
- “Mute“
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Now this song was something that I’ve been looking for! The beat is amazing and I feel like I can just jam to this song. The lyrics are also very catchy: “I don’t hear a word you say it’s getting kinda loud in my head right now.” And the instrumental me hooked since I first listened to it. I need more artists to make music with this style of rock.
Rating: 10/10
- “Stupid Boy“
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Wow, this song definitely took me by surprise. It has a very eerie vibe when it starts, then it transitions to a more calm part with the lyrics “jokes on you stupid boy.”
It reminds me of The Neighbourhood’s “Baby Came Home 2/Valentines,” as both these songs have multiple key changes throughout and feels like multiple songs in one, but it’s done really well. The bridge threw me off when I first listened to it because of Rutherford’s shouting, but it instantly grew on me. The buildup to the bridge was great, and this song is in a whole other category compared to others.
Rating: 8/10
Now that The Neighbourhood is officially back, it’s time to stream their music throughout the chilly winter. Whether that’s during long car rides throughout the holidays, on a winter stroll, or just looking out the window with a warm cup of coffee, this album will put you in the winter vibes that we have been missing from the band for the past couple of years!