I’ve been an Anamanaguchi fan since the Scott Pilgrim game came out on PS3 (holy shit that was 15 years ago I’m going to die any day now) and have enjoyed every album they’ve put out so far. Somehow, they managed to mostly ditch their main sound while still releasing what I feel like is their best album to date.
This album just fuckin rules, man. No skippable tracks, Pete’s voice makes you wonder why they haven’t done a vocal project before, and the emo-ish/ slacker sounds just feel so nostalgic to me.
The only 2 singles I listened to before release were Darcie and Magnet because I was already so into those tracks that I didn’t want to hear anything else until I could hear the whole thing and I am so glad I waited. Rage (Kitchen Sink) and Buckwild are the other 2 singles that I didn’t listen to. Along with Really Like To those are my 3 favorite songs on the album.
Rage (Kitchen Sink) has the 8-bit synths they have been known for in just the right amount behind the shoegazey guitars, Pete’s monotone delivery for the verses works so well over the super expressive guitars, and Really Like To sounds like they took one of their pure chiptune songs from an older album and layered a 00’s era emo track over it in the best possible way.
Their decision to pivot to a more conventional band sound over what they have done in the past might disappoint longtime fans if it weren’t for that fact that it is just so damn good. This album is fuckin incredible and it is my favorite release of the year so far. I’ve already heard it front to back 3 times. Please go listen to it.
8.7/10
The Weakling Gazette 
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