Declan McKenna | What Happened to the Beach?

Album Review

Feb 9

What Happened to the Beach? revels in the joy of creation without getting bogged down in the details.

McKenna's songwriting is formidable, his creativity boundless, but there are moments where his playful experimentation can feel like a distraction rather than an enhancement.

Suppose you've been longing, waiting, and searching for a musical journey.

Something new.

Sheesh, does all indie-rock sound the same now? Are we doomed to continue down the path of similarity?

Of conformity? Formulaic song structures?

Suppose you want that shiny, new feeling - and will forgive some thorns to the nose for smelling the wonderful rose dammit.

In that case, Declan McKenna's third album, What Happened to the Beach?, might be the sun-soaked adventure you've been waiting for.

Hailing from London, McKenna brings a playful intelligence to his latest offering, weaving together an array of untidy and irresistible sounds, much like the chaotic streets of the bustling city he comes from.

The album kicks off with a cacophony of ideas, frolicking from one concept to the next with a reckless abandon that is both exhilarating and, at times, overwhelming.

The first half of the record rushes. It speeds headfirst into fresh territory, refusing to conform to traditional song structures or expectations. Ideas are tucked in everywhere. While the untamed energy is undeniably fun, it occasionally detracts from the album's powerful potential, leaving the listener grasping for solid ground amidst the swirling colors of fun.

However, it's in the album's second half that McKenna truly hits his stride, delivering tighter, more focused indie-rock/pop songs that feel like the best versions of themselves.

It’s his first and second singles, "Sympathy," and “Nothing Works” that take us to the second half. The first is an instant pop/rock hit anchored by McKenna's snappy vocals and energy, and the second ultimately summarizes themes of the record - airing his frustration with expectations.

But it's "Phantom Buzz," in particular, that stands out as a phenomenal track that resets the album. The track, eight songs in, demands your attention with its punch-to-the-face rock riff and hook. It will make you sit up. Refocus. Ask yourself, "WHOA, what IS this?"

As the album draws to a close, McKenna treats us to the slow, funky groove of "Honest Test" before bidding us farewell with the delicate strains of "It's An Act." The finale is a masterclass in understated elegance, with lazy guitar riffs that meander like a lazy river winding its way through the countryside. It's a moment of depth amidst the album's eccentricity, a reminder that sometimes the simplest pleasures are the most profound.

What Happened to the Beach? is a diverse album - spanning the full spectrum of seasons in a year, from the bright highs of summer to the slower, cozy into the couch moments of winter and everything in between.

McKenna's songwriting is formidable, his creativity boundless, but there are moments where his playful experimentation can feel like a distraction rather than an enhancement. Yet perhaps that's the point – to revel in the joy of creation without getting bogged down in the details.

In many ways, What Happened to the Beach? feels like the lovechild of The White Album and The Strokes, marrying fun experimentation with inoffensive rock-pop hits. It is McKenna's best album yet, a definitive step forward in his evolution as an artist.

And while there may still be room for growth, there's no denying that McKenna's desire to be different is what sets him apart from the crowd. In a world of conformity, he is becoming, more and more, a beacon of individuality.