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Critic Reviews
100
The overall experience is simply a much more listenable one; the LP puncturing the occasionally overwhelming sense of foreboding and paranoia with one of positivity – euphoria, even – just as Flegel sings about “suicide machines” et al.
9y
91
Whereas bands like Protomartyr and Savages tend to operate in shades of grey, Preoccupations speaks in a monochromatic tongue, which, in addition to translating to more color, also means albums that are not as wearying.
9y
90
Preoccupations is a tough, black and resilient modern rock album. It takes an intense and undiluted look at the dark mental landscape of someone who is dealing with today's stresses and responsibilities. It doesn't attempt to try to explain them away; it just offers a vision of what it's like to live amidst them.
9y
85
Preoccupations' greatest asset is in its breadth of ability; spontaneous, yet considered; off-kilter, but instinctive; eccentric, although well composed.
9y
80
The interesting thing about Women/Viet Cong/Preoccupations is the extent to which they wantonly shun notions of music as an expression of personality: for all the undoubted passion that flows though it, their work never really seems to be about them, or indeed about anything in particular other than abstract, elemental feeling.
9y
80
Preoccupations--formerly Viet Cong--return with a new album and a darker sound.
8y
80
The darkness that seeps through Preoccupations' self-titled offering comes from a more personal place. Written amidst breakups and instability, the album is more introspective than its predecessor – and a hell of a lot more visceral.
9y
80
Their second record hits harder, digs deeper and lingers longer than that promising debut, and keeping all eyes on their art proves to be the best statement Preoccupations could ever have offered.
9y
80
There is a stout cohesiveness that gives Preoccupations a feeling of completion and resolute artistic confidence and its reverberations mount with close and repeated listens.
9y
80
Preoccupations is a more coherent, more accessible set of songs that proves this band doesn't need an edgy name to attract the attention they deserve.
9y
80
Preoccupations makes strides to shore up Preoccupations’ identity without losing the crucial spontaneity of their debut.
9y
79
What makes Preoccupations much more than a circular exercise in self-analysis is the vitality of the music. There’s a tense, nervous energy running through all the tracks, which connect to each other like wires that spark electrical currents when they meet.
9y
75
Understanding Preoccupations is easiest when setting it against Viet Cong. That record was marked by claustrophobic arrangements ... Preoccupations does away with the murkiness, sounding remarkably clear in contrast to its predecessor.
9y
70
Preoccupations are steadying their footing here, both growing up and grounding themselves sonically.
9y
70
Preoccupations is focused on songcraft. The freewheeling, spiky abstractions peppered throughout the band’s earlier work as Viet Cong and Women are all but absent. While not exactly slick, the album has the polished dynamism of studio pop, its hooks varnished for maximum impact.
9y
70
Preoccupations is a strong follow-up to an excellent debut record. It showcases a band that is evolving and finding new ways to stretch out their sound.
9y
60
The new material isn't a huge departure but does feature synths more prominently, and Preoccupations have embraced their 80s goth-pop tendencies more wholeheartedly.
9y
50
The album gains momentum as it enters its second half, but it still sounds like they’ve lost some of the vigor and confidence of their debut.
9y
I was worried with this one.
I didn't like their first album so much, but I absolutely LOVED 'Continental Shelf' and 'Silhouettes'. I kept wondering - Why didn't they make an album with songs that were as good and creepy as those two? -
Well, I kind of got my answer with this album.
Most of the songs here feel nostalgic, creepy, sci-fi-ish and noisy. This album got me hooked for months, specially songs like 'Degraded' and 'Stimulation'. I really feel like they're the modern/horror version of ... read more
Honestly wish I liked this more but I don't. It's okay, but nothing memorable. Maybe it is the vocals that don't work for me, or the melodies/hooks of each song - just okay.
Solid post punk album. They trade the grimy sound from Viet Cong for a cleaner, and clearer sound. Synths get involved and it gets reminiscent of late Joy Division/New Order at points. The vocals are much more on the forefront of the mix. The singer has a fairly unique delivery which I feel works only some of the time with this cleaner sound. He sounds like he is holding a cigarette at all times. There are some interesting moments, especially when they use their guitar in cool post punky ways, ... read more
Favorite Tracks: Memory, Zodiac, Degraded, Anxiety, Stimulation
Least Favorite Track: Sense
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