ALBUM REVIEW: "I Don't Think I Can Do This Anymore" by Moose Blood

I Don't Think I Can Do This Anymore is more of the same from the Canterbury based four piece Moose Blood, but at this stage that can only be a good thing. It's a great thing, in fact. The earnest, happy/sad and often heartbreaking brand of emo/pop punk that they bring to the table feels incredibly fresh, if not exactly completely original. Only time will tell if their sound begins to sound worn out or weary, but as of now I Don't Think I Can Do This Anymore is the most accomplished album Moose Blood have released so far.

For the casual listener wanting to know what emo can be, there are worse places to start than here (or the band's two earlier albums I'll Keep You In Mind, From Time To Time and Blush). This isn't emo like it was in the 2000s, mind you - My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy have barely an inch of direct influence on Moose Blood's sound - this is what emo sounds like in 2018. It's tired, reflective and often painfully honest. Themes like death, loneliness, self-doubt and lost love reappear on I Don't Think I Can Do This Anymore, and while often times those themes can sound contrived and overused, there isn't a moment on this record that doesn't completely convince you of singer Eddy Brewerton's complete honesty and vulnerability. It's like the difference between watching Fury and Saving Private Ryan - one is ten times more harrowing than the other simply because you know it really happened (albeit relatively loosely).

The album sounds great, too. Beau Burchell returns with his third producer credit for Moose Blood and at this stage he is as much a member of the band as the musicians as far as their studio releases are concerned. It immediately sounds like Moose Blood, which is a credit to Burchell for crafting something identifiably unique to the band.
The repeat value lacks somewhat, however, and I would suggest that this is due to the hooks not being as sharp or sticky as they have been in the band's past releases. For a band that relies so heavily on choruses and sing-a-long value this is a notable let down, but doesn't completely derail the album. It's still solid, and if you're a Moose Blood fan then you will be more than happy with what they have come up with on LP3. However a more objective music fan may lose interest after a few listens (not me, I dig it).

Favourite Tracks: Talk In Your Sleep, Walk All Day With You, All The Time and Promise Me

Least Favourite Track: You Left In The Worst Way

Rating: B+

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