Review by Rachel Jablonski
Not For You, a heavy dose of feel good music just in time for summer! The hard-hitting sounds will pound down on you more severely than harmful UV rays, but the listen will be as refreshing as running through the sprinkler in the scorching heat.
Not For You, the second album from San Diego based Mower, is a musical piece vastly ranging in style – rock, metal, punk, you name it. The foundation of the album is guitar driven and heavy, but the compilation could not strictly be classified due to the catchy, growly, rhythmic, fast paced, harmonic, distorted, pure tone combinations. Produced by Mikey Doling of Snot and Soulfly fame, Not For You is a fun album full of heavy, intense emotion and, at the same time, a light-hearted, feel good vibe.
Despite the rather pointed lyrics, “Road Rage” is a hilarious song that will strike a chord with everyone who understands the frustrations of being on the road with negligent drivers. You roll like the road is yours, Uninsured with those expired plates, Putting makeup on, Inside the passing lane, Not that bright clown, So pull it over the right… I see your mouth is moving, I see your finger fly, But you don’t understand, That the wheel in my hand, Can decide your fucking life! The highlight of the song comes somewhere in the middle with a complete musical break down. Adrenaline rises as pulsating guitar and pounding drums take control. The song is less than 2 minutes long, as are a few other tracks throughout the album such as “The End” and “Seedless,” giving some of the album a punk feel due to the short duration.
Songs like “American Psycho,” “10’ x 10’,” “The End,” and the title track with chugging and distorted guitar are more metal in nature. Other extremely fast paced tracks like “Look Away” and “Seedless” are more punk. “MPYP” is an interlude. “General Admission” is dark and dramatic. “U Turn” is a little more upbeat. “L.A. Riot” is slowed down, bass driven, dark, but jazzy. The utilization of two vocalists allows for catchy harmonies both melodic and rough throughout the album. One of the best examples of this comes in an effective track called “Broken Hands” with a very catchy, harmonic chorus. I see the answer (I see the answer to it all), The solution makes good sense (but I resist it at first), I see the madness (I see the madness in it all), Making fists with broken hands. The album wraps up with a cover of the Mamas and the Papas’ “California Dreamin’,” a prefect way to sum up the album to feel good about this summer.