Artist: Flunk Album: Personal Stereo

Year: 2007
Duration: 0:0-1

Flunk's Personal Stereo: An Album Review

Norway's Flunk is a music band known for their dreamy and atmospheric tunes that merge elements of trip-hop, shoegaze, and indie pop. Their album Personal Stereo, released in 2019, is an embodiment of their signature sound and a culmination of their experimentation in both music and production. In this post, we give a detailed review of Personal Stereo, including a brief history of Flunk, the music genre of this album, the best songs, and the most innovative parts. Let's dive in!

Flunk is a Norwegian music band formed in 2000 that consists of three members: Ulf Nygaard, Jo Bakke, and Anja Oyen Vister. The band gained popularity in the early 2000s with their remix of New Order's Blue Monday and their debut album For Sleepyheads Only. Since then, they have released six studio albums, including Personal Stereo.

Personal Stereo is a mix of downtempo, electro-pop, and trip-hop styles. The album consists of ten tracks, each with its own sonic and lyrical themes. The opening track, Monte Carlo, sets the tone with haunting beats and ethereal vocals. The standout song of the album is Chemistry and Math, which features a catchy melody, harmonious chorus, and introspective lyrics. Another unique track is Commuter Wish, which has a minimalist structure with only a few elements yet creates a captivating atmosphere.

The album's most innovative parts come from its subtle production techniques. Flunk collaborates with a diverse group of producers, including Yuri Schwarz and Robbie Knox, to add new perspectives and dimensions to their sound. For example, Play features a glitchy electronic beat and samples of 8-bit game sound effects, creating a nostalgic and playful atmosphere. The album's closing track, Freefall, incorporates orchestral samples and ambient noise, serving as a peaceful resolution to the album's emotional journey.

Despite the album's strong points, there are some flaws. The album lacks cohesion, and some tracks feel out of place in the context of the album. Additionally, some tracks are forgettable and lack a strong identity, such as Goodbye and The Long Wait. These songs don't stand out in a positive or negative way, making them insignificant and skippable.

Personal Stereo is a worthwhile listen for fans of electronic music, trip-hop, and indie pop. It showcases Flunk's musical versatility and experimentation while maintaining their signature dreamy atmosphere. The best tracks of the album, such as Chemistry and Math and Commuter Wish, demonstrate Flunk's songwriting abilities and musicality. The album could improve with stronger cohesion and less forgettable tracks, but it remains a solid album that will take listeners on a beautiful sonic journey.