Here's what I think of Screen Violence by CHVRCHES | Album Review

[@AaronattheMovies]

I think Screen Violence has some of their best songs since their debut and the album as a whole is definitely a massive improvement over the third one.

[@artvjon]

Really enjoyed your review of the album! Totally agree with you on the top 4 songs too 👏

[@mollyesanborn]

Thanks! Really enjoyed your review of it too. I think it's my favorite Chvrches album since The Bones Of What You Believe.

[@chaoticfirearm]

I never thought I'd be actively talking about or loving a Chvrches record in 2021 but this record is fucking amazing. Easily them in their best form since Bones. This is pretty sure to be pop AOTY for me.

[@mollyesanborn]

I agree, I think it's my favorite Chvrches album since TBOWYB.

[@jtotherock7244]

I feel as though, creatively, Chvrches has gone through greater depths in composing unique cover tracks, albeit roughly recorded, since their debut album. However, this album definitely sparks a new interest in dynamic composition. My favorite album would definitely still have to be their second, but the first album represents Chvrches best, with such raw intimacy. Loving 'Violent Delights', knowing I'll probably love 'Better if you Don't' for the long-run.

[@unhallowed45]

Screen Violence is def my fav album of the past 5 years. 🙏

[@lanasipka4742]

How Not To Drown and Nightmares are my favorites too! This album is my the most favorite from theirs!

[@stephanrasmussen1894]

This album and Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend was amazing discoveries for me in 2021. And I fully agree on How Not To Drown! Amazing collab.

[@mollyesanborn]

Those are two of my favorite albums from 2021 as well. Both are absolutely fantastic.

[@flakeyjay]

Followed Chvrches on youtube prior to them releasing an album and love how much they leaned on the 80's synth sound. Great band and great review overall.

[@mollyesanborn]

Yeah, that 80's synth sound to their music is fantastic! Glad you enjoyed the review :)

[@GortonIma]

Never really listened to Chvrches before this album. There were ads for it about the internet and it sounded pretty cool so I gave it a spin. By the end of Asking For A Friend I was buying tickets to see them in London. One of my best spontaneous listens.

[@mollyesanborn]

That's awesome! Yeah Chvrches are a pretty great band, it didn't take me long either to get hooked once I got introduced to their music.

[@williamthomas5788]

Thanks for the thoughtful review. It struck me as bit odd, though, that you sounded critical of the synth sounds of Chvrches on "Screen Violence,:" but "Screen Violence" uses guitars, live drumming, and basses much more than any of their previous albums did. If you liked the previous albums, then you had to like the synth sounds there, didn't you? I'll also add that one thing I like about Chvrches is how they have kept a recognizable style through all their work. Even the guitar on "Screen Violence" is often highly restrained and tuned to sound synthish. I thought "Screen Violence" was very recognizably a Chvrches album.

[@riceninja051]

Yes, I believe this is my most favorite CHVRCHES album. To me, its just the most cohesive and almost every track is a banger! Plus the visuals for the music videos fit with that theme of screens and being trapped. This is just a slightly more darker musical style compared to the brightness of the other albums. Also, I love how the OG John Carpenter actually remixed Good Girls! This whole album is a synth horror masterpiece for me!

[@mollyesanborn]

Yes, I love that darker edge to this album! Definitely a strong horror film theme to its sound and visuals.

[@TheWretchedMammoth]

I agree with everything you said except that I immediately liked "Screen Violence" just as much as I did "Bones of what you Believe" after the first listen. "Every Open Eye" and "Love is Dead" took a couple of listens for me to get into but now I enjoy them as much as the others. Lauren stated that "How Not to Drown" was written when she was dealing with crippling depression and severe anxiety. I think this whole album is her dealing with her mental issues taking the form of an abusive lover/slasher from a horror film. Which makes your assessment of the opening and ending lyrics all the more powerful. "The album title came from an idea for the name of the band, but was then adapted for the title of the album due to the theme of violence "on screen, by screens and through screens - with songs addressing feelings of loneliness, disillusionment and fear, among other emotions" - Sterogum interview Martin Doherty called the album title "a bit more literal [than just a concept]. When we were making the record, it was like half of our lives were lived through screens." - NME interview How Not to Drown, Violent Delights & Final Girl are highlights for me as well. Solid review as always Molly. Please keep up the great work!

[@chriswilloughby48]

I love the John Carpenter remix of Good Girls, it strips it down and makes it catchier and more connectable with its simplicity IMO, but I'm glad the more baroque version exists.

[@scninja07]

In their YT vid from NME of Lauren, Martin and Iain talking about the album, track by track, they talked about the influence of Music for the Jilted Generation by The Prodigy on Violent Delights, which I totally see. It's got that rave-y, break/drum & bass quality to it. I agree too with what you said on He Said She Said not really being all that interesting when it was first released, but it fits in really well in the album. Also agree on Nightmares being a Bones of What You Believe like track. All the tracks are great, but my fav tracks at this point: Asking for a Friend; California; Violent Delights; Lullabies; Better if You Don't, which was an interesting ending and shows their range and Scottish influence. Great album so far, feels deeper than their previous tough, going to keep listening for sure.

[@thesomething6229]

So There's A Director's Cut Which Gave 3 Bonus Tracks & I Am Obsessed With "Bitter Ending"

[@mollyesanborn]

Ooh, I'll have to check that out!

[@arturomontilla5073]

Those lyrics are dynamite. At random, i´ve been listening to the magnificent 7 starting in no particular order but one after the other until the next round (with a different song randomly). I´m in my 7th spinning (i´m a fan, alright). My mind is going ¡Dang! ¡Bang! ¡Pum! ¡Boom! Crude. Straight. Vulnerable. Inner. Angry. Lovely. Separated. The music while being the album produced by them carries the words in their shoulder beautifully, strongly, subtle and we all know about their brightness and an honor to 2 of their favorite bands. They did want they wanted. No excuses. Bulls eye at point blanck.

[@6thCircleTattoos]

He said she said is one of my favorite songs ever. Girl...how were you unsure about it at first?!

[@mollyesanborn]

I don't know, just took a little time to grow on me. That happens a lot when I listen to an album it seems, the tracks that don't stand out at first end up becoming my favorites haha.

[@cowmark67]

This album is awesome. Not sure what it replaces but it has to go in my top albums of the year. I love the addition of some rock inspired sound and guitar work on some of this songs. It's not something I was expecting but I think it was well done and added something fresh and new to their sound without taking away from what they are know for. I'll have to listen to it more but I think it's their best album since the debut. I think Every Open Eye, which was my second favorite behind the debut, has more upbeat and danceable songs but Screen Violence is a more cohesive record. Listening to this album certainly brightened up my walk from the BART station to Oracle Park for the Hella Mega Tour concert on Friday.

[@mollyesanborn]

I agree, I love the infusion of the slightly more rock sound to their music.

[@thesomething6229]

Oooooo A CHVRCHES Fan, Ngl The Last 4 Songs Where Meh / Ok But The First 6 Were Good AF

[@Wasn94]

not my favorite chvrches album (yet) but the band is ridiculously consistent in their style and all

[@markunating821]

Please react to Aurora 🤟 🔥

[@mollyesanborn]

I replied to another comment you made, but I've heard Aurora already! I love her music.

[@markunating821]

@@mollyesanborn thank you 😍🤟🔥🔥

[@liltoaster4397]

I thought it was okay I got to listen to the album a couple more times

[@dardo28]

👍✨

[@eido4220]

Do you think you could rank all of their albums

[@mollyesanborn]

I probably wouldn't do a video for it since they only have four albums, but I think right now I'd say #1 TBOWYB, #2 Screen Violence, #3 Every Open Eye, #4 Love Is Dead. That could change though, my taste in music seems to swing all over the place!

[@eido4220]

@@mollyesanborn i agree with this ranking! What would you say are your main criticisms for love is dead and every open eye?

[@jhawmemmy9782]

Death Stranding still the best song though

[@aaronstudley1753]

Can I buy you a cappuccino?

[@MrGmonkeywillruleyou]

Doesn’t sound like tool 😭

[@mollyesanborn]

haha :D