Singles Roundup: Creeper, AFI, Rob Thomas, & The Requiem

Three out of four are Goth(y)... how is this happening?

Creeper - Blood Magic (Is A Ritual)

It's no secret I hated Creeper's last album, when they veered into the world of 80s Goth. They are continuing that on their upcoming sequel record, but something has changed. I liked "Headstones" quite a bit, and this second single is just as good. It's dark and cheesy, but there's also a bit of actual fun injected into the mix, as if they finally realize being camp needs to be self-aware. They have a penchant for borrowing bits and pieces, and here the melody of the chorus reminds me quite a bit of "Heaven Is A Place On Earth". That gives the song an immediate lift when it comes on, and reminds me why Creeper came onto the scene as one of the most promising new bands. If the album is able to keep this up, I might still have issues with their complete rip-off poser status, but they'll at least prove they have the substance behind the style.

AFI - Behind The Clock

I must be missing something. When and how did Goth become a big trend again? It feels like everywhere I turn, there's new Goth music coming out. AFI is not the band I would expect that from, but I've also learned not to expect good music from them any longer. They are a completely different band than the brief time in which I liked them, and now they are fully embracing being weird old coots. Danny Havok is sporting a look that is as cartoonish as The Village People, and this first song from their upcoming album is the kind of tuneless tripe that leaves me convinced he spent more time on his mustache than on writing the song. It's slow, boring, and without any redeeming qualities. It drones on as Danny croaks out vocals that sound nothing like him, 'singing' a melody that is purely theoretical. It's... the sort of thing that makes me wonder how anyone likes this sort of thing, even more so when I see fans still praising it. Ugh.

Rob Thomas - Hard To Be Happy

I found myself listening to "Yourself Or Someone Like You" a lot over this last year, so hearing where Rob Thomas is now is a bit like trying to figure out what is in the center of a black hole. This jaunty bit of sadness is so far removed from the past that it doesn't seem connected by even the thinnest of pretense. I agree with the sentiment that it's hard to be happy, but I can say this song is doing nothing to help correct that. It tries to have the energy of the upbeat songs from Rob's first solo album, but the flat production and passionless vocals don't let the song resonate with anything approaching sincerity. It feels hollow while trying to say something meaningful, and it doesn't work for me at all. Compare this to how he sang on "Long Day" or "Kody", and age isn't the only explanation for what's gone wrong.

The Requiem - From Dust To Dawn/Vanity

Here's one of those uncomfortable cases where good music could make you angry. The Requiem's album was my Album Of The Year in 2024, but now has me asking questions. How can that be? These two songs come off the new deluxe edition of the album, which features a few other songs that aren't quite so important. These two fit right in with the album, adding even more great emo/punk numbers to the track listing. They have the same flair, attitude, and big hooks that made the record what it was. The issue is that by putting out this deluxe edition, the band is doing two things; 1)They are showing us the album could have been even better with these songs included from the get-go, and 2)They are making fools of anyone who went to the trouble of buying a CD from them. These deluxe editions coming out months (or a year) later are an insult to the fans that support you from the start, and the kind of cheap cash-grab that ultimately turns people off from being active and engaged fans. In another head-scratcher, they aren't even cashing in properly, as right now I don't believe the deluxe edition is even available for physical purchase. So what's the point in bundling these songs in for streaming playlists? I don't get it.