Chip Chrome & The Mono-tones Album Review

On September 25th, The Neighbourhood finally dropped “Chip Chrome & The Mono-tones” and I’m so glad it finally happened. Ever since their first single Middle Of Somewhere, I knew this album would be quite different and interesting. It took me forever though to gather my feelings on it because it was quite strange to digest, plus other things like college and work pushed it to the side, but now I finally have a firm grasp on what I think about this album. So let’s dive into “Chip Chrome & The Mono-tones” and go track by track through this strange journey.

Track 1: Chip Chrome

This is just a 30-second introduction. Nothing much to say about it, but I think it’s a great intro to the album. It really captivates the main sound of the album and the concept of it. I like it, but I can’t really review an intro sooo that’s all I have to say haha.

NA/10

Track 2: Pretty Boy

Pretty Boy is such a soothing song that has a melancholic tone to it. It’s quite a reflective track about love and having a significant other. Now I would that isn’t a typical love song, because there is an underlying tone of sadness to it. It’s a dreamy track with a tinge of bitterness to it, and makes me feel like I’m floating on a heavy cloud. It’s at the same time soothing yet suffocating, and the painful scream at the end makes the track even more haunting. Overall this song makes me feel weird, I’m not sure how to describe it. It’s hauntingly beautiful and somber sounding. It gives me an unrequited love vibe, and is so different from what The Neighbourhood had put out in the past. I can’t say I love this song though, but I do enjoy it and think it’s a nice track. I also can’t play this song 24/7 because it’s weird to soak in for me. I like it, but yeah overall I have mixed feelings with this track.

7/10

Track 3: Lost In Translation

After the hazy track of Pretty Boy, we get into a funky little tune of Lost In Translation. It’s an upbeat song about Chip Chrome problems with his partner and struggling with miscommunication in the relationship. This is such a retro song and I’m obsessed with it. It’s so colorful and I love the intro where they sample The Manhattans - Wish That You Were Mine. It’s the perfect opener to the funky sound and desperate need for communication with a partner. It’s charming and cute, and a fun pop song with nostalgic elements to it. It’s definitely one of my faves in the album.

10/10

Track 4: Devils Advocate

Another hazy but cooler and fun track, Devils Advocate main idea is about that voice in your head telling you everything that could go wrong. It’s such a slick and sinister song, and I adore the guitar solo near the end. It makes me feel I’m in some kind of city filled with crooks and gangs for some reason. I also love Jesse annunciation in this track, especially in the beginning verses and him saying “shiesty”. It’s also very catchy and can get caught in your head easily. The only thing about this song that I don’t like is that it leaves me wanting more. I feel the ending was a bit abrupt and the song is incomplete. I do like the song, but I just needed a little more.

8/10

Track 5: Hell Or High Water

Next is the short acoustic tune Hell Or High Water. Now firstly can I say the instrumentals remind me of old Spongebob? Like I don’t know why but the instrumental in the back with that strumming guitar takes me back to 90s’ Spongebob. Maybe it’s cause it is a type of song to listen to while at the water, but I just can’t get Spongebob out of my head haha. Now with the song itself, how I perceived it was that Chip Chrome is chasing after his dream, but all his failures are swallowing him like the ocean and he’s struggling to keep going. It’s another melancholy song that is calming yet somber. It’s a decent track and fits perfectly within the album, but on its own, it is a bit weaker compared to the other tracks, and so it’s not really high on my rating.

7/10

Track 6: Cherry Flavoured

Another dreamy song, Cherry Flavoured is quite captivating to me. It’s like I’m in some weird indie film about youth haha. I like this track so much and is such an earworm. Although a slow track, it got stuck in my head and I’m obsessed with the chorus. I love this song...up until the end. It goes to a distorted voice and strays away from the song, and it just doesn’t fit in the track for me. It’s so out of place and is like they just suddenly stamped it into the track. If the ending was different, I would’ve enjoyed Cherry Flavoured way more, but for what we got I do like it, just not the ending.

7/10

Track 7: The Mono-Tones

The Mono-Tones is such a nice track, and I saw people on twitter say they wish it was longer, but I think it’s the perfect length. I can’t believe one of my favorite songs on the album is only a minute long, but oh well. I perceived this song as how everyone is judging Chip Chrome and telling him to do this or that, but he has no idea what he wants for himself. It’s another earworm that nestles into your head and is so catchy. I think this is a great track and I enjoy it alot.

8/10

Track 8: BooHoo

Next up is BooHoo, and honestly, I don’t have much to say. It seems to be a song about struggling with his partner and has a cute and simple instrumental to it. It’s bittersweet and an enjoyable song. I also love the retro opening to it with the sound of the sirens. It’s a nice song, but its a song I can’t listen to 24/7. The more I listen to it on repeat, it loses its shine. I do adore this song though, but it can’t be on repeat for me.

8/10

Track 9: Silver Lining

Now next is one of my favorites on the album. It’s another song about struggles with love, and I love it. I am kind of obsessed with this track. It makes me feel joyful and take me back to fond memories (Love how I sound like I’m 42 lmaooo). It’s a cute song that I really enjoy, and is one of the stronger tracks on the album

9/10

Track 10: Tobacco Sunburst

Tobacco Sunburst...oh how I am obsessed with this song. It drew me in the first 30 seconds, and I could tell I would fall in love with this song. It’s soothing to the soul and I can feel the raw emotions in the track. It’s like a Western-Esque song that where Chip Chrome walks off into the sunset. It’s haunting and dreaming. It takes me to cloud 9 and I never want to come down. Although at first, it seems like a simple track, it adds more layers as the song progresses and ages beautifully. Tobacco Sunburst is definitely that song that will age like fine wine, just keeps getting better with every listen, and is definitely my favorite off the album

10/10

Track 11: Middle Of Somewhere

Middle Of Somewhere, the perfect closer to this strange mirage and nostalgic haze. It seems to be about being an adult in the strange place called life. I also adore the lyrics, my favorite being “Everyone is an alien, When you’re trying to find your place.” It really captures the feelings of growing up and figuring out who you are. It’s such a dreamy track talking about reality, and it’s amazing. I just wish it was a little longer cause it ended too quickly for me. Middle Of Somewhere is just astounding and a great song about the changes of life and understanding who you are.

9/10

Overall, I love this Album. I just love the direction The Neighbourhood took with this album. Further you get into the album, each track gets better and better. Chip Chrome & The Mono-tones is a great album filled with bittersweetness and nostalgia. I adore the album, and really enjoyed it.

9/10

Song Ranking:

1. Tobacco Sunburst

2. Lost In Translation

3. Middle Of Somewhere

4. Silver Lining

5. Devils Advocate

6. BooHoo

7. The Mono-Tones

8. Cherry Flavoured

9. Pretty Boy

10. Hell Or High Water

11. Chip Chrome

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