After a two year wait, British foursome The Vamps released their fifth studio album, Cherry Blossom, on October 16th.
The band made up of singer Bradley Simpson, guitarist James McVey, bassist Connor Ball, and drummer Tristan Evans, showcase in this new record a mature sound that starts to leave behind their usual pop vibe.
Simpson explained on his Twitter that the name of the album was inspired by their latest trip to Japan during their Four Corners Tour in 2019: “I got speaking to someone about Sakura and the meaning behind it and it felt like a perfect album title for us. The four of us had a chat about it (…) and really started working on the album after that”.
The reason why the title felt perfect it’s intertwined with the theme and the search for a new sound for the album. On an Instagram post, they explained that it “stands for rebirth and new beginnings, letting go of inhibitions and immersing yourself on something new”.
The record opens up with an instrumental that immediately sets the tone with a hopeful melody that flows into Glory Days. In the song the feeling of wanting a deeper connection with someone it’s represented and how the singer hopes their counterpart feels the same way (I don’t wanna jinx this thing / But I think we got somethin’; I don’t wanna take this slow / Or wait ’til the fire grows cold). It highlights the idea of living in the moment and making the most out of every experience since “these are the best days of our lives”.
The beat continues to speed up with Better. It flips the switch completely from the previous song and with an 80’s inspired background, filled with up-tempo synth-pop beats, asks “did things get better, or did we get used to it?”. It works as a catchy reminder that you shouldn’t be chasing people around and settle for someone who doesn’t value you (I won’t settle for less than best / I say it so I don’t forget / I won’t settle for less than best / And we can do better than this).
The fourth track comes in the form of the introductory single Married In Vegas, originally released on the 31st of July. The four-to-the-floor pattern makes it an energetic and unique song on the record that, at the same time, captures the overall vibe of the whole body of work. Simpson shared in an interview with Rolling Stones Mexico that “the message, the whole concept, is to fall in love and use that feeling (…) is a metaphor for how love can be terrifying, but you still have to dive headfirst into it, take a chance and dive deep”.
It’s followed by the second single Chemicals that dropped on the 10th of September. The song gives the feeling of being so madly into someone that you feel like you’ve lost all control but at the same time feeling invincible (Drowning in a pool of people / Now all I ever see is you; I tried but I can’t fight the feeling / Feels like dreaming).
Dreamy Would You marks the midpoint of the record. It brings up the insecurities of feeling like your partner isn’t 100% in (If I walked out the door / Would you even notice I’m gone? / Would you even miss me at all?; Would you care enough to follow? / Would you even miss me at all?). As the vocalist explains on his Twitter, the chorus has “lots of stacks and phased vocals, phased whisper vocals and a load of sidechain” which mimics an overflowing amount of thoughts coming rapidly inside your brain and gives a unique texture to the song.
The second half of the album starts with Bitter. It works as a follow-up to earlier track Better offering the prelude to that moment of realization where you understand you deserve more. It faces the ups and downs that come before everything ends and how, even though it’s obvious it’s hurtful, one can’t help but live off the high of the good times (A cherry cola cigarette / Bad for me, so hard to quit; I’m sick of all the arguin’ / But your cinnamon got me back again; I get tonguе-tied / Tied to your powerful, powеrful / I lose all, lose all control). Both Would You and Bitter share the same bass preset.
The next two songs start to slow the pace of the record and, after doing a back and forth of representing love and heartache, goes straight to the fallout of a relationship. Part Of Me refers to a post-breakup state where it feels like there’s something missing after they’re gone ‘cause they were the best thing you ever had (You took a part of me, you were, you were / The best part of me). It’s followed by raw ballad Protocol that portrays the aftermath of ending things with someone who you expected to be with for the long run, feeling vulnerable and not wanting to let them go (I remember the evenin’ you said you were leavin’ / That’s when I knew I had lost). It paints a vivid image of heartache and regret (You won’t tell your mother ’cause she’ll tell your father / And that’s just one more broken heart; A future of stories, adventures, and journeys / On fire and falling apart). McVey shared on his Twitter that he wrote “about what it would feel like to ruin the thing that means the most to me”.
Nothing But You embodies such a high feeling of adrenaline and emotions for someone you’re devoted to that you don’t care what damage they might do (So go and fuck up my head / And I’ll let you do it over and over and over and over again; ’Cause, honestly, I’d let you do your worst / And all of the headaches aside / I’d let you do what you like as long as I). It’s a perfect representation of hurting yourself at the hands of somebody else.
The record comes to a close in the form of calming and soft Treading Water. It was the first song the band wrote for the record and it’s about being in a helpless state of mind. It longs for the feeling of being loved (Hope you don’t take too long / I need a little love in my life) but it works on a double logic of self-assurance and also as a reminder for the listener that when they’re feeling that way they’ll be able to find that love on themselves (You can’t hurry things along / So when you need a little love in life / You’ll find a little love). It ends on a positive note that one can be there for themselves and eventually, after patiently waiting, someone will be there and understand all your insecurities.
Cherry Blossom reintroduces The Vamps and positions them far away from your typical pop boy-band. It shows growth not only on their sound, filled with catchy beats and distorted vocal and instruments throughout but in their lyrical ability to convey deep and complex emotions but presenting them in ways that are relatable to their listeners while maintaining their own personal touch.
You can stream Cherry Blossom on Spotify and listen to the Blossom Sessions, live versions of the tracks, on YouTube while we wait for their 2021 tour…if corona allows it.
