In the ten years they’ve been making music, Prison have articulated a sound between noise and psychedelic rock. In their debut album Upstate the group captured an essence of bittersweet nostalgia and addled dissociation through five groove-rock songs. Returning with a brand-new LP, Downstate, the group expand on the experimental rock persona they’ve been carefully curating since 2015.
Having recorded the album in Rockaway, Queens, the group reunited with friends who made for added extras on the record. Trombonist Dave Smoota Smith was featured on the Prison lineup for the first time, alongside past members Sam Jayne, Marc Razo, Adam Reich and Matt Leibowitz. With an even bigger setup than before, on Downstate the group expands on the idiosyncratic wonder their music creates.
The idea of polite angst seems completely contradictory, yet this Brooklyn four-piece has found the right balance on Downstate. Album opener ‘Millions of Armies (Wipe ‘Em Out)’ is a slow burner of distorted guitars and atmospheric coos. Its dreamlike soundscape is teased by minimal and murmured lyrics throughout. ‘Crocodile (Alligator)’ is a short but sweet follow-up that sets a new tone with prominent bass plucks and agitated vocals. ‘Crocodile (Alligator)’ gets straight to the point.
But for every helter-skelter noise rock song on the tracklist, there is a jazzy blues moment to balance it out. Songs such as ‘Made for You’ and ‘In the Tall Grass’ stand out as lighter and fluffier moments, while ‘Eyes for Keys’ and ‘Where’s My Food’ waltz through with gnarly guitar shreds, agitated vocals and sensual reverb.
The entire energy of this album is nonchalant chaos. Although a range of sounds happen at once, it’s never an overwhelming sensation. Each song captures the dissonant feeling of a constant inner monologue through distorted guitars and irregular splashes of echoey spoken word. Whether this album’s your first insight into Prison, or you’re a die-hard fan, on Downstate, the band hooks listeners in with a unique compilation of progressive stoner rock songs.
