By Michael Luce
The Entertainer, the new album from Provo-based rock group No Such Animal, is a fun-fueled emotional journey through what makes rock music so good. From pop to prog, nearly every “prefix–rock” can be found throughout these tracks. The album excellently showcases the range of styles the group dabbles in, though the band has come into their own sonic identity. They’ve stepped beyond their Green Day-meets-Killers-vs-Muse roots, and although “smorgasbord” has been a point of criticism for No Such Animal in the past, this album showcases variety as a feature, not a bug.
Now, admittedly I do have some bias: I’ve been a fan and friend of No Such Animal for a few years now. However, I have yet to find someone who doesn’t at least like something from this album.
Finn Morrison, frontman of the group, explained it’s about reacting to the disappointments and reality of life while finding yourself along the way. He also described the album as an “embellished autobiography” for the band that presents a sort of hyperreality roughly based on their feelings and experiences. As No Such Animal has always focused on personal connection, Finn declined to reveal any more and encouraged listeners to find their own meaning in the music.
The first half of The Entertainer is immensely fun, with the energy cranked all the way up from the moment the first chord of “Bones” lands. Song after song presents the listener with the heavy-hitting energy the band is known for in their live shows, and it cannot be understated how extremely catchy everything is, too. You’ll find yourself humming “Don’t Know You Anymore,” “Mr. Spaceman,” “Heartless,” or the semi-viral “Witches in Salt Lake City” (among others) after just a few listens. Choosing a favorite is hard, but I’d go with “On My Own” as it has been stuck in my head repeatedly since No Such Animal started including it in setlists last year. It’s a poppy up-tempo earworm that’s perfect for screaming in your car, the shower, or really wherever it’s socially acceptable to scream songs.
The fun continues into the second half, but everything shifts when you get to “Rearview Mirror.” The mood darkens. Suddenly, everything feels considerably more serious, and there’s a gravitas to the music that makes you sit up in your seat and pay attention. The dip in energy is a welcome breath of calm before the second half of “Corrode” rips into a massive wash of guitar and distant voices that rolls right into the penultimate track: “The Entertainer.”
The album’s epic title track is an eight-minute exhibit of the most grandiose and indulgent music the band has released yet, though it’s paradoxically among their most vulnerable and intimate works too. It tells a tale I think many of us can relate to: burnout, frustration, hiding behind masks, and failure to meet expectations (real or imagined). Once again, it’s an exaggeration of real performers’ experiences which includes a nod to Provo Music Magazine’s Winter 2022 Battle of the Bands coverage (“The magazine says I’m like a cult leader”). Musically, the track is an impressive display of the band’s skill; the structure flows effortlessly from one section to another, and Finn’s biting vocal delivery is offset by shredding guitar licks and massive gang vocals. “The Entertainer” is one of the best things No Such Animal has produced, and it really deserves to be heard in the context of the full album.
The final track “Out There” ties the emotional beats of the album together and even borrows musical elements from earlier tracks. You don’t even notice the immense weight of the album until the final seconds when Finn lets out a sigh and you find yourself joining in. Finishing The Entertainer gave me the same great feeling of exhaustion and satisfaction as an album like Gorillaz’s Demon Days. This entertainer is definitely worth your attention.
Make sure to follow No Such Animal on Instagram. You can listen to “On My Own” below!