Heart
Scro
Year: 2024
Genres: Math pop, “midwest jungle”, indie pop
Descriptors: sentimental, passionate, male vocalist, complex, melancholic, frantic, longing, sparkling, intricate melodies, drum breaks, glitchy
7/10
Despite describing this project as a small appetizer leading up to a larger album in “Bro’s Really Out Here Teaching Yapanese For Free,” Scro demonstrates his blisteringly-fast guitar playing and passionate vocals in a surprisingly strong mixtape.
First of all, I’d like to preface this by saying that I’m sorry for not really writing a lot about music recently. I’m definitely looking to get back into it, so definitely expect a lot more soon! I’ve been a fan of Scro’s music since 2023–his Like It Used To EP really stood out to me in particular. He’s definitely recaptured my love for intricate guitar playing, bringing me back in time 5 years and reminding me of my midwest emo and math rock obsessions. I also really enjoyed Scrobelly, the aptly-named collaborative album he did with electronic producer Underbelly. The production on that project really stood out to me, and Heart definitely proves that Scro has some impressive production chops himself.
On this album, Scro creates a really beautiful combination of beautifully complex multi-tracked guitar melodies, frantically chopped-up drum breaks, overwhelmingly powerful yet tasteful bass synths, glitchy textures, and his strikingly passionate vocal performances. He’s clearly a very talented musician on basically all fronts, making Heart a very impressive and cohesive solo project. Some songs, like “Teeth Don’t Match the Bite,” almost sound like anime openings with their jazzy chord progressions, quick and graceful guitar runs, and powerful vocals. I also love how the kick on this song is sidechained to the rest of the instrumental, cutting through the mix and creating a powerful ducking effect that creates a contrast between the short kick and the sustained chords and bass that follow. A lot of these tracks, especially their introductions, include fast drum breaks that keep up the pace even in the absence of his almost frantic guitar playing, reminding me a lot of the intro of Enter Shikari’s “Sorry You’re Not A Winner.” On Twitter, Scro describes this album as “midwest jungle,” combining the quick drum breaks of the electronic subgenre jungle with the jangly guitars and sentimental vocals of midwest emo. Finally, the groove on these tracks, especially the instrumental breakdown on “Breaking Down” (pun kind of intended :D), is soooo good, and it almost forces you to headbang along with the beat.
I also really enjoyed the thematic components of this album in addition to its purely sonic qualities. Scro’s lyrics, juxtaposed against the catchy, upbeat melodies, are often longing and almost desperate in a very moving way. It’s almost as if he’s trying to cover up his true feelings, yet he can’t help but let them out anyways. For example, track five is titled “Okay That’s It I’m Done Being Sad,” yet this facade only lasts 2 quick songs before we hear “Okay Maybe I’m Just a Little Bit Sad Tho.” On “Light Language,” the final song on the mixtape, Scro directly addresses his desperate attempts to escape his feelings: "Can't stop running from the emotion / I'm too gone, can't control the commotion / From the time I wake, until I rest / I'm begging take this feeling from my chest." This is followed by a powerful instrumental break that’s probably one of my favorites on this album–Scro abandons his voice for almost an entire minute, delivers a short verse, and returns to this instrumental break for the rest of the song.
Overall, I was surprised at how technical, catchy, and emotionally captivating this album was. I’d been looking forward to Heart ever since he teased “Breaking Down” on Twitter 5 days ago. If this is just a small teaser to hold us over until his next full album, I can hardly imagine what Scro has in store for us.
Favorite tracks:
- Teeth Don’t Match the Bite
- Breaking Down
- Light Language
Misses:
- Bro’s Really Out Here Teaching Yapanese For Free
- (to be fair, this is mainly a joke song that introduces the album, addresses the lack of his characteristic “heavy” sound, and tells us to look forward to even more new music, lol)
