Hi, everyone! Bigthony Speechtano here, the internet's busiest music nerd, and it's time for a review of this new Cheekface album, Podium.

The sixth full-length album, I believe, from California rock trio Cheekface. America's local band, so they are called. But yes, with this record, they are adding to a very consistent and prolific run of records, as they've really been on an album-a-year schedule since their breakout records, Emphatically No., as well as Too Much To Ask, which really put them on the indie rock map.

But as much momentum as Cheekface has built up over the last several years while continuing to keep their operation very DIY, I feel like it's also become clear that the band has a sound that just does not appeal as widely as maybe it could to the average power pop or indie rock listener, despite making music that fits very snugly into those labels. Of course, this is due to the very characteristics that make Cheekface unique. They're kind of geeky, talk-sung lyrics. They're overly peppy and sometimes cheery guitar parts and grooves. And a lot of the dad-joke type wordplay that makes it into a lot of Greg Katz's lyrics.

So yeah, because of that stuff, Cheekface is not going to be for everyone, but in my eyes, records like It's Sorted, what they lack in length and cool factor, they easily make up for with charm and quirk and lots of earworm hooks. That is, if these hooks aren't getting on your nerves first.

Now, the Cheeks' last full-length LP, Middle Spoon, which I liked but didn't love. There were many solid tracks on this thing that I still go back to for sure, like "Living Lo-Fi." A song that is lyrically just so quintessentially Cheekface; you kind of have to know their vibe to know.

But conversely, there were a lot of other moments that, to my ears, kind of felt like the band was trying some new things, experimenting, and getting mixed results. And maybe that's because of a pressure to evolve, given that all these records are dropping in such quick succession. A feeling or inkling or expectation that may be put best by a song on this very record, "Growth Sux."

And now Podium, I feel like if this record does anything, it kind of encapsulates how correct that phrase actually is. Because yeah, if this album is Cheekface growing, I'm not sure I like it. By a decent margin, Podium is Cheekface's longest album yet, and I think this record continues to showcase their journey in adding more layers, more bells and whistles, broadening out their core build of bass, drums, guitar, and those sung and spoken vocals. We have more horns on this thing, more synths, more doubled-up lead vocals, too. And you really feel that increase in layers because this is also handily Cheekface's most compressed album so far as well.

The choruses on this album are beefier and more blaring than they've been on any previous Cheekface project, which I'm not sure I really see the benefit of, personally. These guys are Cheekface. They don't need to sound bricked out like a new Nickelback single. Producing the songs on this album this way just makes tracks like "The Weather", for example, sound more grating than they'd be otherwise.

But as much as these changes might be losing me, I do feel like they are kind of understandable to an extent. Because what relevant rock band hasn't done at least one album where they stacked on the layers too high or overcooked things just a tad in the mix? What I don't get, though, is Cheekface actively adding elements to their music that make it feel like they are trying to make their songs more obnoxious. The extended DJ scratching that happens on more than one song on this album - more than one is too much. "Hostile Street" and "There Is a God." Is this a Sugar Ray album?

It's enough to make me wish Cheekface would just go back to copying CAKE. Especially since the production has shifted to a point where it feels like I'm no longer listening to a rock band and instead the homespun recording project of a guy who gets paid to make cool music for Netflix's original kids programming.

Like on "Peanut Butter Prawns" or "U Can’t Do It" or "MFT" - even though I do think the boy-girl verses trading off on that one are kind of cute. Honestly, I don't really enjoy a single song on this thing until we hit track six, "Rent Is Down", which oddly enough is a slow burner. It has a funny, bittersweet contrast between all this imagery and mentions of the prices of everything going up.

But simultaneously, the "Rent Is Down" in Greg's mind. The ability to kind of saunter into his thoughts and preoccupy his thoughts is cheaper than ever. Obviously playing off the phrase living rent-free in someone's head.

From here, the record continues to be a mixed bag. "EBT" is an acoustic number that I think is just merely okay. The song "Discrete" has these super low-pitched vocals on the verses that, for me, are just a non-starter. I do not want to listen to these. They're unbelievably annoying and just make Greg's vocals hard to take. And I'm someone who historically loves Greg's lyrics and vocal performances.

But still, there's no reprieve on this record even during the simpler tracks. Like "Black Site", which, granted, doesn't have all the extras that many other songs on here do. But still, the song kind of feels like Cheekface attempting a capital R-O-C-K rock song. And I'm just not sure the increase in aggression is selling the track itself any better. Better than their trademark sarcasm and measured grooves would.

I could say the same for the song "I Don't Work Here" as well, which has a roaring hook and big vocal and guitar layers. On any other rock album, sure, why not? That's almost to be expected. But maybe not when your chorus is: "You can put away the cuck chair, it's just you and me tonight." Which I think the serious tone of the delivery on this track almost betrays how ridiculous those lyrics are.

But yeah, unfortunately, I'm at a bit of a loss with Podium. I'm very torn on it because I still do enjoy a lot of Cheekface's older works, and I appreciate what the band is doing in concept. But not only did they extend this album out with some of their weakest material to date, but I also feel like they've ventured out so far from what their creative and aesthetic strengths are that they have now managed to put out what I think is their weakest record yet. Which is why I'm feeling, I think, a light five on this one.

Anthony Fantano. Cheekface. Forever.