Living in one of the most musically inclined cities such as New York City can be exciting and amazing but during these tough times, it can be a little daunting as to when the music scene will come back or if it will come back this year. The fight to keep the music and entertainment industry is needed more now than ever – the best part of this quarantine is finding new music, learning how to properly cook, applying some sick gothy makeup, and basically keeping sane.
With that said, Mystery Skulls came out with a new album titled, Now or Never, and honestly, I couldn’t ask for a better title especially for now that we are becoming accustomed to a real, somehow new normal. There are rules and then there are no rules, living possibly the best contradiction we may have ever lived. I’ve always loved seeing the opening bands at a concert because you don’t know how much you’ll end up liking them and I was right.
The first time I saw Mystery Skulls in 2015 at Terminal 5 while I had interviewed Cherub and was waiting to see them play. I remember the lights going dark, the fog dispersing among the crowd while a rainbow-like array of lights began to dance along with the beat, I knew from that moment on that Mystery Skulls was on to something amazing.
After that, I became a true fan of catching his energetic live sets from anime playing in the background to insane light shows accompanying his shows. Being able to see his career flourish in such a way is such a wonderful feeling especially when I was able to interview him a few years ago for his album One of Us. I’m always grateful for bands like this because I’ve met and have danced all night with strangers who then become friends.
As Now or Never begins, it’s tough not to catch a whim of adrenaline once the album starts – it gets better and better with each listen. It’s amazing to think that Now or Never was released in a time where there’s so much uncertainty and everyone could use some feel-good music to dance around the house too.
In full transparency, quarantine can have its ups and downs – having good days, productive days, shit days; you get the gist but this album is actually very inspiring. From “Fight For Your Life” to “What A Feeling”, this album feels like a piece of art; complex yet effortless. Even the music video for “Now or Never” is packed with soccer action but with a subtle but obvious life lesson; not everything that glitters is gold. My favorite track has to be “Heaven” which has some sick disco vibes, maybe it’s just me but I’m going through some serious nostalgia these days and this track reminds me so much of sneaking into the grand ballroom at Webster Hall after catching a rock show in the basement known as The Studio and dancing like I didn’t have a care in the world.
Hearing this album in comparison to his other works is engaging because you can hear the evolution of his music but at the same time he’s kept his genuine sound; it’s a complicated process as a musician or band because you don’t want to lose your sound and at the same time evolving can be a blessing. With that said, Now or Never is the perfect soundtrack not only to the summer but to dance around your place with your favorite drink in hand.