Nevermen is the product of three unique aspects of the music world coming together and creating something new. Their debut self-titled album is a combined effort from Mike Patton (Faith No More), Tunde Adibempe (TV on the Radio), poet and rapper Adam Drucker, and visual artists the Chapman Brothers. Nevermen’s colorful musical background is evident in their work, which is a dynamic synthesis of genres. This fresh take on what “modern” music can be is what sets aside Nevermen’s debut album from the of the mill pop hits.
In 2009, Nevermen united and announced work on their debut release. Seven years later, seemingly out of nowhere, the group resurfaces with a well-distilled repertoire of their time working together. Their debut album broke the silence with a rich mixture of music and visual art.
I first listened to this album with an almost purely nascent point of view. I had no idea who the members were, where they came from, their associated acts. I dove in blind and quickly discovered that this album is exhausting. Not the “I just ran a 5K”, exhausting, but “I’m trying to keep up with a fast conversation in a different language.” Almost every song is a well-composed blend of genres; mincing hip-hop with garage-rock hooks. The synthesis of sounds and styles present in this album is what separates Nevermen from contemporary releases. However, the same exciting sonic smoothie is exactly what can make the album tiring. Rather than fluidly transitioning between styles and moods, Nevermen jerk you around and and bring you things you didn’t even ask for. Nine times out of ten, it’s something you really want.
Don’t let the abrupt nature of the album stigmatize itself. The track “Tough Towns” (my personal favorite) sits on the perfect median between inviting party song and overplayed radio pop hit. The jangly pop elements are occluded by colorful lyrics and unexpected rapping. Other notable tracks include “Dark Ear”, reminiscent of The Black Keys, with moments of hip-hop peeking through. Rapper Adam Drucker’s colorful diction and unique flow seamlessly meanders from spoken word poetry to club banger.
Although Nevermen harken to rap-rock acts such as Linkin Park and The Flobots, they break the mold in ways nobody saw coming. Their manifold music history is displayed through a constantly morphing composition that can be tough to catch on to, but is hard to let go. Nevermen offers something that present-day pop cannot: a fresh reinterpretation of what modern music can be.
