Nothing's Ever Fine

Elise Okusamis sophomore foray as Oceanator, Nothings Ever Fine, continues in the vein of 2020s apocalypse-minded Things I Never Said. Administering a compelling mix of grungy, melody-rich despondency and ebullient, late-July power punk with an emphasis on the paranormal cold spots in between, its a sonic behemoth compared to its predecessor, thanks to some muscular knob-twiddling from Okusami and co-producer Bartees Strange. Commencing with the short instrumental "Morning," the 11-song set strikes a nice balance between propulsion and ambiance. The languid and lonesome "Nightmare Machine" leans hard into the latter persuasion. At the same time, "The Last Summer" is a tight yet dimly lit summer slacker/power punk anthem that plays to Okusamis strengths as a guitarist and pop craftswoman. The punchy "Beach Days" and "Bad Brain Daze" follow suit, pairing tight, palm-muted barre chords with explosive choruses that celebrate small victories and wry, youthful fatalism -- the latter cut even sports an E Street Band-worthy sax solo. There are progressive elements on the bifurcated "Solar Flares" and the Wolf Alice-leaning "Stuck," but for the most part, Things I Never Said traffics in summery punk vibes with a greasy 90s sheen. By the time the slow-burning closer "Evening" reaches its resplendent, string-laden finale, its become clear that the fears and anxieties that fueled Nothings Ever Fine have begun to dissipate. The end of the world may still be nigh, but Okusami is content listening to "the trees creak" and the shedding cicadas "skin covering everything" as the ashes pile up around her. ~ James Christopher Monger