ALBUM REVIEW : Zeros by Declan McKenna

Zeros album artwork.
[image from : source]

Declan McKenna makes an impressive return with his intergalactic second album, Zeros.

Three years ago, at just 18 years old, Declan McKenna was crowned the voice of a generation. The irresistible indie rock anthems of his debut album tackled various specific political topics, such as corruption in the FIFA World Cup in "Brazil," or the hypocritical complications of religion in "Bethlehem." But this was a lot of pressure for an 18-year-old to keep up with.

Now 21, the British songwriter has figured out a way to strike a balance between the growing evolution of his melodic exploration and his passion for sharing his opinions. On Zeros (released 4 September 2020), McKenna takes one step back out of specificity, opening up a wider landscape where he can recount complex, overarching issues through a glittery new 1970's glam rock persona.

Taking place in a kind of futuristic dystopia, Zeros has the silver jumpsuit-clad McKenna lead the way through various forms of the apocalypse. Sparkling album opener "You Better Believe!!!" jumps right into a world of lasers and rocket ships, with McKenna already announcing that the modern world has reached its demise: "I'm sorry, my dear / The asteroid's here." Further into the album, tracks like "Rapture" fuze the connection between the futuristic world of Zeros and the increasingly terrifying world of our own, as he lays out a variety of Gen Z anxieties about how we will survive in a political and environmental climate that already seems too far gone. 

Reminiscent of the calls-to-action on his debut album, "Sagittarius A*" offers one of Zeros' most overt statements, as McKenna directly addresses millionaire apathy towards climate change. Throughout the song, he recounts instances of careless characters jet-setting about and telling Mother Nature not to worry, and then he pointedly asks them, "You think your money's gonna stop you getting wet?" 

This album is also the most musically experimental we've yet to see from McKenna. Transforming from cheeky acoustic indie to fully-fledged glam rock, Zeros draws clear influence from the likes of Elton John, David Bowie, and Queen. Standout single "Be an Astronaut" works as a kind of 21st century mélange of "Rocket Man" and "Daniel," as McKenna sits boldly behind the piano and sweeps through an unforgettable chorus, narrating problems of ambition and feeling like an outsider. Other songs like "The Key to Life on Earth" or "Beautiful Faces" take the celestial themes into their sounds, as McKenna floats his charming voice through unexpected melodies over a backdrop of twinkling synths and atmospheric guitars.

The softer side of his sound still shines on this record, especially on "Emily," where McKenna reveals a personal ode to a friend through acoustic guitar and early Beatles-esque harmonies, which eventually grow into a subtly electric sound so as to not feel out of place on the album. The final track on the record, "Eventually, Darling," moves in a similar way, blending soft, intimate moments with an astronomically layered ambiance, ultimately offering the consolation, "Everyone leaves eventually, darling / Don't be afraid."

By widening the scope of both his sound and his lyrics, Declan McKenna has taken the sophomore album challenge head on. He's drastically changed his style, but also stayed completely true to himself. He sets off this new era in the opening track by asking, "What do you think about the rocket I built?," a clear nod to the title of his first album, What Do You Think About the Car?. On Zeros, Declan McKenna continues to show that he knows how to ask pertinent questions, shed light on crucial issues, and pay just the right amount of homage to the greats who came before him, but all without losing the pluckiness that kickstarted his career.

Listen to Zeros by Declan McKenna on Spotify and Apple Music.