Car Seat Headrest – Making a Door Less Open

What’s up music heads, tonight I will be reviewing the highly anticipated Car Seat Headrest album Making a Door Less Open. Car Seat Headrest (spearheaded by Will Toledo) have been a huge name in the Indie rock scene with their unforgettable Twin Fantasy, which is an album that I have not listened to but have obviously seen the cover art for in a multitude of places. So, I will be going into the album completely blind and hoping that my ignorance might lead to a more honest review.

The record starts off with a high-pitched, nasal string instrument that carries its way through the whole track as other electronic noises and drums surround it. The overall album has this softly upbeat pop vibe with electronic tweaks that are supposed to come off as experimental? Here is my breakdown of the tracks:

- Weightlifters – He wants to change the way someone can change their body, wishing that thoughts can change one’s body. His screaming of “me” is appreciated.

- Can’t Cool Me Down – Great “Oh, cooooooooooooool waterrrrrrr on my broooooowwwwww” vocal chorus. A playful synthesizer comes in as he talks about the one mistake he has made in his life. The song seems to have some vague love or friendship message.

- Deadlines (Hostile) – The track starts with a more conventional rock sound. The dichotomy between temptation and completion, asking a potential lover questions that clearly show insecurity. The chorus is almost Lil Peep-like with Toledo’s mumbling delivery and sad love lyrics.

- Hollywood – “Hollywood makes me want to puke.” The complaints of fame from an inside or outsider perspective is apparent but comes off more as complaining than anything. Towards the end I thought that this track is more of some kind of narrative, nevertheless slightly cringy.

- Hymn (Remix) – The repeating of “I feel it in my heeaaaarrrrttt” is actually compelling in this track. I don’t know what this is a remix of (maybe an old song) but it is one of the more genuinely experimental tracks on the record. The vaporwave-like repeating of his vocals with the slightly psychedelic production is one of the few tracks I like on this album. Lyrics show no clear meaning, but the instrumental is great.

- Martin – Toledo wants to find Justin (probably a lover). Talks about writing over a not-so-creative indie rock instrumental.

- Deadliness (Thoughtful) – The album goes back to a more electronic-heavy vibe with a spazzing electric guitar. When the vocals come in the bass drum is the only instrument that remains as others start gradually coming in one by one. More of a reflection love piece? I honestly think the lyrics are just bad. This is an annoyingly dragged out song.

- What’s with You Lately – A song with acoustic guitar vibes with the singing about the replacement of a lover and questioning his changes. Unnecessary track in my opinion.

- Life Worth Missing – A dialogue to a lover? With some advice that seems bad and a desire to have a clean slate in life. Nothing really noteworthy or impressive.

- There Must Be More than Blood – The main theme of the song is questioning if blood is the only things that keeps a family together. However, the seven-minute length is dreadfully long and irritating to listen to, especially towards the end of the album.

- Famous – The song starts with female vocals that fall to Toledo’s lower range and blends into his voice. I do not know if the primary vocals were just Toledo’s voice pitched higher. Redundant lyrics.

After my primary listening experience, I thought this would be an album worth reviewing. I guess in some senses it was, so I do not have to listen to Car Seat Headrest again. I’m just kidding, I know that their other works are very different, but I do not like Making a Door Less Open. The instrumentals are redundant, the lyrics are redundant, and the experimentation is barely present. This album presents nothing new, while making 47 minutes of music (not that long in my opinion) a dreadful experience. I was annoyed by the end of the album and do not wish to listen to the whole thing through ever again. There are some enjoyable elements that I can see other people liking in individual songs, but as an album I just don’t see it. I think my score will seem higher than my comments, but that’s because I think the songs can be fitting for recreational listening and they are not poorly made songs.

Below Average Album: 4.4

Favorite Track: Hymn (Remix)

Least Favorites: What’s with You Lately & There Must Be More than Blood