Andrew Soto – Worst Album Ever

In a world full of dour music, Andrew Soto brings the joy with the playful celebration of “Worst Album Ever”. Heavily versed in metal and internet culture, the whole of the album explores absurdity with the greatest of ease. The tempos are brought all the way to the breaking point, always about to become a virtual blur. Everything about the sound has a slapstick quality for he lets these pieces run loose allowing them to embody a sunny sense of chaos. Best of all is Soto’s guitar work which feels positively masterful. His chops truly feel impressive as he shreds with such ease, revealing a true talent for form. Alongside Andrew Soto, Robert Turner shows off an impressive display of instrumental mastery.
Lyrics truly rest at the heart of the piece. From these all else flows. His nods to the Lonely Island are undeniable, and he clearly draws a lot from their work. The cultural references seem to touch upon literally everything, from navigating relationships to the ridiculousness of language. Various puns, plays on words, and keen observations are warped beyond belief in a way that feels fully realized. Beyond the lyricism he allows the arrangements themselves to become part of the joke, as his technical prowess elevates it in a way akin to the Flight of the Conchords deft hand. Multiple layers intermingle as he brings a whole slew of genres into the mix. Elements of thrash, punk, electro, and more gradually make their way across the entirety of the album.
“Feed Me Meow” sets the tone for the album, with a stop-start jerky rhythm. This perfectly embodies the unexpected movements of a cat. As a fellow cat owner, I can attest to the number of times I have been rudely woken up by an unusually loud aggressive cat. Percussion serves as a virtual force of nature with the riffs cascading down. Complete and pure mayhem, this is easily the highlight of the album. The usage of the echoed “meow” further adds to the expansive nature of it all. On the tongue-in-cheek “Gimme Booty” the chorus is absolutely infectious. The intense “Going On A Beer Run” touches upon the carnivalesque Mr. Bungle in terms of its wild, veering sound. For the first few moments “Feel Good Song” goes for a stripped-down sound before it is slowly filled up with tactile synths and grandeur of the guitar.
Capturing the frustrations of the mundane a la Nicholson Baker’s “The Mezzanine”, the vivid detail of “Use Your Blinker” feels so real. Nimble riffs merge with a dance-rock rhythm on “Human Why’d You Leave Me” where he explores the sadness of a dog left alone for a short period of time. With “The Mighty Manatee” Andrew Soto draws from the aquatic and cartoonish work of Ween. Incredible soloing intermingles with the neon-hued electro of “Check You Out”. Such a ridiculous track, he utilizes a solid buildup to the greatest extent. A rap battle ensues between Robert Turner and Andrew Soto as the two try to win the ability to check someone out of a grocery store. Pretty self-explanatory, “I Use Memes To Mask My Insecurities” brings to the album to a close. With a groove and overall style that recalls the best of the Offspring, the track simply stuns, making brevity truly the soul of wit.
Andrew Soto sculpts a radiant album on the delightfully demented “Worst Album Ever” proving that metal can have a sense of humor.