Palaye Royale’s `Fever Dream’ disappoints

Palaye+Royale+releases+a+new+album+with+interesting+commentary+but+subpar+musicality.

Photograph via Spotify

Palaye Royale releases a new album with interesting commentary but subpar musicality.

Rachael Bonneau, Club Member

Palaye Royale’s Fever Dream has an interesting commentary on the rock’n’roll lifestyle but delivers subpar musicality. 

The album focuses on how the portrayal of a stage persona leads to a loss of personal identity and living life as a “Fever Dream.” The lyrics discuss the feelings attributed to the loss of personal identity and other dangerous lifestyle choices, but a lot of the attempted metaphors feel clichéd and ingenuine. 

The song “No Love In LA” comments on isolation from their peers due to the harmful effects of the lifestyle they all are living, and how “fame is momentarily reality.” The band’s members are young and learning that the life they are living is not sustainable. 

Palaye Royale emerged with a distinct sound that’s been lost over the years. The artsy elements of their early music isn’t gone entirely, but as they are removing themselves from a strictly rock genre, they have begun to rely more on Remington Leith’s distinct vocal character to set the band apart. However, the pop elements in the songs don’t suit Leith’s distinct rasp. 

His strength lies in showing desperation with his raw vocals, but Fever Dream incorporates more layered vocals than previously seen from the band, and this takes away from the individuality of the band.