COIN: “Dreamland” Album Review

By Zoe Elter
Music Journalist

Album: Dreamland
Artist: COIN
Release Date: February 21, 2020
Website

When COIN initially announced the release of their third album, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Their first two albums, COIN and How Will You Know If You Never Try, both possess their own unique colors. Each one of COIN’s albums seem to tell very different stories by utilizing many unique sounds. 

In an Instagram post announcing COIN’s February release of Dreamland, the band states that “If [they] had just one album to tell you everything, it would be this one.” So I figured Dreamland would, once again, show a side of COIN that had yet to be seen. And I couldn’t have been more correct.

The album is filled with multiple singles that were previously released by the band, dating all the way back to their 2018 release “Simple Romance.” Avid COIN fans are probably already familiar with the symbolic lyrics of “Cemetery” or the all-or-nothing attitude towards a relationship in “I Want It All.” And of course the album had to include, in my opinion, the most iconic COIN release of 2019: “Crash My Car.”

“Crash My Car” is the ultimate fan anthem. Inspiration for the song was taken after a fan had crashed her car on the way to a COIN show, completely totaling it, but still showed up to the concert anyway. The chorus is catchy, and “Crash My Car” is the perfect song for fans to sing along to. Listening to this song makes me feel like I’m in a fun, coming of age movie, and I can’t get enough of it.

Now to move on to the songs that I’m less familiar with. The album opens with “Into My Arms.” The song’s energetic feel and synth-pop influence kickstart the album beautifully, almost personifying what a Dreamland would sound like. Much like the opening lyrics, “Karma killer/You know/You got my attention,” this song actively catches the listener’s attention.

COIN gives fans the energetic sounds that they’re familiar with, but each song has its own little plot twists. “Dreamland Sequence” and “Heaven Hearted” provide unique interludes that further give away what Dreamland is trying to convey. Whether it’s the distortion in “Nobody’s Baby”, a more bass-heavy sound like in “Never Change” or the way “Lately III” utilizes strings, COIN does not disappoint. 

If I had to choose a favorite, which is hard because all of the songs on this album are amazing, I’d probably pick “Let It All Out (10:05)” or “Youuu.” They’re both eerie and vulnerable, falling into the category of songs that are perfect for night drives. “Youuu” is the epic anti-love song that I needed to hear, and the lyrics in “Let It All Out (10:05)” are absolutely heartbreaking, and the chorus makes you feel like you have a shoulder to cry on.

Overall, I am very impressed with Dreamland, and I recommend it to anyone who loves bands like LANY, Bad Suns, Night Riots, Colony House, or indie pop in general. Out of all the new releases of 2020, Dreamland is definitely my favorite.

Stream Dreamland on Spotify.

Featured image via COIN.