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Sea of Worry is the third studio album by American band Have a Nice Life, released on November 8, 2019, on the Flenser.[1] It is their first album to feature a full band.[2]

Sea of Worry
Studio album by Have a Nice Life
Released	November 8, 2019 (2019-11-08)
Genre	Shoegaze post-punk post-rock
Length	46:19
Label	The Flenser
Have a Nice Life chronology
The Unnatural World (2014) Sea of Worry (2019)
Singles from Sea of Worry
"Sea of Worry" Released: August 27, 2019 "Lords of Tresserhorn" Released: September 17, 2019 "Science Beat" Released: October 15, 2019 "Dracula Bells" Released: November 7th, 2019

Background and recording

The album was announced by the band in August 2019. Shortly after the announcement, on the 27th, the band released the title track as a single.[3] Three other singles were released in advance of the album: "Lords of Tresserhorn", on September 17th;[4] "Science Beat", on October 15th;[5] and "Dracula Bells", on November 7th.[6]

Two of the tracks, "Trespassers W" and "Destinos", were re-recorded versions of songs that appeared on their 2009 compilation album Voids.[7] Dan Barrett had been working on producing "Destinos" by 2006 at the latest, according to a blog post.[8]

Musical style

The album has been described as more straightforward and accessible than the band's previous two LPs.[9][10][11][12] Similarly, it is significantly more polished and has higher production quality, a departure from the band's typical lo-fi sound.[7]

The album takes influence from several genres, varying from track to track. Songs like "Sea of Worry", "Science Beat", and "Dracula Bells" have been compared to post-punk, new wave, and gothic rock.[2][7][9][13] "Lords of Tresserhorn", according to Marika Zorzi of New Noise Magazine, "seamlessly blends their sweeping shoegaze/post-punk/experimental sound" in a way reminiscent of their earlier releases,[14] while Bill Peel of Kill Your Stereo noted a post-rock influence.[9] The album also features an instrumental track: "Everything We Forget".[15]

Album themes

Much like the band's previous releases, many songs feature lyrics about depression.[9] Moreover, several songs discuss religion, particularly Christianity. "Dracula Bells" and "Trespassers W" both feature lyrics critical of the religion,[15] while Destinos begins with a recording of a preacher lecturing about God sending sinners to hell.[9]

The name of the track "Lords of Tresserhorn" is a reference to Magic: the Gathering.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Kill Your Stereo	70/100[9]
Pitchfork	7.4/10[7]
Sputnikmusic	2.8/5[13]
Wolfgang Magazin	5.4/10[16]

The album was praised by Aristocrazia Webzine, who wrote that "being sad has never been so beautiful."[17] Other outlets that gave the album positive feedback include Pitchfork,[7] Spectrum Culture,[12] and Stereogum.[1]

The release was panned by Sputnikmusic, calling it "predictable".[13]

Track listing

References

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