Imaginal Disk is the second album from Miami alternative pop group, Magdalena Bay. The duo consists of vocalist/producer Mica Tenanbaum, and producer/backing vocalist Matthew Lewin. I was looking forward to this album, as I’ve seen that many people on the website albumoftheyear.com really enjoyed it. I go into every review focused on how the music makes me feel, and how much I like it, I don’t want my opinion to be influenced by others, because then it’s not a genuine review. Anyways, here are my thoughts.
I will start off by saying I’ve become quite the fan of alt-pop. Whether it’s The Marias or Billie Eilish, the genre has become quite a goldmine. “She Looked Like Me,” is a strong beginning to the album, and I really like the illustrious lyrics from Mica. “Likes guns and he’s pistol ready. That’s his curse, that’s my name. He sings up to the moon unchaining,” is excellent storytelling. The song’s concept is fascinating too, as it’s about the ideal version of one’s self. According to the track’s Genius annotation, “at first the protagonist interprets her ideal self through the context of her family history and her country’s expectations of success. The protagonist is introduced to her doppelgänger who seems to embody all these qualities of success she sees herself lacking.” I think it is important to mention that both members of Magdalena Bay are of Argentinian descent, so the themes of expectations from their culture makes this album very personal. I really like the uptempo, yet dreamy track, “Killing Time,” and Tenanbaum’s voice sounds absolutely angelic on the track. I like the glossy synths and the fuzzy guitar solo that appears in the instrumental break. The analogy of waiting for an ideal life for herself, to trying to sleep, “counting sheep to pass the time.” “True Blue Interlude,” is a trippy interlude that’s supposed to be a therapeutic treatment for our protagonist. I really like the track, “Image,” as it explores the main character’s evolution into becoming the “perfect image,” that she so desperately wants to be. The synth pop production is phenomenal on this song, as well. “Death & Romance,” is a love song that is filled with desperation and intense commitment to a relationship. The pianos and whirly synths create a beautiful, but also slightly disorienting backdrop to the story that’s being told. Lyrics such as, “This dance won’t end. It goes forever. Romance and death. Keep us together,” really highlight how seriously the protagonist takes this relationship. “Fear & Sex,” is another cool track that continues the themes of romance, I really like the metaphors used in this track. Comparing the end of the relationship to a “broken war.” The gentle guitars and airy synths create a mournful atmosphere to the track, while the punchy synth bass adds a somewhat chaotic element to the track. Some other tracks I loved include, “Vampire in the Corner,” “Watching T.V.,” and “Tunnel Vision,”
The themes of romance that are dived into on this record are executed phenomenally, and the amazing production throughout this record, complements the tracks incredibly well. Mica has a unique vocal presence, and her voice is very powerful. This is easily one of the best albums that I have heard all year, if not THE best. It’s very hard to pick between this album or Submarine by The Marias, as my favorite album of the year. Both have a very dreamy and vivid sound to them, but I think I have to give the slight edge to this record. I really enjoyed the concept of this album as it tells the story of a character who’s experiencing self-doubt, heartbreak, and the euphoria that comes with finally realizing the life that you want to live. I liked this album so much that I genuinely could’ve written a page each for every track on this record. It’s that amazing of an album. I highly recommend it.
Overall Score: 10/10
Favorite Tracks: “Image,” “Death & Romance,” “Tunnel Vision,” “Vampire in the Corner,” “Fear, Sex,” “That’s My Floor,” (hard to pick)
Least Favorite Tracks: None, it’s a 10/10 for a reason.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfcWOPpmw14
Genres: Synth Pop/Dance Pop/Alt Pop