Creature Party just released their new EP, The Meaning of Being, on March 31, 2025!
The Meaning of Being is a mix of post-punk and new wave just as it is a mix of synth-driven and full-band sound. Basically, it implements fun beepy synths into a full lineup of bass, guitar, drums, and vocals to give a diverse sound range that delivers diverse stories. Overall, this EP has a lot of energy, but it’s how the energy is used that gives it a lot of range. There are tracks to dance to and others to headbang to. One of the more astounding parts of this album is the way lyrics are used. Some tracks seem to tell fun and quirky stories, others seem to be serious, emotional, and more to the point, and still others seem to be a mix of both. In this about 17 minute EP, there is an astounding range in how lyricsm is used to tell different stories, messages, and emotions.
For example, the first track, which is a phenomenal hook, is called “Playboy Mansion Monkey Bite.” Lyrically, it’s exactly what it sounds like. The main voice of the track goes to a party at a Playboy Mansion where they come across a monkey who bites them. “The blood is rushing down my leg / my mind’s overflowing with dread / running circles around I gotta get out / now she jumps on my back goes for my neck,” the final verse goes. It works with a mix of absurdity and grit, which definitely serves to make listeners question what they’ve gotten into and want to experience more. This track has a danciness to its synths and has a bit of an anthemic chant in its vocals.
Then, the second track is “Tell Me,” which pulls the synths back and focuses more on a punky full band rush with synthy influences. The percussion takes the stage here well with the bass and synths weaving around their quick hits well. Lyrically, it seems to be about a climb up a ladder or a race forward. “The odds are stacked against me / But it’s worth the chance,” some of the lyrics go. It seems to be about trying to race toward some kind of win but being stuck in the middle. The rush of the music adds to the lyrics a sense of pertinence and need in reaching a goal.
After this, “UFO” gets more synth-based, and honestly, how the synth keys are used does give a sound that’s like that of UFOs in a movie. But the other instruments keep those punk undertones. The main voice of the track takes the voice of the UFO, grabbing cows and flashing, being chased by another. It speaks of the subject wanting answers but the main voice having their eyes on them. Aside from the to-the-point answer, this track could be about someone evading another, which gives multiple ways to read the track.
Moving forward, “Act Up” Is a punky rush to someone else. It’s telling them to rush forward and fight for their dreams no matter what happens. It tells them to keep their “eyes on the prize” and “act up.” Then it expresses, “You’ll never know how far you’ll go.” It also expresses the concept of someone feeling stuck. Overall, it seems to encourage others to reach for their dreams no matter their circumstances.
“2 Cool 4 Fun” seems to be a bit of a jab at people who seem exactly like that, like they feel too cool for fun. It uses quirky and fun lyricism to pick at people like this, but rather than really punch at them, it moreso seems to encourage them to let loose, warm up, and just have fun. Then there’s the final track Quicksand, which does well at being a closing single. The vocals hit some powerful belts, the bass and percussion work together well, and the synths complement everything cleanly. At the forefront, it tells the story of someone caught in quicksand, reaching for a branch but unable to escape. But, there is the line “Didn’t listen towards the warnings you were told.” This line gives it a bit of an allegorical take. There are so many situations in life where people are given warnings, whether from others or intuition. Upon not listening to those warnings, it’s easy to get stuck in a space that feels like quicksand. A constant pull-down while one tries to escape.
Creature Party is a Portland-based 4-piece that consists of guitarist and vocalist Lily Bry, keyboardist and vocalist S. Alexandra Kudroff, drummer and backup vocalist Camden Mckone, and bassist and backup vocalist Rachael Ribner. They work with catchy melodies and synthy rock with an underlying punk influence. The Meaning of Being in itself shares a refined form of their sound while showing the dynamics that it can bring to the table. This is a phenomenal release, so let’s see where it takes them from here.
Written by Sage Plapp
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