Declan McKenna Tackles the Need for Societal Change with 'Zeros'
By Kylie Warrix
(PC: William Arkle Marsden for NME)
After two release date push-backs due to the pandemic, Declan McKenna’s highly anticipated sophomore album, Zeros, has hit airwaves at last. The album, which flaunts strong themes of outer space, consists of 10 tracks that explore current issues, as well as certain questions that beg to be answered.
His debut album, What Do You Think About The Car? (2017), was very clear cut in its approach of tackling different political and social issues—so much so that people began labeling him as a political musician. Zeros still sheds light on important topics, but in a more intricate, artistic way that grants the opportunity for listeners to interpret its songs more freely.
Prior to the album’s release, Declan dropped five of the album’s tracks: ”The Key to Life on Earth,” “Beautiful Faces,” “Daniel, You’re Still a Child,” “Be an Astronaut,” and “Rapture.” Each and every one of these songs is honestly so incredible; when every song dropped, I’d listen to it on repeat and (impatiently) await the next. With each new track, my excitement for this record grew even more immense, and I can safely say that I was not let down one bit.
Simply put, Zeros is one hell of a ride. The opening track, “You Better Believe!!!,” grabs readers along for the journey ahead with its explosive high energy. As you make your way through the tracklist, you truly get a feel for this world Declan has created. In an interview with Apple Music, he explains, “It’s this damaging world; it’s foreboding in a sense, where it’s like you’re going to get yourself killed.”
Zeros draws a lot of attention towards environmental issues, and Declan calls the seventh track, “Twice Your Size,” an “environmentalist jam.” Showcasing lyrics that describe the world’s collapse, the song emphasizes how crucial it is to pay attention and improve the state of our planet while we still can.
Regardless of what you believe in
Earth will change and we must grab our beds
And get off out of range
The Sun, who nobody can touch
But don't worry too much
As you turn to stone and the stone returns to dust
Declan also speaks out about the boring cycles of day-to-day life (“The Key to Life on Earth”), the unnerving future of technology (“Beautiful Faces”), and fears of the unknown (“Rapture”) on the album. In addition, “Sagittarius A*” metaphorically highlights the selfishness and greed of those in power who consistently ignore the people’s concerns. So, despite the fact that the world within Zeros is fictitious, it’s very clearly got a lot in common with reality.
There’s one song, in particular, that I really want to put a spotlight on, and it’s one of the pre-releases: “Be an Astronaut.” Declan had played this song at past gigs, but finally hearing the studio version feels like pure magic. This version is so unbelievably phenomenal and masterfully crafted that I was genuinely speechless after hearing it for the first time; I felt completely enamored. In general, this is definitely one of the strongest songs Declan has put out thus far, and I fully believe that everybody (and I mean everybody) should give this track a listen. Absolute brilliance.
As the album drew to a close and brought me back down to Earth, I couldn’t help but feel so genuinely proud of Declan. What Do You Think About The Car? was a fantastic debut album, but you can definitely tell how much he has grown musically with Zeros. The two records have their own distinctive sounds, but that signature “Declan McKenna” flair still rings loud and clear. With the help of his enormously talented band, Declan has managed to release one of the most exciting and unique records of the year so far.
What are you waiting for? Go give Zeros a listen, and be sure to keep up-to-date on Declan’s upcoming virtual gigs.
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