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MUNA: From Punk to Pop Compassion
19 Aug
Summary
- MUNA's second album explores personal struggles with compassion.
- The L.A. trio shifts from alt-rock roots to polished pop.
- Themes include sex, drugs, and mental health with maturity.
The Los Angeles-based trio MUNA has refined their sound, shifting from alt-rock influences to a polished pop aesthetic on their latest album, 'Saves the World.' This evolution is marked by a more compassionate approach to sensitive themes such as sex, drugs, and mental health struggles.
The band's second album sees them turning inward, exploring personal frailties and the importance of self-preservation. Lead songwriter Katie Gavin reflects this introspection, with bandmates Naomi McPherson and Josette Maskin supporting with their musical prowess. The album’s versatile soundtrack ranges from country-lite to meditative vignettes.
MUNA, a college-pop band formed at USC, draws inspiration from '80s and '90s FM radio. Songs like "It's Gonna Be Okay, Baby" offer comfort, while "Good News (Ya-Ya Song)" and "Number One Fan" provide wordy, millennial-style confessions. The album marks a departure from earlier expressions of pain, embracing enlightenment and self-worth.
The album features cinematic moments like "Navy Blue," a melancholic track about post-breakup misery. "Never" explores a quarter-life crisis with a blend of desperation and digital screams, while "Pink Light" offers a glimpse of a fresh beginning, yet is tinged with the reflection of past narratives.
