Peer Reviewed: on Pictoria Vark’s Year-Defining ‘The Parts I Dread’
Instantly intimate and proud and nostalgic, not like someone’s diary being sneakily read, but instead more like having a friend sharing choice journal entries across the spectrum of their lived experiences and desired futures — this is what feels most distinct about The Parts I Dread, the new album by Pictoria Vark. You’re actively hearing the memories of Victoria Park (the easy spoonerism for her project’s real name), each song conjuring up new-to-you places and problems and people remembered distinctly as if you were there.
The album collects eight songs by the bass-toting tour boss of Iowa City, Iowa, freshly fleshed from Park’s rhythmicly-rooted demos into both intimate confessional and full band anthemic rockers. Released today April 8th, 2022 on Get Better Records, the only now streaming in full record may be new to some Wormbrain World readers — but, recalling the Beatlemania of the 60s, the self-proclaimed “vark-heads” in Pictoria Vark’s growing fanbase have been highly anticipating and long-awaiting The Parts I Dread’s release, proclaiming and predicting for multiple seasons that this is the “Year of the Vark.”
In another cycle of ever-unprecedented times, at least we can rely on the this, right? This is the Year of the Vark, right? Right.
Rather than give more of our own thoughts on Pictoria Vark’s brand new album, Wormbrain asked some of Victoria Park’s peers to give their first impression reviews. Read on…
“Cracking, immediate — very tight songwriting,” Eileen Peltier of Chicago indie pop outlet Sports Boyfriend said, cutting to it straight and simple. “Fav track so far is ‘Demarest.’”
“One thing about The Parts I Dread is that it rocks and it rocks hard!” gushed the “Weird Al” of DIY music, trash girl, NYC-based folk pop freak Shaughnessy Jones. “The loud parts made me say ‘hell yeah’ several times out loud. ‘Bloodline II’ is on repeat. Cannot — repeat, cannot — stop listening. Year of Vark!”
“I feel like I’ve been waiting on this record for a long time now, getting increasingly excited with each clip or DA Twitch show,” said Dylan Citron of bedbug, indie rock revivalists and Allston, MA basement scene staples. “It was worth the wait! The production is phenomenal. The emphasis on the bass and vocals are simple and unique. Most importantly. the songs are great. When the guitars come in on the second song? It rips.”
“Victoria is a total sweetheart and this record is phenomenal! I’ve adored ‘Good For’ for a hot minute now and the updated version destroyed me. Victoria and her band are especially skilled at building up a song and hiding all these freaky sick sounds in the mix, all while leaving the perfect amount of space,” stanned graceful rager Sofia Verbilla of Philadelphia, PA group Harmony Woods. “‘Demarest’ makes me wanna cry ‘til I throw up. Beautiful person, beautiful record!”
Photo by Meanz Chan
“I first heard of Pictoria Vark when I came across this past summer’s single, ‘I Can’t Bike.’ Since then, I was really excited to see what was to come. The Parts I Dread is a stellar collection of songs at times earnest, at times wistfully gloomy, and full of atmospheric whimsy, haunting lyrics, and cotton-candy-sweet melodies,” shared Brianne Costa of Massachusetts indie-emo bar rockers Kitner. “My favorite lyric is, ‘We shared the same dead punk rock dreams’ (‘Twin’), which made me heart-eyes emoji for some reason. My favorite track is ‘Wyoming.’ My ears perked up when I first played this song because the intro kinda reminds me of ‘Regret’ by New Order, and then we get these big emotion-filled swells, and then beep boops. I love beep boops! This album will definitely be on heavy rotation for me this spring, summer, and beyond!”
“Victoria sent this record to me a while back and I couldn’t believe it then and don’t believe it now,” admitted Philadelphia evocative songwriter Tom Morris of Swim Camp. “A touching and sincere record start to finish and a wonderful testament to Victoria and all her hard work. Year of the Vark. 10/10 best new music.”
“So, so wonderful. I’m really into the vocal production on this project, and I think it serves her voice and songwriting super well. I love being able to hear every fold and detail,” shared Martin Kessler of Boston, MA emo outfit Dino Gala. “‘Twin’ absolutely wrecked me (in the best way) and I had to listen to it like four times in a row when I finished the album. ‘Twin’ and ‘Out’ were definitely my favorite tracks!”
“I love this album. It’s led me to rethink the way that the bass guitar can be used for songwriting,” Alex Johnson of Los Angeles power-pop’s Why Dogs Why told Wormbrain. “It’s pretty clear to me that Victoria writes her songs on the bass, and I think that partially dictates the sound of this album in a really unique and interesting way. I’ve listened to it three times today. These are objectively good pop songs, which in my opinion is showcased especially by ‘I Can’t Bike’ and ‘Good For.’”
“When I listen to Vark, she reminds me of the sun on a spring’s day! Her melodic bass riffs and soothing voice shine ever so bright on this project,” said no-genre fusion extraordinaire Evelyn Speers of Minnesota-based project EVV. “It is wonderful to hear the project in its totality; I’m excited to stream it over and over again.”
"I think this record sounds super poised. It’s refreshing to hear rock music in this style where the bass lines really seem to be the foundation of the songs. I also appreciate the heavier moments, like the end of ‘Good For’ which is my favorite track. The record on the whole strikes a really cool balance between sounding kind of wide-eyed and exuberant, but also sort of weary and beaten down,” Sam Goblin of Bloomington, Indiana’s premier goblincore band Mister Goblin told Wormbrain World. “It’s dope!”
Clem Cahill of budding Boston, MA songwriting project Cadderwall told Wormbrain, “At first, The Parts I Dread feels like it was written to be played quietly in the dimly lit bedroom of a best friend, laced with confessions of contempt and affection. But this record also pulls you into huge, beating choruses with powerful lyrics and drum lines that sound like the inside of your head when you’re about to say something life changing. What I love most, and it’s hard to choose, about The Parts I Dread is the guitar work. The sliding steel all over this work is lonesome and dreamy, and the earworm-y hooks on ‘Bloodline II’ are frustratingly beautiful. Pictoria Vark has given us access to her innermost thoughts on this record; and she’s making sure we know exactly how special that is. Fav tracks were ‘Bloodline II’ and ‘Friend Song.’”
“Pictoria Vark has given us access to her innermost thoughts on this record; and she’s making sure we know exactly how special that is. ”
“This record is beautiful! Such cool textures with the way that the bass and synths interact. The lead guitar infuses this record with just the right amount of energy,” shared Washington, D.C. bedroom songwriter Walker Price of towhead. “I love twang on ‘Bloodline II’ and the Mountain Goats reference on the title track as an All Hail West Texas-head myself. This album is an incredibly melodic and heartfelt piece of pop music that eludes comparison. Year of the Vark now and forever.”
“This is a gorgeous record with wide soundscapes, sparkling harmonics, and memorable vocal melodies,” poeticized Sean Seaver of Boston, MA dreamy pop group Divine Sweater, before getting specific on favorite moments from the album. “I love the driving, propulsive rhythms of ‘Wyoming’ contrasted with the slower, half-time sections. A lot of my favorite parts happen at the end of songs, such as the ripping solo in ‘I Can’t Bike.’ The textures on ‘Out’ combined with the haunting bass line are incredible, and the eruption at the end is pure catharsis. The field recordings in ‘Friend Song’ provide a satisfying conclusion to a lovely album.”
“I love, love, love this record!” raved New Zealand twee icon Lukas Mayo, better known as Pickle Darling. “Meticulously arranged guitar pop songs that are both fragile and indestructible! You will love this!”
Well, don’t take their word(s) for it — go listen to The Parts I Dread now.
Image courtesy of the artist
W.W: What is Wormbrain?
VP: Wormbrain is the friends we made along the way <3
W.W: Thank you for sharing with Wormbrain.
Pictoria Vark’s The Parts I Dread is out everywhere today via independently owned queer/trans record label Get Better Records today, April 8th, 2022.
