The Internet - 'Hive Mind' Review

Neo-soul sensations, The Internet, have been on hiatus since 2015’s Ego Death—an album that took the band’s sound to new heights. Sure, each member embarked on solo ventures afterwards, but you’d be a fool to think that they wouldn’t recoup.

Because if there’s anything Syd, Matt Martians, Steve Lacey, Patrick Paige, and Christopher Smith are good at, it’s cooking up fire together. Their newest project, Hive Mind, steps out of the shadow of their last album and illuminates a new path.

The road they travel on this album is much more sensual and vibrant. Ego Death was a brilliant classic full of narratives about love’s many faces, but Hive Mind concentrates on lust, and the yearning that comes with chasing a romantic candidate. Although there’s one more song on here than Ego Death, this album breezes on by like summer’s evening wind.

The Internet’s latest venture is full of seamless transitions and compositions that don’t overstay their welcome if they don’t have to. Two-part songs are few and far between, with the group opting to maximize soundscapes created on each track. When they do split a track into two parts, tracks like “Next Time/Humble Pie” sound glorious.

The placement and sequencing of these tracks makes this an enchanting listening experience as well. The album’s singles compliment one another, as they capture similar vibes and are stacked next to one another. Although, they could’ve been placed elsewhere than the beginning of the album.

Three out of four of this album’s first few tracks are songs fans have heard already. If you’re looking for new material, you’ll listen to the intro and skip to “Stay The Night”. This is detrimental to the listeners first experience with the album.

This aside, Syd’s pen is sharper than ever. It would hurt to be the one she’s addressing on “Bravo”... because she doesn’t mince her words. She slow-roasts an ex, comparing her to an entertainer of sorts; one who has an audience but should probably “look around” at the mess they’ve “made.” That person never really changed, they were just playing a “role.”

Ouch.

But if you were a shallow “performer” before and that song makes you grimace, just know “It Gets Better (With Time).” Syd’s falsetto on this track over somber guitar chord progressions are heavenly. It’s sure to put you in a trance.

And can revenge sound any sweeter on “Look What U Started”? This track is like the distant cousin to Ego Death’s “Just Sayin/I Tried”. The bassline strikes a funky, bold groove as Patrick Paige makes every note sound like a melodic punch. This track is golden.

If there’s anything left to be desired, it’s a guest contribution. They’re fully capable of carrying a body of work on their own, but a reunion with a former Odd Future member would be nice too. A Syd and Frank Ocean duet would be an epic, soulful experience. Especially since Syd and Frank are gifted writers as well.

Essential Tracks

• “Come Over”
• “Bravo”
• “Next time/Humble Pie”
• “Roll(Burbank Funk)
• “Beat Goes On”
• “Stay The Night”
• “Look What You Started”

The Verdict

All around, this is a great album from some of Cali’s brightest stars. Like Ego Death, this album will stand the test of time while fans wait for their next release. This band continues to deliver prolific bodies of work. They don’t reinvent themselves on this album, but expand on the textures and brooding that made their last projects so captivating. As their sound palette grows, so will their artistry and star power.

Who knows what kind of electrifying soul music they’ll cook up next? Hive Mind is another gem in The Internet’s growing discography.

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