MUNA’s fourth studio effort, Dancing On The Wall, is a shimmering, synth-drenched masterpiece that proves being well-adjusted is overrated but being well-produced is mandatory. Emerging from the glitter-cannon blast of their 2022 self-titled record, the trio has returned with a “pop world built with teeth,” trading some of their previous optimism for a deliciously anxious Los Angeles energy. It’s the kind of record that makes you want to drive a convertible through a smog-filled sunset while contemplating the impending collapse of civilization, but, like, in a cute way. The production leans heavily into 80s New Wave influences, sounding like a high-speed chase between The Cure and a modern club floor, perfectly capturing that “millennial precarity” we all know and love.
The tracklist is a goldmine of emotional resonance and danceable dread, starting with the fan-favorite “Buzzkiller”. This closer is a stark, witty reckoning with desire and its inevitable aftermath; it’s the ultimate “the party is over, and I still have feelings” anthem, featuring the stinging realization, “I’m the buzzkiller, I’m the ghost at the feast.” For those looking to step into a total daydream, “Wannabeher “captures the dizzying thrill of inhabiting someone else’s fantasy, offering a sonic escape where they admit, “I just want to be the girl that you’re looking at.” Then there is “Big Stick“, a song that fans are already calling the standout of the record for its incredible lyrics and 80s-infused energy, punctuated by the sharp observation, “You’re carrying a big stick, But you’re walking on eggshells.”
‘Dancing On The Wall’ is a triumphant “congratulations sapphics” moment that balances political tension with the “ecstatic realities of life.” Whether MUNA is exploring how joy survives without denial in “Why Do I Get A Good Feeling “or leaning into the sharp, dark wit of Los Angeles living, they have delivered a soundtrack for anyone whose heart is simultaneously on fire and observing the chaos. It’s an exhilarating journey through desire and connection that suggests if the world is indeed ending, we might as well have the best possible synth-pop playing in the background. If you’ve ever felt like a “buzzkiller” at the end of a long night, this album is here to tell you that you’re actually exactly where you need to be.
Links of interest:
https://www.instagram.com/whereismuna/
https://muna.bandcamp.com/album/dancing-on-the-wall