Album Review: "Third" by Perhaps – Jazz Meets Rock in a Head-Spinning Experiment
Alright, buckle up, because “Third” by Perhaps is one of those albums that doesn’t just sit in the background while you’re folding laundry. Nope. This 2015 self-released gem from the US smashes jazz and rock together like two trains who didn’t check their schedules. Throw in some experimental sauce, and boom—you’ve got an album that feels like it was cooked up in a mad scientist’s studio.
First off, let’s talk about Dreamland II. If this track were a person, it’d be that friend who shows up uninvited but somehow steals the party. It starts with this dreamy, floaty vibe—like you're drifting on clouds—but then BAM! The guitars come in swinging like they’re auditioning for a rock opera. There’s a saxophone wailing somewhere in there too, which sounds like it's having a spiritual crisis mid-song. Honestly? It shouldn’t work. But it does. And weirdly enough, I can’t stop humming it when I’m stuck in traffic.
Then there’s Master Destroyer II (because apparently sequels are big in this album). This one hits different—it’s raw, chaotic, and kinda makes you feel like your headphones might explode. Picture a jazz drummer losing their mind while a guitarist tries to calm them down with riffs that sound like they were stolen from a ‘70s action movie soundtrack. Is it messy? Absolutely. Do I love it? Also yes. Every time I hear it, I imagine myself as the hero in a heist film where things go hilariously wrong.
The rest of the tracks—like Donzo’s Montreux and Butterfly Mirror—keep the energy alive without ever letting you settle into a predictable groove. That’s the thing about “Third”: it refuses to play nice. One moment you’re vibing to something smooth and chill; the next, you’re being pummeled by sonic chaos. It’s exhausting, exhilarating, and oddly satisfying all at once.
What sticks with me most isn’t just the music itself—it’s how unpredictable it feels. Like, these guys clearly didn’t care if anyone “got” what they were doing. They just went for it, full throttle. And honestly? That kind of fearless creativity is rare these days. You won’t find any cookie-cutter pop hooks here, but you will find an album that challenges you to listen closer, think harder, and maybe even laugh at its audacity.
So yeah, “Third” isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for easy listening, this ain’t it, chief. But if you dig jazz that punches back and rock that takes wild detours, give it a spin. Oh, and don’t blame me if Dreamland II gets stuck in your head for weeks.
Final thought: Listening to Perhaps feels like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded—it’s frustrating, fascinating, and occasionally brilliant. Just like life itself.
