Lame Genie - "Steve" Review
Buy Steve
Lame Genie is the Andrew W.K. of VGM, so it’s only fitting that their latest album, Steve, is a house party, and we’re all invited!
Like any great house party, there is a melting pot of personalities, starting with the collaborators, Lacey Johnson (aka the VGM Collab Queen) and Kaitlin Findlay. Lacey and Lame Genie have collaborated three times (twice on this album), and their chemistry is undeniable (in fact, I may have not-so-subtly suggested that they produce an album together). Both artists have such an infectious energy, and when they work together, it’s a real treat, much like their track “It’s Bugsnax!” which has been stuck in my head for the last week. Kaitlin Findlay is a new name to me, but her performance on “Time to Make History” definitely left an impression, and I plan to seek out more of her music shortly.
Making our way through the house party, we see a lot of familiar, if not eccentric faces. Fall Guys is crowd surfing in the front yard, Cyberpunk 2077 is brooding in the corner, Genshin Impact is soaking up the attention, and somehow H3H3 is here? Of course, Lame Genie is center-stage, orchestrating the madness that is Steve. Don’t ask me how a band can throw 12 tracks from 10 different games (and one podcast) onto an album and make it sound this good. Truth be told, that is Lame Genie’s greatest strength—making things sound good and familiar (something I learned at MAGFest, years ago). By the end of the album, everyone is rocking out together, regardless of who they are and who they know.
Of course, that’s the magic of the house party, isn’t it?
When you first walk into a house party, you might know a few people (for me, it was Fall Guys, Hollow Knight, Minecraft, and Cyberpunk 2077), but, by the end, you’ve made new friends and new memories. Of course, all good things must come to an end, and when the party ended, I tipped my red Solo cup to Steve and Lame Genie for one hell of a time.
RATING: RECOMMENDED
(Fans of Metal and/or Hard Rock Should Enjoy)