Sub Urban, HIVE | Album Review 💿

Sub Urban (Daniel Virgil Maisonneuve) does a fine job introducing himself to the world on his short but potent debut album, HIVE.

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t’s always refreshing when a musician isn’t afraid to push the envelope and dare to be different.  Sadly, that thing called innovative spirit is rare, and no, I’m not being cynical.  So much ground has already been covered in music over its rich history that it can be hard to be truly ‘brand-new.’ A young twenty-something named 🎙 Sub Urban (Daniel Virgil Maisonneuve) is doing a nice job daring to be different. His debut album, 💿 HIVE, showcases immense potential.  Calling it a masterpiece would be an overstatement but there’s no shortage of a strong effort, genuine talent, and, of course, unique songs, all of which Sub Urban produces or co-produces.

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“Virgil’s Mania” 

“I’m way too high for the heavens to claim…” Sure… 🎵 “Virgil’s Mania” commences 💿 HIVE in compelling and dark fashion, clocking in at under two minutes.  The music is intriguing – a very alt-pop sound with some cool orchestral cues, not to mention hip-hop (that hard-hitting beat and pitched-shifted vocals). Who is Virgil? Why, it’s Sub Urban, whose middle name is Virgil. During the verse, Sub Urban references Virgil, singing, “He makes me feel safe / Virgil is a boy with a big heart / A very, very big heart.” Often, Maisonneuve sings in a breathy undertone, which is incredibly unique.

🤩 🎵 “Bandit” continues the captivating listening experience that is HIVE.  The music is a blend of energy and enigma.  Like “Virgil’s Mania” that precedes it, Sub Urban brings freshness to pop music.  The catchy lyrics are alive and well, but the approach is more alternative and certainly darker.  The chorus is the centerpiece, with its morbidity: “Swimming through sand, the desert’s candid, the dunes will rule / and I can’t say they’ll find my body, the buzzards brew…” Geezus!

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“Paramour” 

Among the most popular songs from HIVE is 🤩 🎵 “Paramour” featuring 🎙 AURORA.  Honestly, it’s as quirky as everything else.  That said, Sub Urban’s message and the theme of the song are down to earth.  The parents are controlling the relationships of their children – OMG! “Tell me, is your father a good man? / It’s surprising how little he seems to understand,” Maisonneuve sings in the first verse, and again, during the bridge.  He continues, “His daughter was my savior / Sure, she can be indecisive / But I don’t have to make her choose.” Woo! The chorus is the centerpiece, made even more entertaining with the cutesy “Dum-dum-ditty-dum-dum-ditty, daddy, don’t!” AURORA does a nice job as well, singing the second verse and performing on the second chorus.

Sub Urban isn’t done! The fun of HIVE continues with 🤩 🎵 “Uh Oh!” featuring 🎙 BENEE.  Expectedly, it is the titular lyric that fuels an infectious chorus you won’t possibly get unstuck in your head! “Uh-oh, uh-oh / Uh-oh, you made a mistake /… Tell me things that can’t be true.” Beyond the chorus, the approach continues to be dark and mysterious – that’s how Maisonneuve rolls folks.  He performs the first verse, with BENEE supplying the darkness in the second verse.

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“Diamond”

“Preachers cherry-pick gossip like violets / Vilify stars like a nihilist / Cannot win them all…” Woo! You’ve got to love the themes and lyrics that appear on HIVE.  I’ve said that already, right? Well, the colorfully produced/penned 🎵 “Diamond” continues this surefire, Sub Urban flex 💪. The musical choices and ideas impress as much as the text, honestly.  Vocally, Maisonneuve has a unique instrument too, though it’s his creativity that shines brightest.  That creativity is on full display on the album’s second-shortest cut, 🎵 “Whitewall” featuring 🎙 WHOKILLEDXIX. “Whitewall” shouldn’t merely be characterized by its brevity, however.  This is a prime example of the realm of hyperpop, a sub-style that’s gained some buzz and steam. The beat is sick, and the pitch-shifted vocals embody hip-hop, yet “Whitewall” isn’t your standard hip-hop or pop song.  One of the more interesting lines: “Masturbate to a white wall.” Okay…

“Ooh, yeah, let’s eat the rich / I heard they taste like chocolate…” Hmm, interesting lyrics with a deeper meaning. Assuming the masturbation to white walls is over (hehe), our young, left-of-center twenty-something keeps us on the edge of our seats with 🎵 “Candyman.” This alt-pop number is philosophical to some extent, while also exploring wealth.  “Chase that bag then (Dig your hole) / Realize there’s no miracles,” Maisonneuve sings in the chorus, continuing, “Just luck and sex and made-up goals / I make more but (I’m a poor soul).”

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“Inferno”

“No halo / Baby, I’m the reason why Hell’s so hot / Inferno.” Wow! 🎙 Sub Urban enlists 🎙 Bella Poarch for 🤩 🎵 “INFERNO”, which manages to sound heavenly. Set in a minor key, on this two-and-a-quarter minute gem, Bella and Sub bombard us with high quality. I heart the instrumental intro, which sets the tone, prefacing full-fledged, colorful production work.  Notably, the classical music cues utilized are sweet. I love the playful, expressive vocals by Bella Poarch while Maisonneuve matches them.  Notably, he sings in an undertone. Overall, like much of HIVE, there’s a novel nature that makes “Inferno” intriguing. Melodically, it’s well-penned and tuneful to the n^th degree.  The lyrics are highly successful.

“Manic like a chandelier, crack the ceiling

Marie Antoinette ‘cause she’s lost her mind

Falling for exteriors, as appealing

As they might be, I know I’m afraid.”

Appears in 🔻:

• Awesome Songs: August 2021

Following up “Inferno” is tough.  The good news is, Sub Urban goes down the 🎵 “Rabbit Hole” and it’s as alluring as everything else.  Darkly poetic songwriting continues to be the calling card, coupled with eclectic production cues.  Throw in the distinctive musical persona of Maisonneuve and HIVE remains a consistent debut album.  He concludes with 🎵 “Hedon,” which, you guessed, is as bizarre as anything else. “Harvest that blood, blood, blood / It feels so good, good, good /… Adrenochrome.” Okay…

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Final Thoughts 💭 

All told, Sub Urban keeps it weird on HIVE.  That bodes well in his favor, making him a very interesting music artist. It’s sad to me that HIVE has yet to chart on the Billboard 200 – Daniel Virgil Maisonneuve brings plenty to the table.  The LP is short at just 25 minutes, but that feels sufficient, particularly given how left-of-center Maisonneuve is.  Is this a project I totally get? No, but I like what Sub Urban serves up and am intrigued for more.

🤩 Gems 💎: “Bandit,” “Paramour,” “Uh Oh” & “INFERNO”

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🎙 Sub Urban • 💿 HIVE • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 6.3.22

[📷: Warner]

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