‘…a wonderfully charming yet surprisingly earnest exploration of late-stage capitalism that remains consistently enjoyable…’
Emerging with their debut EP back in January 2024, St. Louis, Missouri pop-rock duo Four Degrees Colder have been continually expanding their horizons across the American Midwest ever since. Aiming to combine the weight and scope of alternative rock with dreamy, experimental pop textures, there is certainly a remarkable sense of ambition about Jamie Saylor and Kendal Abeln, and that only comes to further fruition on their debut full-length, ‘Nothing To Do’.
A concept record that grapples with occupational and creative burn-out, working within the confines of capitalism, automation and AI, and finding purpose in a world that is rotting the human experience from the inside out, ‘Nothing To Do’ follows the narrative of two factory workers hiding out after being replaced by AI, and their quest to reclaim their purpose in life. A slick 80’s synthpop flair decorates a robust backbone of driving riffs and percussion, giving the whole record an infectious and whimsical feel without ever feeling insubstantial.
‘Buoyancy’ jives about with jazzy melodic hooks and simple yet undeniably groovy hooks, and ‘The Factory’ maintains the momentum with its crunchy, mechanical percussion, adorned with cleverly unexpected chord progressions that lend a subtly sinister air. The pop swagger is taken up another notch with the devilishly catchy ‘Don’t Leave Me’, almost sounding like a Bananarama cut with its snappy handclaps and weaving vocal melodies.
One of the record’s big highlights comes in the form of the title track; vocals oscillate between understated, hypnotic melodies and spoken word, whilst buoyant bass lines carve out delightfully catchy grooves atop of the tightly performed, rattling percussion. Humanity is swapped for automation on the brilliantly dramatic follow-up, ‘Burn Out’, with Abeln’s metallic percussion grinding away beneath coldly despairing vocals drenched with autotune.
‘Crash Out’ leans unexpectedly in a grunge direction, as walls of fuzzily distorted vocals and guitars crash down up the listener over a stirring, cinematic rhythmic backbone. It all builds towards a magnificently crafted, all-consuming climax featuring some of the record’s finest vocals. Another major highlight arrives at the album’s conclusion, with the moody, atmospheric ‘Decay’ serving as viscerally tender exploration as to what it truly means to exist as an unwilling participant in the capitalist system; it makes for a wonderfully powerful note to round ‘Nothing To Do’ off on, and solidifies the album as one of 2026’s undoubted hidden gems.
The ambition and scope of Four Degrees Colder and ‘Nothing To Do’ deserves the utmost praise; in a world of making yourself palatable to the masses, these young musicians have elected to lean into their weird side, and the result is a wonderfully charming yet surprisingly earnest exploration of late-stage capitalism that remains consistently enjoyable throughout. Seeing what else this duo will be capable of with time, resources, and experience is a most exciting prospect.
RATING: 77/100
For Fans Of: The Dear Hunter, The Protomen, I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME, I Fight Dragons, MGMT
Physical copies of the record are available to purchase here.
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