When Stoner released Stoners Rule in 2021, it felt like the biggest news in stoner rock. Who wouldn't want to hear what would happen when two former members of Kyuss decided to team up again? The results were a little uneven in my opinion, but you can't disagree with the stance that while they weren't reinventing the wheel, it was their wheel to do with as they pleased since they were among the select few who helped create and popularize the genre. When it was announced that Heavy Psych Sounds would be releasing the follow-up in May 2022, the news was met with a lot of excitement and rightfully so - after all, what would they do next? The result, Totally..., builds on the foundation of 90s and early 20s stoner rock while incorporating better riffs and, overall, better songs than the first album, a not-so-easy feat.
"Party March," the album opener, is a joyous, ebullient, raucous romp. "A Million Beers," the first single from the album, is reminiscent of Fu Manchu and gives the listener the feel that they're partying on a dune buggy. "Stoner Theme" is a trippy journey through riffs reminiscent of early Led Zeppelin and "Turn it Around Now" is an epic desert jam with a verse pulled straight from 1970s funk. "Great American Sage," the album closer, features a classic rock riff intro before segueing into a sound reminiscent of cavemen stomping their way to battle. But while all of these are great and catchy songs, two songs in particular stand out above the others.
The first, "Strawberry Creek (Dirty Feet)," opens with a ripping guitar line reminiscent of the best of Joe Walsh during his time with Grand Funk. Brant Bjork chimes in with his best vocals on the album, singing in a stoned twang that's perfect for this kind of music (which shouldn't really be a surprise at this point in his career, yet still remains a standout). The real treasure is the bridge, which sees Stoner falling into a guitar riff eerily reminiscent of the best of Kyuss. The second album standout and in my opinion the best song on the album is the stoner rock odyssey "Space Dude & the Burn." Here, Nick Oliveri adds his personal touch to a type of sound most typified as resembling 1000Mods. This is the catchiest, most well-rounded song that Stoner has released and I hope that it receives its due as a song that channels the best of stoner rock and stoner metal.
As I mentioned before, Stoner isn't exactly reinventing the wheel. Instead, they're putting their twist on a design that incorporates a slew of elements and influences. The result is a joyful, bombastic second album that improves upon the promise of the first album and delivers throughout.
