Thereโs something quietly fascinating about The Vladeโs journey, Bulgarian-born, Vancouver-based, once a seasoned cartoonist, now channeling that same visual imagination into music. And with It Could Be Better, he dives headfirst. This 14-track record swings between hard rock punch and introspective balladry like itโs second nature, refusing to sit neatly in one lane.
Right from the jump, โIt Could Be Betterโ sets the tone with bright, resonant guitar riffs that bend and shimmer with a contagious energy. The drums come in thumping, steady, and confident, while his husky, high voice brings optimism. It just shrugs off the reality and keeps moving forward.
Then โHow Can You Sleepโ pulls things back a notch. The guitars turn warm and glistening, almost tender, as he sings in a softer, more contemplative tone. Heโs nudging you to look inward and break the walls with a sincere resolve that really tells you that this is a process and itโs gonna take a while, so we need to breathe and calmly get ahead.
โFalling for Youโ leans fully into vulnerability. The plucked guitars feel intimate, almost confessional, while the soaring solos add a rush of emotion that hits right in the chest.
Elsewhere, โSo Weโll Go No More a-Rovingโ brings a cinematic sweep, with light guitars, deep bass, and touches of piano and strings that give it a reflective, poetic weight. And then thereโs โIโm Still Here,โ which feels like the albumโs backbone. Itโs resilient, defiant, built for solitary late nights and full-volume drives.
All in all, It Could Be Better sure knows how to ask the right questions, and sometimes, thatโs more than enough.
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Review by: Naomi Joan