Album Reviews of My Dreams (and Nightmares)

This is my favorite album!!! I've followed Magdalena Bay since their first album Mercurial World released. When this had come out I was very excited but still emotionally attached to Mercurial World. It took me a few listens to override that, and wow! I'm in love with every part of this record. The visuals, the story about identity, self-perception, and what it means to be alive and yourself. Mica's vocals are hypnotic, Matt freaking shreds every instrument and their drummer Nick is the bones of this album. Idk why they aren't a 3-piece band honestly because Nick tours with them all the time and these songs wouldn't be what they are without his incredible drumming skills. I do own this record on vinyl. I'm very grateful I got to see a concert from their tour (though I would have LOVED to see their Europe tour when they were playing a set with Allie X!). Favorite tracks change but right now it's Cry For Me. Imaginal Disk invites you into a world of yourself. Say hello, it's you!

Mercurial World is technically Magdalena Bay's first album. They released at least four EPs and many singles before this record released in 2021. They had already been cookin for YEARS which means their first album is definitely not a beginner project imo. It's very developed! A synth pop funky dreamy experience. When I saw them on their tour for this album I got to ask Mica what her favorite Pokemon is and she said Snorlax :) She also signed my t shirt! When I make a shrine page for them I'll talk more about that stuff lol. I also have this one on vinyl and the art is SO COOL. Listening to the individual tracks is very fun, but I totally love hearing this record front to back. The transition from Secrets(Your Fire) into You Lose! is so fun. You Lose! is one of my favorite songs. It sounds so loud, with big punchy drums mixed in with harp sounds? And a bunch of fun game sound effects on top of the crunchy synth. You just need to hear it haha.

Nice Day is not an album, but a collection of four singles that was released over the Fall of 2025. Each single has two songs. Top Left: Human Happens/Paint Me A Picture. Top Right: Unoriginal/Black Eyed Susan Climb. Bottom Left: Second Sleep/Star Eyes. Bottom Right: This Is The World I Made It For You/Nice Day. This is such a unique project that I'm not really familiar with other bands doing. I fully believe in why they seperated these songs out into four seperate singles. They each represent a different time of day: First Light, Day, Night, and Sunset, respectively. HH/PMAP creates a dreamy synthpop soundscape with a strong bass. U/BESC is a more acoustic, stripped down sound with lyrics that are honest and express inner demons, but in a groovy way. SS/SE has rock and jazz elements, reminding me of the restlessness of wakefulness and the peacefulness of sleep. TITWIMIFU/ND has a saccharine rock banger and an experimental new wave song. Go take their cool quiz to learn which light you live in the most...