I’ve officially deemed this fall my “Oyster Girl Autumn.” This honorary distinction is thanks to the fact that I’ve found myself enchanted by the coastal rock sound of Quivers’ third studio album “Oyster Cuts.” A four-person band, a ten song track list—everything I need this fall. The record is drenched in the sound of summer nostalgia, allowing me to embrace the coming autumn with a new sense of warmth. The August release marked the Australian band’s first album released under Merge Records (Merge).

Track One: “Never Be Lonely”

Stand out line: “All I ever wanted was transcendence.” 

Oyster Cut’s opening track, “Never Be Lonely,” plucked me from my dorm room and cast me as an extra in an indie teen surfer movie. Suddenly, I was driving in the summer air with the windows down, the wind tangling in my hair and the scent of sunscreen and good vibes in the air. What kept my feet planted firmly in the sand is the loneliness portrayed in the lyrics: the slightly monotone vocal performance paired with the intense lyrical longing for someone or something to keep the loneliness at bay. Even still, I find myself grooving to the fun and mellow guitar instrumentals. 

Track Two: “Pink Smoke”

Stand out line: “There’s nothing louder than a whispering pine/ People grow together ‘til they’re intertwined/ We’ll go driving ‘round and ‘round/ Showing each other our hometowns.” 

The first track is followed by the similarly upbeat tune of “Pink Smoke.” This song reintroduces Quiver’s audience to the male vocalists of the group, Sam Nicholson and Michael Panton. They join female vocalists Bella Quinlan and Holly Thomas. The guitar and bass create a familiar safe space of nostalgia for the listener to think about their own hometown, and the vulnerability of sharing that intimate piece of yourself with someone you love. 

Track Three: “More Lost” 

Stand out line: “We should be the opposite of lost.” 

Track three, “More Lost,” is a testament to learning what love is and is not. Upon my first listen, this number seemed superficial compared to the previous pieces. Now, I can hear undertones of sadness in the nostalgia for past summers and lapsed loves. The song is a reminder to all that love does not make us lose ourselves, it helps us discover who we are. 

Track Four: “Apparition” 

Stand out line: “Oh my god/ Oh my god/ Everybody’s got- everybody’s got a reason/ They’re always leaving.” 

The sentiment found in “More Lost” immediately flows into Quiver’s fourth track, “Apparition.” An overall upbeat tune, the song contains a bleak affect within the lyrics: “Where do the people in our lives go when they walk out?” It’s something I find myself pondering throughout the resolute harmony of the bandmates’ voices. 

Track Five: “Grief Has Feathers” 

Stand out line: “So if grief has feathers/ It must be a bird.” 

“Grief Has Feathers,” Oyster Cut’s fifth track, is not a particular standout. The instrumentalism finds a jazzier tune, but the vocals are more monotonous and the metaphors seem overly simple. It reminds me of how settling yourself into sadness in times of grief can be quite comforting– sometimes more so than putting in the work to feel better. I can appreciate their use of soft bird chirps to lightly emphasize the lyrics’ comparison of grief to a bird. The song finished with a few seconds of silence, presumably for the listener’s reflection. 

Track Six: “Oyster Cuts”

Stand out line: “You were trying to remember how to talk on dance floors/ And you know the moment’s golden only when it’s gone/ We were so much older then, we were too young” 

The beat picks back up in “Oyster Cuts,” the sixth and title track of the album. I can certainly understand why this was chosen as the title track. “Oyster Cuts” is the apogee of the album. It is at once hopeful in composition and cynical in lyricism. For me, the melody is the answer to track one’s search for transcendence. 

Track Seven: “Screensaver”

Stand out line: “What do people do with all that time?” 

“Screensaver,” the seventh track in the album, was a low point for me. Following the beautifully balanced “Oyster Cuts,” “Screensaver” yanks me out of the band’s potential for ambiguous classicality. Despite brief mentions of phones in other songs, I could envision this band in my mind’s eye being from a time period decades before. The tedious repetition of the word ‘screensaver’ throughout the five minute piece broke me out of that spell and reminded me that this was indeed an album published in 2024. 

Track Eight: “If Only”

Stand out line: “What a f*cked up thing to want/ Love should just be.” 

Track eight, “If Only,” is the highlight of the album. The track is mellow, yet the lyrics reveal heaps of internal strife. It is at once relatable to the listener and personal for the artist. If you decide to give any of the songs on this album a listen, it should be this one. 

Track Nine: “Fake Flowers” 

Stand out line: “You’re worth your weight in fake flowers.” 

Track nine remains a mystery to me despite many listens through. “Fake Flowers” is the shortest track on the album. I just can’t seem to wrap my head around what the lyrics mean, and every time I listen, I find more possibility within. I enjoy the cheery instrumentals, but this is one song I may need to listen to thousands of times before I might decipher the meaning in the lyrics.

Track Ten: “Reckless”

Stand out line: “My imagination runs away with you/ But the body stays right here.”

 Following the shortest song and rounding out the track list of Oyster Cuts is the longest track, “Reckless.” The name is antithetical to the feel of the song. The song is relaxed, repetitive, and hesitant. The repetition of, “I wanna be more reckless,” throughout the song reminds me of a daily affirmation one may say in front of the mirror in the morning– I wanna be more reckless! The music ends with the sound of echoing laughter and then silence, making me wonder what sorts of reckless things Quivers may have next for us up their sleeves.

I’m excited to continue listening to “Oyster Cuts” all autumn long: driving to see the sunrise at the beach, walking between classes in the chilly air, picking out the perfect flannel for the pumpkin patch. Their music in my ears like the golden sunlight falling through the trees on bright days, reminding me of the summers past and the summers to come. It’s an “Oyster Girl Autumn” welcome for all to celebrate! Quivers can be found on tour in the US, Europe, and Australia into the new year.