Review Score:

B-

April 1st / 2025 –

The first thing I did before writing this review was search for the Latin meaning of this album’s title, thinking it would provide a little insight into the choices, themes, and sounds across the whole of the project. I had assumed it to be some sort of classic, poetic figure of speech.

Turns out it’s the scientific name for the African wild ass.

This is poetic in its own sort of way. The first few tracks on the newest Men I Trust album are laid back, slow moving tunes. This is par for the course for the band. But there are a handful of elements unique to this album. The opener, “I Come With Mud” is driven by an acoustic guitar line. In the past, and even still in the majority of songs on Equus Asinus, Men I Trust typically sticks to lo-fi synths.

So, how is my search for meaning in the album’s title a mirror of the listening experience here? Well, because both come to an unceremonious end when the listener realizes this is only surface deep.

Maybe I tried reading too much into this from the start. The album’s cover depicts a very simple, unremarkable scene. It’s a very evocative album cover that also somehow says so little. In a lot of ways, it’s very appropriate. The tone is moody, almost grim at times. If the band was trying to create a tonal palette that matched a sort of “marriage of convenience” vibe, they nailed that aspect. I just wish they’d leaned more heavily into that, as most of this is standard Men I Trust material.

I did enjoy this album while it was on. I can see myself throwing a few of these songs on a playlist I listen to when I’m laying in the dark and trying to sleep. And I don’t mean that in the sense that this album will put you to sleep. If you like Men I Trust, you’ll enjoy a lot of this project as well. Songs like “Heavenly Flow” are very sweet on the ears. But as the album continues on, I can’t help but feel there are diminishing returns with every additional track on the list. It’s very possible that “I Come With Mud” (the opener) is the best song.

Perhaps my slight disappointment comes from the anticipation I had built after hearing the non-album singles from a few years back. “Billie Toppy” is sick. “Ring of Past” is the peak of the Men I Trust sound. But when you hear something like “What Matters Most”, the album’s closer, I can’t distinguish it from something Spotify might throw onto a generic reading playlist. Overall, this album is missing something for me. But it’s still nice while it’s playing.

Review Score:

B-

Gubb wrote this review. You can’t get mad at Gubb.