The Album

Today’s review is about a compilation of singles by The Purebloods, released in both 2007 and 2008. These singles were rereleased as one album on August 20, 2021. There are twelve tracks of singles on this album, so let’s get into it!

The Tracks

Better Than Bein’ Dead is a jazzy, upbeat song about drinking unicorn blood and coming back to life as Voldemort. The lyrics are hilarious and the vocal performance is amazing (especially those vocal growls). Listening to this track made me want to get up and swing dance with a Death Eater. The harmonies are awesome, and I appreciated the scatting as well. My toes were tapping the whole way through.

The jazz continues with Baby, I’m Back. The piano gives us a solid walking bassline and the backing vocals add to the incredible performance.

If you’ve ever wondered what Bellatrix Lestrange does on a Saturday night, you’ll get the answer in Death Eater Disco. The hilarity ensues when you listen to the various things Death Eaters do at the disco. I really like the melody, but the lyrics are what really get me.

The lyrics for Hogwarts Anthem come directly from the books. The a cappella singing has both solo voices and excellent harmonies. The range of the vocals are truly impressive.

I Miss You takes a turn away from the upbeat and silly songs we have heard so far, and puts us face to face with a serious and sad song. The slow piano in a minor key provides a backdrop to the heartbreaking vocals, which sing about the loss of Dumbledore. It reminds me of Missing You from A Very Potter Musical. The powerful vocal performance is packed with emotion.

We go back to a happy, bouncy song with Knockturn Alley. I really love the harmonies in this one. This is one to get stuck in my head. The lyrics are humorous and overall this is one of my favorite Purebloods songs.

The next track is a love song to Lucius Malfoy. Even though he is pretty serious, it is clear that he and the singer belong together.

The melodic line in My Demise is so cool. It’s from Bellatrix’s point of view, and it is all about what happened at the battle of Hogwarts. Too bad Mrs. Weasley was more than a match for her. The story that unfolds in this song reminds us of how important and horrible Bellatrix really was.

Raining at Hogwarts is soft and slow. With a hauntingly beautiful melody, it makes me want to curl up in a big fuzzy blanket and sit by the window, watching the rain fall down as I cradle a hot mug of tea. The solo voice is strong and filled with passion, creating a powerful performance. The song ends as it began: soft and beautiful.

The tempo picks up a little bit for The Song That Must Not Be Named. The percussion keeps the beat steady and the piano plays a nonstop walking melody while the vocals provide a tight harmony throughout the song. I enjoyed the upbeat tempo paired with the minor key. It’s a great love song from Bellatrix to Voldemort.

The lyrics in Unbreakable Vow create a very stark contrast to the musicality of the song. The words tell of the serious request that Narcissa Malfoy asked of Snape regarding her son. However, the music itself sounds happy, bouncy, and upbeat. I love the contrast between the dark lyrics and the absolute bop of the music.

Unwelcome Houseguest brings us to the end of this album. It’s a jazzy song about how Voldemort has taken over Malfoy Manor. The lyrics are hilarious and it really makes you think about what the Malfoys had to deal with when the Dark Lord was staying with them.

In Summary

I very much enjoyed listening to this album, which has so many styles and takes on characters from the books. The stories that The Purebloods tell throughout the whole album with each song gets you thinking about the situations each of these characters were in and how hilarious a lot of it was. Get in a jazzy mood, get cozy, and enjoy this wonderful album!