Sometimes you need to be in the right mood to be ready for a band. Other times it needs to be the correct time in your life, but mostly, you just need to be willing to sit down and actually listen for more than 23 seconds of one song. In a world where we have fingertip level access to more music than our parents could ever dream of, it can be challenging to work your way through something new in it's entirety. In this same world where record sales have plummeted, not taking the time to give an artist a full albums worth of a chance sets a dangerous precedent that helps to explain why new bands seem to have a harder time "hitting it big". Almost all bands that aren't previously established with a massive fan base are tasked with obtaining fans who could just as easily switch to any one of the thousands of other artists in their playlist with just a single click.
Ok, so what should they do? The options to get your attention at this point are few. Bands can just say "ah screw it" and produce something they want to make in hopes it becomes an underground buzz worthy totem of integrity. With any luck, it may turn into a beacon for hipsters. Or, if they want to make any money (those greedy bastards wanting to have a roof over their heads!), they might have to radio-ify, over produce, sparkle and spit shine their way to something that will hopefully appeal to the masses by aping the sound of something familiar or resorting to threadbare clichés. Neither option allows you to to maintain clout AND food on your plate. Every once and awhile though, when a Moonwalker-esque shooting stars careens through the sky, bands hit that magical sweet spot that falls right in the middle of these two extremes. Evil Friends is sitting right there.
Little known fact; the real person in this image is JD Salinger. |
With that said, the title track became one of the most enjoyable tracks I flailed my legs to in a long time. With a driving bass line as well as an upbeat and jaunty chorus, I was able to forget for a few seconds that I was truly struggling to breathe. I think that brings me to where this album takes me; a place where you can forget about the other stuff going on in your life for a while. Whether it's the pavement beneath your feet, the shit going down at work or some other burdensome episode from life, this was the type of music that gave you a well deserved respite.
The lyrics give you something to think about ("Modern Jesus", "Waves"), the grooves give you the never-ending urge to awkwardly dance ("Creep in a T-Shirt", "Evil Friends", "Atomic Man"), and soaring chorus gems with sneaky good guitar parts pop up like unexpected mushrooms ("Someday Believers"). The album delivers from top to bottom, from the eerie synth filled dance track of "Plastic Soldier" to the haunting piano/falsetto of "Smile" there isn't a single weak track. And as with any good new music these days, it manages to smash together a group of sounds and genres to craft something fresh. Horns collide with hip-hop drum beats as easily as soaring layered vocals mesh with tripped out guitars and pianos. One moment I can't get a bass line out of my head, the next I'm hitting the highest of high notes as I screech along with a soaring melody. Even now, when I go back and listen, between the constantly morphing vocal duties/sounds and the amalgam of music that emits from my speakers I have to see if I accidentally set my iTunes to shuffle.
Only one not wearing Carhartt gets to light the child molotov. |
Final Score: .84 You're Living All Over Me's
No comments:
Post a Comment