- Label
- EMI
- Release date
- 28th September 2009
- Genre
- Rock
- Buy this album
- Order CD
Radio-friendly grooves from smart genre hoppers.
Opening track, Too Fake, was seen as an appropriate title when it first popped on to the radio earlier this year — a cunning replica of LCD Soundsystem's slouchy funk and distorted vocals, it was the audio equivalent of a rip off Louis Vuitton handbag from Wembley Market. First impressions though are often cruel. Over an entire album these Portland, Oregon dudes hit on a variety of sounds that are irritably catchy and enjoyable.
Uniting the world of pop and rock isn’t easy – go too far towards pop and you end up sounding like Busted or Roxette – but on tracks like 3AM Spanish, Work and Song Away they successfully combine the commercial sensibilities of Maroon 5 with the indie attitude of The Strokes.
Elsewhere they the dancefloor pop of C&C Music Factory and art rock of Talking Heads. Proving that not everything needs a pumping bassline they also deliver a fine strung-out ballad in Everyone’s The Same Age and a Dylan-esque ho-down in Four Holy Photos. Yes, it’s all a bit of a mish-mash but also lots of fun.
More to try:
Talking Heads: Remain In Light
Friendly Fires: Friendly Fires
Slow Club: Yeah So?
Metro Station: Metro Station
