TORCHES
MAY 23, 2011
There are few bands that can have so many pop hits on one album and not have a sophomore slump. As each track spins its way through, the first thought is "maybe they should have held one track back to help build on the next release." Every song fits into the conceptual theme of the CD with track two building into track three and so on. To leave a track off may have taken away from some of the musical flow.
"Pump up Kicks", the first single released, is lyrically the worst ever recorded but the music makes up for it ten-fold. The meaning behind the lyrics is of a more serious nature. Mark Foster takes the idea of the book "In Cold Blood" and instead of making it dark with a musty basement feel, gives it a danceable up beat so kids will sing the lyrics. Hopefully, when the lyrics become second nature to our youth it will somehow become imbedded in their unconscious. Children are children and should not dive into the adult world before their time. The jump & bounce promises to be the biggest hit on Top 40 radio in 2011. There seems to be no really bad song as the disc plays gracefully from the beginning to the end. "Houdini" seems written in the same sense as the first release of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, "Up from Below", giving a tip of the hat to Peter, Paul and Mary with songs like "Puff (The Magic Dragon)", Leaving on a Jet Plane" and "I Dig Rock and Roll Music."
Having been completely done with pop and rock artists writing towards the need of "feel sorry for me" lyrics, it is great to have some ear candy music to spin. Foster the People have a well developed sound that is distinctly their own while branching off with each track to create a unique song. Some credit should be dealt to the four people who are listed as producers. Each having their hand dipped into the writing process and keeping with the theme so as to produce an all around incredible Top 40 recording. Mark Foster seems to be the driving force in keeping this release concise, easily pushing each track into the pop music genre. Foster has his hand on the pulse of where pop music used to be and where he and his band mates can take it again. This is a fun and entertaining musical experience that will have longevity into 2012.
If the record company either forces the band back in the studio quickly or keeps them on the road too long this could be their best CD. Do not let that happen, because talent is scarce in the music business with YouTube making stars of our young way before their time. Just wait. they will all be writing a tell-all book in 20 years.
RUSTY
5/23/11