Released - 9/14/10
Label - Atlantic Recording Corporation
BLURB - I always assumed Chromeo sucked. Cheesy name. Are they a band, are they DJ's? What kind of music is this? So over the summer and on a whim, I ended up checking them out @ the Williamsburg Waterfront with RoboPop in the pouring rain and I was blown away. It was easily one of the top five concerts I've seen this year. Maybe it was thanks in part to the torrential downpours, but the crowd was electric and lively - and seemed to fuel Chromeo's set, creating even more energy. What became clear was that Chromeo was not only talented, but fun. Their fusion of guitar riffs and pop synth lines meshed perfectly into a tight display of new school dance-rock. But what does this sound like on an album?
Rating - 7 out of 10
FULL STORY - As is the trend with most of the popular indie synth dance bands right now (Neon Indian, Com Truise, Dam-Funk), they tend to focus on recreating the sounds of the 80's, delivering their own interpretation. Which really isn't a crime, the 70's and 80's became the bedrock and model for electronic pop music. Chromeo, on the other hand, really focuses on creating precise dance melodies that seem to adequately represent where music is at in 2010. Rather than utilizing lo-fi and hazy effects and processors, Chromeo approaches their genre with a decidedly crisp and modern delivery. Whereas some would say that this makes them too pop and unoriginal, I would argue that it actually makes them more authentic.
The album begins with one of the more upbeat tracks in 'Hot Mess.' The song is based heavily on a singular synth bass riff that is evident throughout all portions of the track. While waves of bright keyboards and mini-solos casually, yet appropriately, filter through the bass lines, the track maintains a steady groove. Eventually, what sounds like an improvised synthesizer solo emerges and really captivates the listener. The solo is creative enough to sound improvised, yet the precision in which it is pulled off sounds as if it had been properly notated and studied for weeks. It also sounds like a futuristic laser beam.
'Don't Stop' breaks out the classic Daft Punk robot voice, and it's spot on. While the chorus is a little bland and out of place, the momentum and excitement of the song allows us to look past it. Once again, the majority of the song is based on very few bass lines - which, in my opinion, is a good thing as the listener always has a grasp of the song's feel and tempo.
The breakout track of the album is easily 'Night By Night.' Here the main focal instrument is an electric guitar that is spitting out hooks left and right. The song has an energy that is naturally addictive, which yields an effortless enthusiasm that will make any music listener an instant fan of the song. Above everything else, the chorus of the track is well delivered and doubles as a bridge later on in the song. By doing this, all of lyrics get submerged into the back of your brain and you'll find yourself muttering the lines to yourself in the middle of a crowded subway many times. At least that has been my experience.
'When the Night Falls' features some exquisite guest vocals from Solange Knowles. I think I'd actually prefer if just Solange sang on the track as her voice sounds so absolutely perfect for the song. Every time I hear the Chromeo singer, I noticed I find myself getting bored and just waiting for the chorus to get here.
The award for the song that sounds most like a theme from an 80's sitcom goes to 'The Right Type.' Everything from the vibe, to the stringed instrumentation just screams 80's television. Don't believe me...give it a listen.
Regrettably, the majority of the record sounds more like 'The Right Type' than 'Night By Night.' Much of the album has this 'safe' quality to it, and really doesn't push Chromeo's music to it's potential. It's not like the songs are unbearable or anything like that - they are all entirely listenable, but many of them really lack character and seem far too static for my liking. I listen to this album quite a bit, but it's almost always just for the first four tracks, after that my feelings become indifferent.
Another thing that I've come to realize is that the singer's voice is not good. In fact, it might be bad. It's more or less just spoken word in a low register, which I guess doesn't really hurt the band that much, as their focus more musical than vocal. But it the end it does tend to detract from the music. But all this being said, for my first real introduction to Chromeo, I can't say I'm disappointed.
Tracks
1.) Hot Mess
2.) I'm Not Contagious
3.) Night By Night
4.) Don't Turn the Lights On
5.) You Make it Rough
6.) When the Night Falls
7.) Don't Walk Away
8.) J'ai claque la porte
9.) The Right Type
10.) Grow Up
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