Everyone
knows the guy who hates “pop” music.
That guy that doesn’t acknowledge the radio exists and doesn’t have a
TV. He scoffs at any album that
even hints at a good time, and tells you how whatever it is that you’re
listening to around him sounds like these 10 other bands that you’ve never
heard, that broke up ten years ago…and how they did it better. If you’re that guy, I apologize (kind
of). It is great to be
knowledgeable about music history, and there is something to be said for
understanding the bands that may have influenced the current generation of
music, but lets not knock other peoples musical tastes. Plus (yes this is the part where I
explain the rant) I’m pretty sure that even the “anti-pop” guy couldn’t resist
the quirky charm and self awareness of Capital Cities…and is probably secretly
listening to their album “In a Tidal Wave of Mystery” right now.
Capital
Cities is indie-synth pop duo Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian from Los Angeles
CA. Soon after meeting through an
open ad for Simonian’s production services, they began writing jingles for
commercials together. After three
years of success in commercial composition, they formed Capital Cities. Already this is an impressive resume
for musicians in general. Most
musicians are always looking for work in their field, and few get the chance to
make money off their craft. But
commercial composition was merely a gateway for the duo that has now achieved
(ahem) commercial success.
Their
debut full length “In A Tidal Wave Of Mystery” seems like it took every facet
of the indie-pop genre, and used the catchiest elements of each. 12 songs later they have an album
chock full of (college) radio ready hits.
Their drums are appropriately large, their hooks don’t ever really stop
happening (even when they aren’t being sung, they are provided by the
instrumental surround the current vocal). They employ every trick in the
(proverbial) production handbook, and their experience in the industry shows.
There
are moments on the record where I found myself thinking “are they serious?” and
that is the best part. They
aren’t. They are just making fun
pop music, and they know that.
They embrace it. That is
the joy of Capital Cities, they aren’t trying to be something they’re not. They are not an art-rock band, they’re
not trying to reinvent the wheel.
They just put huge rims on it…WITH SPINNERS! So when critically thinking about the album as a whole,
keeping that in mind makes a difference.
Every
single song on the album could be played on a mainstream radio station, and
still keep its merit as a legitimately good song, but be accessible to the
masses as well as the “anti-pop” guy (assuming he understands the amount of
self awareness involved in the album…lets assume he does, and since he refuses
to acknowledge the radio as something that exists, we’ll assume he stumbled
across Capital Cities during a visit to his friends house, while Conan O’Brian
was on). Their songs surf the
dance beat wave of the 80’s with updated sounds, and employ clean staccato funk
guitars and horns in addition to their sizable synth arsenal. They would be right at home in an early
1980s dance club. Do you
like Andre 3000? They got him
too. There is a song on the album about
things that are awesome, titled “Farrah Fawcett Hair” in which a male NPR
sounding announcer says all the things that Capital Cities thinks are awesome.
If
you want a great time, with no pretense or just a feel good album to make
shoveling your car out of 6 feet of snow feel okay, pick up Capital Cities “In
a Tidal Wave Of Mystery”.
Listen to "I Sold My Bed, Not My Stereo"
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