Broken Bells
After the Disco
Reviewed by: Melissa Komar
After the Disco, Broken Bells’ second full-length collaboration album is a mixture of eleven electronic-infused, pop-rock, sometimes disco-era inspired tracks of awesomeness. Vocals are provides by frontman James Mercer of the Shins and Brian Burton, a.k.a. Danger Mouse. produces the instrumentation. The collaboration is brilliant and definitely a step away from the norm.
Despite creating music that is not currently represented in main stream, there are notable influences of various music genres from disco, pop, rock, pysch, and everything in between. When listening to the album, and probably from knowing the unique make-up of the band (two music great coming together to form this project), I think of a more poppy, more rocky, and less experimental Give Up by The Postal Service.
The album opens up with “Perfect World” and it sounds as if you just stepped in to the game of Tetris. The next track, “After the Disco”, hints at a bit of irony as “Holding on For Life”, along with other tracks, scream of the Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” as Mercer sings, “You’re holding on for your life.”
By the fourth track, the tempo slows down dramatically and demonstrates Broken Bells’ ability to cover different styles. “The Angel and The Fool” has whistleling, uncannily characteristic of Billy Joel’s “The Stranger”, but it will leaving you pursing your lips in sync nonetheless.
Concluding track “The Remains of Rock and Roll” opens with a very familiar sound, although I can’t quite call to mind a title of any particular song. Mercer implores listeners to join Broken Bells on their musical journey singing, “I’m off to the promised land if anyone needs a ride.” With Burton’s interesting production and Mercer’s clear vocals and sing-along style lyrics, everyone is soon going to jump aboard.
Rating: Bad-Ass
