Art Pop - This is Art Pop

Art Pop

This is Art Pop
self-released; 2016

3.6 out of 5

By Jamie Funk
​

Miles Grossenbacher (drums/synth/vocals) and Colbert Forrest (bass/guitar/vocals) are Art Pop. The duo considers mammoth indie legends the Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, Car Seat Headrest, Spoon, Pavement, Parquet Courts and Lou Reed influences. You can hear most of these influences on their album This is Art Pop. That being said This is Art Pop is a lo-fi album with some great songs. There are some very inventive transitions and catchy melodies that are delivered quite well. 

They open with “Hey Hey!!” which melds distorted synths and gritty guitars. The sound on this track is more or less garage rock. The vocalist actually sounds like Julian Casablancas as he talked instead of sang. The song might not be the catchiest on the album but it has a forward moving raw energy that makes it work. “Human in a Big City ‘All I Need is Some…’” starts off sounding very similar to the “New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down” for about the first minute. After that the song goes in a different direction along with some of their catchiest moments. 

Funny enough the very next song reminded me of another LCD Soundsystem entitled “Never As Tired as When I’m Waking Up” and “Dear Prudence” by The Beatles. And just like the previous song it goes off in its own direction. The band again mixes synth and guitar which works out well. His vocals are distorted and there are some quite distinct sections. 

“The Youth "Moonrise Kingdom" is a slower moving melancholy track while “Another Train Rumbles On” brings to mind another LCD Soundsystem entitled “All My Friends.” I’m not trying to pick on this duo for sounding like LCD Soundsystem songs but the similarities to specific songs are glaring. That being said I don’t think it would hurt if they distanced themselves from The Strokes and LCD Soundsystem a bit more then they are currently are. 

​Overall, I thought they are some solid songs here. Their band could use some tweaking on the production side but I was still impressed with these songs.

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